A Brief History

Starting in 1975 with Ideas & Perspectives, an advisory letter for heads, trustees, and other key managers, ISM has grown in direct response to the needs of the independent school community. New services have been added over the years to make ISM a comprehensive management-support firm for private-independent schools in the United States and abroad. Administrators in schools of all types and sizes turn to ISM for advice and assistance on an array of management challenges, including risk management, student recruitment and retention, advancement, strategic and long-range planning, board/head relations, plant expansion, mergers, scheduling, faculty culture, and leadership training.

Mission Statement

ISM is dedicated to the advancement of school management. We provide creative strategies by combining extensive research, proven management techniques, and personalized service.

Advancing school leadership — enriching the student experience.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement

We believe in the power of education, empathy, and respect.

Private schools must serve the public good. At ISM, we deeply believe in upholding dignity, operating with equity, leading with compassion, acting with integrity, and standing for justice for all human beings. We strive to create an intentionally inclusive culture that actively integrates diverse voices and lifts up each employee’s true, authentic self. We believe in educational transformation through our commitment to listening, learning, engaging, and growing to better serve our employees, schools, and students.

Our Core Values

Ethical

ISM conducts business in a truthful and honorable manner, promoting trust, respect, and equality among team members and clients.

Focus

Focus at ISM is the tenacious engagement of team members in achieving our corporate goals.

Excellence

ISM provides services and customer service that exceed expectations.

Creativity

Creativity is the process of imagination, research, building, testing, and producing products and services—leading to solutions.

Teamwork

Understanding the concept of teamwork is basic to the role of ISM and its employees. As team members we understand, respect, and value the role of each team member, working together to support one another toward the achievement of our mission and internal goals. By being a complete resource, the team works for the school, through the appropriate administrator, with the Board, to support the achievement of the school's mission.

Service

Clients are not interrupting our work; they are the purpose of our work. Further, we support one another as we address clients' needs.