Virtual & Onsite Consulting Services
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
"I'm a Member, But I Don't Ever Use It."
Private School News // December 9, 2009
Well folks, there lies the biggest problem with social networking. You can't benefit from what you don't utilize—you have to log in every now and again! Before you scroll away, frustrated with "all this new technology" that seems to demand constant attention which you can't imagine squeezing into your already over-booked workday, give us a second to highlight how various sites can benefit your position.
Read Moree-Readers on Campus: What College Students Had to Say
Private School News // December 9, 2009
e-Readers on Campus: What College Students Had to Say The ever-evolving technology world has recently brought the idea of electronic libraries closer to a reality for schools and universities. On the ISM listservs, people are starting to ask about introducing e-readers to students. Since it seems to be of interest, we dug a little into what people are saying about reading and researching on e-reader screens versus "hitting the books" in their campus libraries.
Read MoreYet Another Reason To Be Cautious About Web Browsing—Cyber Suicides
Private School News // December 9, 2009
No matter how hard we try to protect our children, there will always be some form of danger lurking along their path. We can never be careful enough, and this is especially the case when it comes to online safety. Over the years we've seen different trends in online crime. Chat rooms and social sites have been an ongoing topic of discussion. Predators seem to pool in these places, just waiting for an opportunity.
Read MoreProtecting Your School From Workers' Compensation Fraud
Private School News // December 9, 2009
Everyone feels awful when an employee is disabled by injury or illness—especially if the injury occurred on the job. Things can get even worse though if your school doesn't have proper injury reporting procedures in place—and worse, still, if you are not vigilant in your communications with your Workers' Compensation insurance provider. The National Insurance Crime Bureau says workers' compensation fraud is a significant contributor to the country's $30 billion insurance scam problem. Here are a few tips for keeping your school from becoming part of this statistic.
Read MoreA Basket of Different Colors
Private School News // December 9, 2009
If your school dyes eggs in celebration of the season, here's a tip that won't stain your fingers. (Or your clothes, carpets, or floors either.) Ask students to bring in their one of their dad's old silk ties. Or they can shop at a local thrift store for an old tie. Usually thrift stores ties aren't much more than a dollar or two. Encourage them to bring in one with a vibrant pattern. The more intense the pattern, the better the outcome will be. And you'll want to tell them to make sure the ties are silk.
Read MoreTeachers vs. The Recession
Private School News // December 9, 2009
Read the original article at philly.com. There's a lot more positive energy in the air this season than there was last fall concerning the economy, that's for sure. Maybe some of us are starting to adapt to our reduced budgets and cautious approaches—we've accepted the struggle and have found alternative ways to stay focused. But, although there's a more positive perspective on how the market will be in the near future, we're not in the clear yet—and teachers are feeling it.
Read More3 Reasons to Eat Slower
Private School News // December 9, 2009
Remember your grandparents always telling you to slow down, chew your food, there's no reason to rush? Or perhaps you're always telling your children to slow down and enjoy the meal you've prepared. All great advice, but maybe for reasons you and your grandparents aren't even aware.
Read MoreDistorted Body Perspectives Affecting Kids as Young as 5 (Editorial)
Private School News // December 9, 2009
Females have a reputation for struggling with self-acceptance. We're (I'm compelled to include myself in this) always competing with some imaginary beauty princess to be thinner, have shinier hair, wear the latest trends (and look better than those chic models in them, too!), and smile white, pearly smiles of cheer 24/7.
Read MoreHey Kid, Get Off the Couch!
Private School News // December 9, 2009
"I used to walk a mile uphill in the snow every winter to school." Remember hearing your grandparents tell you that story when you were small? That was their way of encouraging you to be more ambitious, thicken your skin, and to get your rumps up and outside! If they thought you had it comfy, wow, what would they think about today's generation?
Read MoreSuper-Sized Students
Private School News // December 9, 2009
Columbia University and the University of California conducted a survey of millions of schoolchildren and found that they were more likely to be obese when their school campus was located within a block of a fast-food restaurant. Students whose school was a quarter of a mile or more away were not as likely.
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