ISCA New Chair/Head of School Partnership Series:
Building a Strong Foundation for Success

SUMMER 2025 DATES
June 16 & 20
2:00 – 4:00 pm ET

Never has there been a more compelling time for boards and leaders of independent schools to evolve how they work – this work begins with the essential partnership between the board chair and head of school.

In your new role as board chair, you and your head will set the tone for effective leadership in the boardroom and in school.  By fostering a culture of collaboration, and trust supported by open communication, clear, shared goals and expectations, and regular measurements of progress, the board chair and head of school can create a strong partnership that benefits the entire school community.  Join us to explore these essential conditions for a successful partnership and learn how to put the ideas into practice.

We have designed the series as a guided, interactive learning experience for New Chairs and their Heads. The two sessions are designed to build on each other and offer space for large group learning and dialogue supported by individual reflection and breakout time for chairs and heads to apply their learning together.

2025 Program Overview

June 16: Getting Started:  Planning for Success and Exploring Our Leadership Styles

  • Establishing a Culture of Trust and Mutual Support

    • Objective:  Explore essential elements for trust building, and understanding of what “supports” build true leadership capability and effectiveness

  • Understanding Communication Preferences and Leadership Styles

    • Objective:  Discuss and share personal styles and preferences.  Emerge with an understanding of your respective leadership styles, and agreements as to how you will communicate and lead together

June 20:  Digging Deeper:  Negotiating and Navigating the Partnership

  • Clarifying Expectations, Roles and Responsibilities

    • Objective: Develop shared understanding of your individual and collective roles in leadership of your respective teams and the school overall

  • Offering Meaningful Feedback and Assessment

    • Objective:  Understand the difference between feedback and assessment and the importance of each in continuous improvement and leadership development. Emerge with commitments to how you will offer each other feedback and pursue meaningful assessments

  • Navigating Conflict

    • Objective:  Discuss how you will work together when things don’t go as planned and arrive and agreements as to what you will do together as leaders to navigate

Each of the 2 sessions will be 2 hours and will be conducted over Zoom.  We encourage the Head and Chair to be in the same physical space if possible, to foster the best communication during breakout sessions.  As you begin your new partnership, we hope you will join us for this series!

Eligible participants:  New Board Chairs starting in 2025 and their Heads of School

Fees:  This series is complimentary for ISCA members and $150.00 for non-members.

Facilitated by Greenwich Leadership Partners

Register for the program