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In partnership with ISACS, NYSAIS is offering our member schools access to this special online educational series for boards and heads of school. This series includes a collection of nine one-hour webinars on important governance topics held each of the following months: August, September, October & November 2024 & January – May 2025. In December 2024 and May 2025 there will be bonus sessions in a roundtable format specifically for incoming & current board chairs.
Target Audience
Trustees and Heads of School from NYSAIS Member Schools
Questions
NYSAIS Member Schools can reach out to our support team at support.nysais.org with any questions regarding this series.
Webinars
Navigating Challenging Conversations at School
Presenters: Blake Kohn, National Network of Schools in Partnership & Close Up Foundation & Scot Wilson, Close Up Foundation
Date/Time: Thursday, August 8, 2024, 3:30 – 5:00 PM EST
Dive into the principles and practices that make civil discourse effective, and learn how to align them with your school’s mission. Participate in engaging activities and gain tools to engage in productive discussions on social and political issues. In addition, explore techniques that foster mutual understanding and encourage respectful dialogue. You’ll delve into the role of language, and how it can signal openness or intolerance toward differing viewpoints. Finally, discover strategies to embrace diverse perspectives and create an atmosphere of inclusivity.
Onboarding: Beyond Orientation
Presenter: Lynn Wendell, Independent School Governance Expert
Date/Time: Thursday, September 26, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST
You have welcomed your new trustees and provided them with a well-designed board
orientation. Great work! But the process of onboarding board members extends far beyond
those important initial steps. With board compositions evolving annually, fostering a positive and efficient board culture requires ongoing effort and dedication.
Your Board & AI Policy Considerations
Presenters: Christina Lewellen, ATLIS & Ashley Cross, ATLIS
Date/Time: Thursday, October 24, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST
What is the role for trustees in leading a school’s AI efforts? Join us for an interactive conversation to explore the roles trustees, administrators, faculty, and students should play in shaping a school’s AI philosophy. The Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) will share templates and resources available for school leaders on on the best ways to support schools in a quickly changing environment.
The Promise of Pluralism in a Time of Prejudice & Polarization
Presenter: Eboo Patel, Interfaith America
Date/Time: Thursday, November 21, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST
We live in a deeply divided country with rising levels of distrust and isolation, in which religious and cultural diversity are often seen as sources of division rather than as a foundation for cooperation. In these fraught times, we need leaders who can foster pluralism as an antidote to rising prejudice and polarization. Our schools are uniquely situated to promote and practice pluralism and serve as a model for the rest of society. Please join Patel for this important conversation for independent school trustees on how to create space to model pluralism.
Bonus Webinar: Board Chair Roundtable I
Facilitator: Georgy Ann Peluchiwski, Greenwich Leadership Partners
Date/Time: Thursday, December 12, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST
Note: For current & incoming board chairs only. These sessions will not be recorded.
Join us for a facilitated conversation on the issues confronting board chairs. Peluchiwski invites your participation to share and hear from peers.
The Board’s Role in Enrollment & Retention
Presenter: Mark Copestake, Enrollment Management Association (EMA)
Date/Time: Thursday, January 23, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST
Enrollment is the lifeblood of independent schools with tuition bringing in approximately 80% of independent schools’ overall revenue. In this webinar, hear from a former enrollment director about how you can support enrollment management efforts at your school. Learn what you should (and shouldn’t) do in your role as trustee and how you can support the various stages of the enrollment lifecycle.
Turning Down the Heat
Presenters: Catherine Braendel, Cain Barrett Strategies & Alison Carnduff, Cain Barrett Strategies
Date/Time: Thursday, February 20, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST
Sometimes, emotions—ours or those of others—catch us by surprise. During this webinar, we will discuss strategies for helping communities better communicate and avoid situations that, with forethought, can be less emotionally charged. Planful interpersonal communication practices and institutional policies can support a culture of kindness and clarity. We will discuss preventative behaviors that help communities avoid conflict and work more collaboratively to build healthy partnerships between home, school, and alumni communities.
Design for Culture
Presenters: Antonio Viva, Leadership+Design & Greg Bamford, Leadership+Design
Date/Time: Thursday, March 13, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST
Discussing school culture can feel like tackling a shadow—ambiguous and elusive, yet central to a school’s success. Many schools struggle with the healthy evolution of their culture due to a lack of clarity and honest assessment, leading to stagnation. This webinar employs a design thinking approach to help leadership gain fresh insights into your school’s culture. Join us to identify and implement actionable steps that will effectively shape and enhance your educational environment.
Independent School Philanthropy Reimagined: Bold Strategies for Trustees
Presenter: Romayne Levee, Mission Minded
Date/Time: Thursday, April 17, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST
Independent schools striving to meet ambitious fundraising targets often fall short due to inadequate trustee training or outdated approaches. In this webinar, we’ll revolutionize your approach to philanthropy, moving beyond outdated tactics and demographicbased analyses. Instead, we’ll delve deep into understanding donors’ values, motivations, and aspirations, enabling you to craft more impactful appeals and acknowledgments. Say goodbye to outdated practices that inadvertently perpetuate donor saviorism. Gain invaluable insights into equitable fundraising strategies that resonate with evolving philanthropic norms, positioning your school for unprecedented success.
Bonus Webinar: Board Chair Roundtable II
Facilitators: Lucinda Lee Katz, Former Head of School & Board Chair & Irvenia Waters, Former Board Chair & Executive Coach
Date/Time: Thursday, May 8, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST
Note: For current & incoming board chairs only. These sessions will not be recorded.
Join us for a facilitated conversation on the issues confronting board chairs. Former board chairs Katz and Waters invite your participation to share and hear from peers.
Crunching Numbers, Making Waves: Linking Accreditation Data & Governance Challenges
Presenters: Jefferson Burnett, ICAISA & Bonnie J Ricci, ICAISA
Date/Time: Thursday, May 22, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM EST
Join us for an engaging webinar where we explore the cornerstone of school strength and sustainability: a dynamic board. We’ll tackle the common, widespread, and deeply entrenched governance challenges head-on. Delve into groundbreaking research from the International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA), uncovering the vital link between accreditation recommendations and governance hurdles. Learn how to navigate these challenges as we unveil actionable recommendations designed to empower your school to lead the way in governance excellence. Join the conversation as we answer two crucial questions: What are the governance challenges schools are facing, and how can boards take proactive steps to enhance governance practices?
Live webinars will take place via Zoom, 4:00 – 5:00 pm eastern on the following Thursdays:
- August 8, 2024
- September 26, 2024
- October 24, 2024
- November 21, 2024
- December 12, 2024 – Roundtable for incoming & current board chairs only
- January 23, 2025
- February 20, 2025
- March 13, 2025
- April 17, 2025
- May 8, 2025 – Roundtable for Incoming & current board chairs only
- May 22, 2025
To accommodate busy schedules, webinars will be recorded and available to registered schools and their trustees until June 30, 2025, unless otherwise noted. The December 12 and May 8 sessions for incoming and current board chairs will not be recorded.
All trustees and heads who plan to attend the live presentation MUST pre-register on Zoom for each webinar, see “Important Registration Details” tab below for more information.
- Trustee Series webinars will be recorded, unless otherwise noted. Any content and/or conversations that occurred in Zoom breakout rooms were not recorded.
- Trustee Series webinar recordings will be available to registered schools to access until June 30, 2025, unless otherwise noted.
- Instructions on how to access the recordings and applicable resources will be sent within 24-48 hours of the live presentation to the contact person registered on the ISACS website as well as anyone pre-registered on Zoom for that particular webinar.
- Passwords are not required to access the recordings; however, Trustee Series registrants will be prompted to complete a Zoom On-Demand Online Form before gaining access to each webinar.
- Recordings must only be accessed by schools that registered for the 2024-25 Trustee Series. Please do not share the recording links with others outside your school community. ISACS will contact any non-registrant who completes the online form and will require a registration fee.
Greg Bamford
Greg Bamford is a co-founder and senior partner of Leadership+Design. Prior to this, he was associate head of school for strategy and innovation at Charles Wright Academy and head of school at Watershed School. He is currently on the board of his alma mater, The Overlake School. Bamford brings a strategic lens to leadership development, innovation, and change management. He has been a speaker at conferences and his writing has appeared in publications such as Independent School, Net Assets, and The Yield.
Catherine Braendel
Catherine Braendel of Cain Barrett Strategies is dedicated to helping schools, businesses, and nonprofits work constructively and effectively towards shared goals through workshops, coaching leaders, and helping improve communications—skills, stories, strategies. Previously she was the strategic advisor to the head of school and head of communications & marketing at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, and as vice president of communications and marketing at Illinois Tech.
Jefferson Burnett
Jefferson Burnett is an advisor to independent school leaders and board chairs. With over 30 years at the National Association of Independent Schools, he sits on the boards of the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools and the Association of Secondary School International Students and Teachers. He is a councilor-at-large at the International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation and been a trustee at the Washington International School.
Crunching Numbers, Making Waves: Linking Accreditation Data & Governance Challenges | May 22, 2025
Alison Carnduff
Alison Carnduff of Cain Barret Strategies provides leadership and management consulting services to businesses and mission-driven organizations. Her practice focuses on assisting teams seeking to improve results through enhancing team effectiveness and leadership capability. Carnduff leads teams to improved alignment, shared vision, and renewed commitment to specific implementation plans. Previously she served in several leadership capacities during her 25+ year career in real estate development, acquisitions, and finance.
Mark Copestake
Mark Copestake is the senior director of professional development at the Enrollment Management Association (EMA). Before joining EMA, he held key roles at Latin School of Chicago and Lake Forest Academy. His experience also includes admissions and leadership positions at prestigious institutions like the University of Cambridge and University College London, as well as work with the Social Mobility Foundation.
The Board’s Role in Enrollment & Retention | January 23, 2025
Ashley Cross
Ashley Cross, EdD, CAE is the senior director of education and content at ATLIS. Cross leads discussions with industry experts on crucial topics like data privacy, cybersecurity, and AI in schools. Her research includes a National Science Foundation grant focusing on STEM education across the globe and doctoral work at Pepperdine University delving into the use of makerspaces for hands-on learning in K-12 education. Beyond her role at ATLIS, Cross serves on the board of Summit Preparatory School.
Lucinda Lee Katz
Lucinda Lee Katz is a board governance consultant and executive coach. Her background includes 14 years as the head of school for Marin Country Day School, roles as chief education officer for Mayor Daley in Chicago, and head of school and principal at The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. She served as the vice chair and on the editorial board of NAIS, past president of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), and board chair for ISACS. She has also contributed her expertise to three private school boards in California.
Blake Kohn
Blake Kohn is the executive director of the National Network of Schools in Partnership (NNSP) and Senior Advisor at the Close Up Foundation. Over the past decade, she has shaped NNSP’s growth, built its reputation, and championed school collaboration. Before NNSP, she worked at Ravenscroft School and Oldfields School in teaching and administrative roles.
Navigating Challenging Conversations at School | August 8, 2024
Romayne Levee
Romayne Levee is a partner and director of education strategy at mission minded. She specializes in helping independent schools and educational organizations enhance their visibility through strategic communications. Levee has crafted strategic plans for schools nationwide, including Columbus School for Girls, Friends School of Baltimore, and University High School of San Francisco. She is also the founding board chair of Vistamar School and sits on the board of Lewis & Clark College.
Independent School Philanthropy Reimagined:
Bold Strategies for Trustees | April 17, 2025
Christina Lewellen
Christina Lewellen, MBA, CAE has been the executive director of ATLIS since 2019. With a data- driven approach, she leads strategic business planning. Lewellen holds an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology and is a Certified Association Executive. She is a trustee at the Harmony Foundation International and serves on the board of the Virginia Society of Association Executives.
Eboo Patel
Eboo Patel is founder and president of Interfaith America, the leading interfaith organization in the United States. Under his leadership, Interfaith America has worked with governments, universities, private companies, and civic organizations to make faith a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division. Patel served on President Obama’s Inaugural Faith Council, has given hundreds of keynote addresses, and has written five books, including We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy. He is an Ashoka Fellow and holds a doctorate from Oxford University.
The Promise of Pluralism in a Time
of Prejudice & Polarization | November 21, 2024
Georgy Ann Peluchiwski
Georgy Ann Peluchiwski is a partner at Greenwich Leadership Partners with decades of experience in financial services, nonprofit board service, strategic planning, organization design, enterprise risk management, and independent school leadership. Within her 12-year tenure as a trustee at the Latin School of Chicago, she served as board chair, treasurer and chair of the finance committee. Currently, she co-chairs Latin’s Senior Advisory Council and serves on the boards of the Independent School Chairperson’s Association and High Jump Chicago.
Bonnie J Ricci
Bonnie J. Ricci is the executive director at ICAISA. She held various roles at independent schools, including teacher, advisor, coach, and head of school. She has dedicated a decade to leadership in accreditation, professional development, and governance at the Association of Independent Schools in New England. She has served on the boards of the Lesley Ellis School, the Schools for Children, Inc., and Apprentice Learning.
Crunching Numbers, Making Waves: Linking Accreditation Data & Governance Challenges | May 22, 2025
Antonio Viva
Antonio Viva is a partner at Leadership+Design. Before joining the team, he led Artisans Asylum, a renowned makerspace. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as head of school at Walnut Hill School for the Arts. As a child of immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, he is passionate about diversity and inclusion. His expertise spans global risks, creativity, design, and leadership.
Irvenia Waters
Irvenia Waters, MBA is an executive coach, team performance coach, and consultant with over three decades of experience. Waters specializes in management consulting, strategy planning and execution, leadership development, and group facilitation. She has collaborated with numerous independent schools and nonprofits and has provided leadership on boards within both sectors.
Lynn Wendell
Lynn Wendell has worked as a consultant at more than 90 independent schools and nonprofits. She served as a trustee at three independent schools and as board chair at San Francisco University High School. In addition, she has served on nonprofit boards, board committees, and advisory councils.
Scot Wilson
Scot Wilson is Close Up’s vice president of academics. His main interests are political polarization, economic issues, and the relationship between culture and politics. Born in Cuba, he lived in Italy and Spain before attending college at George Washington University. He is working on his PhD from Indiana University in teacher education and curriculum studies with a minor in political theory. Wilson is on the leadership group of the Teaching for Democracy Alliance, a coalition of civic education organizations working to promote teaching about elections and voting.
Navigating Challenging Conversations at School | August 8, 2024
