Virtual & Onsite Consulting
Ensure that your school’s governance and operations support your mission.
We work together with your leaders, teachers, staff members, and students to understand your school’s unique needs, strengths, and challenges. We help you create a plan to help you meet your goals.
Your team can then put these mission-appropriate recommendations into action to achieve increased cash reserves, higher enrollment levels, and long-term stability. At the end of the day, we all have a singular purpose—advance school leadership to enrich the student experience.
We offer personalized consultations for many leadership divisions of a private school—the Board of Trustees, School Heads, the Business Office, the Development Office, Enrollment Management professionals, Marketing professionals, and Academic leaders. Select the area of school leadership you’d like to further explore.
ISM’s Consulting Services can be conducted virtually, ensuring you get the support you need, no matter the circumstances. Learn more by contacting our School Success team.
Our Consulting Services
Academic Leadership
Your programs set your school apart. Explore how to create and build programs that pull families in and give them an experience they couldn’t have at another private-independent school.
Admission & Enrollment Management
ISM’s data-informed approach pinpoints what attracts families to your school and inspires them to stay. Receive customized solutions based on your school’s unique marketplace stance, challenges, and opportunities.
Board of Trustees
The Board must focus its efforts on governing, planning, and financing your school's future, while leaving everyday decisions to competent administrators. To do that successfully, your Board must think, plan, and act strategically.
Business & Operations
Take advantage of a full range of planning, facilities, and operations consulting services that give your school a solid footing for the future. Examine where your key operations work well, and where they can use improvement.
Fundraising & Development
Learn how to develop successful strategies to engage and bring donors closer to your institution. No matter your school size, history, or pedagogy, explore how to plan, implement, and evaluate your fundraising strategies to realize your full potential.
Marketing Communications
Explore how to share exceptional stories of student learning, engagement, and outcomes, and illustrate how these can become differentiators that distinguish your school from your competitors.
School Head
Whether you want to ensure that all school functions run at peak efficiency or are considering implementing new strategies and initiatives, lean on a trusted source of knowledge to increase the likelihood of long-term success.
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One-on-One Coaching for New Heads
Work with an ISM Consultant in your first years of Headship to set you on a path to success.
•Data-Driven Diagnostics •
• Coaching •
• Customized Support •
Help Your School Thrive
ISM members receive access to exclusive, research-based strategies for every leadership division of your school. Take advantage of guidance, savings, and much more.
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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
The ADD Student in Your School
Advancement // December 10, 2009
Attention Deficit Disorder, known as ADD, is one of the most common conditions that affects youth today. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is another common disorder affecting school-aged children. It's estimated that 4.4 million 4-17 year-olds are struggling with ADD and ADHD, both of which can interrupt their learning progress, and often leads to academic failure.
Read MoreLaughter Is at the Heart of All Effective Meetings
Business and Operations // December 10, 2009
How many meetings do you sit in on, or host, where the material is dry and driven by facts and policies? Ever look around and see all the nodding heads and droopy eyes? The truth is, most people tune out after a few minutes if the material isn't interactive and somewhat motivating.
Read MoreEmployers Shedding Retiree Medical Coverage
Business and Operations // December 10, 2009
Health coverage is huge right now. What some organizations offer and/or don't offer can be selling points for potential employees. And although typically one of the first elements cut from organizational budgets in economic slumps are benefits, consider taking another look at what your school is offering. Does it attract the "right" people to match your culture and mission?
Read MoreTop 5 Best Foods To Feed Your Mind
Advancement // December 10, 2009
Winter puts most of into a sort of mental hibernation. We get up in the morning, make it through our routines, find our ways to work, and then somehow manage to clear stacks of paper from our in boxes and smile at students and coworkers in the halls. But through it all, many of us feel like we're missing something. As though some part of us isn't "alive" or wide awake.
Read MoreResources You'll Want at Your Fingertips This Year
Business and Operations // December 10, 2009
ISM understands that in many schools the Business Manager also takes on Human Resource Manager duties (in addition to any number of other hats!). With this in mind, we wanted to start off the new school year on the right foot and supply you with some great HR Web sites you can browse for updates, information, and news in between our monthly e-letters.
Read MoreCOBRA-Related Compliance Issues
Business and Operations // December 10, 2009
Most employers offering health care are facing new COBRA provisions that are part of the $787 billion stimulus plan. For most employers, the deadline for compliance was March 1.
Read MoreEasier Financial Aid Application Process + Happier Parents = One Happy Admission Office!
Advancement // December 10, 2009
This article is also seen in the monthly ISM Update for Business Offices It is no secret that financial aid applications have been at an all-time high this year. Even some parents who don't necessarily need financial aid have been applying. There's nothing to lose in trying, right? They're right—there's not. But, it does create more paperwork and a need for more manpower in your business and admission offices. If you're finding the extra applications and requests for financial aid are starting to take a toll on your nerves (and everyone else in your office), first take a deep breath, and then look into some of the software programs available on the market—especially if you're using software now that's causing you headaches.
Read MoreOctober Is Squirrel Awareness Month …
Business and Operations // December 10, 2009
… lucky little critters have their own month! (Don't worry, we haven't lost our minds. We just needed a light lead into President Obama's delivery earlier this month.) October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and National Depression Education & Awareness Month. In honor of it being National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and in response to President Obama's speech, ISM would like to share with you how this relates to private-independent schools.
Read MoreFive Lessons We Should All Take Away From the Recession
Business and Operations // December 10, 2009
The following is based on an article by Liz Pulliam Weston. Parts have been taken directly from her recent posting on MSN, "5 Life Lessons From the Recession". The past year has without a doubt been challenging. We've seen ups and downs, and unfortunately still have some way to go before we start to feel honest relief. But just as the Great Depression shaped our grandparents and parents, this recession lends some valuable lessons for all of us as well.
Read MoreSwine Flu Still Beating Up the Northeast—Expected to Hit the Rest of the Country Again This Fall
Advancement // December 10, 2009
Although the warmer weather has slowed down the spread of the swine flu, experts are saying it'll be back in the fall with a vengeance. Read the Forbes.com article with latest statistics here. For those living in the Northeast, you're going to continue to feel the threat over the summer, extending into the fall, and perhaps growing in intensity as the cooler weather moves in. New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and other New England states continue to see new cases and deaths in spite of warmer temps.
Read More