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.
•Data-Driven Diagnostics •
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• 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.
Conducting a School Marketing Communications Audit: A How-to Guide
Marketing Communications // November 15, 2020
With all the time and effort your team puts into various marketing efforts—including emails, content marketing, social media marketing, print, partnerships, and more—you want to ensure your methods are effective. A great way to evaluate everything you share is through a marketing communications audit. A few weeks ago, we shared the four steps to conduct a successful marketing communications audit. Today we’re going to explore certain elements to ensure your audit is effective.
Read MoreWhy a Customer Service Culture Is a Key School Differentiator
Enrollment Management // November 8, 2020
Like it or not, parents pay tuition to send their children to private schools—and often have high expectations for that expense. They want to feel cared for by the school—confident that their children will be better positioned for future education and job opportunities because they chose a private-independent school. This requires a focused mindset where faculty and staff have the skills and tools to support parents and students in every interaction. Creating a culture of customer service focus and effort starts with your school’s Leadership Team.
Read MoreTeachers' Report: What They Want—and Don't Want—From Their School Leaders
Academic Leadership // November 8, 2020
We worked with over 1,000 teachers in the summer of 2020 to help them strengthen their approach when it comes to distance or hybrid learning. Teachers continue to crave the same support, even in distance or hybrid learning environments. Here’s what our teachers shared about administrator actions that did (and did not) work to help them in their job roles.
Read MoreThe Strategic Role of an Effective Development Committee and How to Create One
Board of Trustees // November 8, 2020
Your strategically focused Board of Trustees is key to making your development programs effective and sustainable. When your Board centers on decision-making that is future-focused and viability-motivated, your school prospers—inspiring your donors and prospects to commit philanthropic dollars to your school. Your Board and Development Committee must work together to ensure the proper management of donors and prospects. Here's more about fostering the strategic role of an effective Development Committee.
Read MoreHow to Modify Your Expectations for Teachers in Light of COVID-19
Academic Leadership // November 1, 2020
ISM has long touted a two-pronged approach for effectively supporting teachers. One element of a supportive and predictable environment is that teachers know what is expected of them. They know the norms they’re supposed to follow—we call them Essential Expectations. The COVID-19 pandemic added uncertainty to the mix. Many of your Essential Expectations can still apply, but you may need to clarify certain elements.
Read MoreReasons Your Distance Learning Approach May Not Work and How to Fix It
Academic Leadership // November 1, 2020
The bottom line is school, as we once knew it, has changed. When COVID-19 happened, schools tried to use technology to mimic the school atmosphere as it has always been. Many schools followed the same bell schedule, simply "logging" in verses "walking" into the classroom. This proved to be ineffective, and students were disengaged. School Heads may be reluctant to eliminate synchronous learning because it helps occupy a student's time. However, it’s vital to implement concepts in a hybrid learning model.
Read MoreYour Questions Answered: Supporting Teachers Right Now
Academic Leadership // November 1, 2020
Burnout continues to be a top concern for school leaders and teachers alike. In this unusual year, everyone is busy with both their day-to-day responsibilities and strategic concerns of the future. Remember, the primary job of academic leadership is to take care of teachers. This is especially important now. What can academic leaders do right now to support their teachers? We asked teachers and here’s what they had to say.
Read MoreYour Questions Answered: Distance Learning in Private Schools
Academic Leadership // October 25, 2020
Since the spring, most schools have gotten a handle on how distance learning works. Technological and practical obstacles have largely been overcome. However, the long-term concerns about conducting an education experience via a computer are now coming to the forefront. We recently answered some frequently asked questions about distance learning.
Read MoreYour Questions Answered: Private Schools After the Pandemic
School Leadership // October 25, 2020
The pandemic has proved to be a unique disruptor. It has exposed weaknesses and provided opportunities to overhaul existing models. What schools need to do now is plan for the future—which is still very much unknown. Today, we’re answering some frequently asked questions about what the future could look like.
Read MoreYour Questions Answered: Maintaining a Healthy Headship
School Health and Wellness // October 25, 2020
As a School Head, you are probably facing difficult decisions on a daily basis. You have to answer to families, faculty, staff, and the Board in our current ongoing crisis. It is imperative you are supported in your role, and that you have access to all the resources you need to make mission-critical decisions. We’re answering some of your most frequently asked questions about maintaining a positive Headship.
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