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 •
• 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.
How to Develop an Exit Interview Protocol for Departing Trustees
Board of Trustees // June 28, 2019
When Trustees leave your Board—whether they rotate off or resign—the Committee on Trustees should interview them. Gathering this data can help you support future efforts to build the Board’s performance and effectiveness.
Read MoreDesigning a Formal, Full-Board Proposal
Board of Trustees // June 27, 2019
When a Board committee or Trustee is on the agenda to present a proposal to the Board, expect him or her to come thoroughly prepared. The following template helps in organizing a proposal presentation. Send formal proposals electronically or by mail to all Trustees a week before the meeting, to allow review of the ideas.
Read MoreSupport Your Teachers With a Better System for Growth and Evaluation
Academic Leadership // June 26, 2019
Many teachers feel evaluations are less about supporting effective teaching and more about fixing what is perceived to be wrong. These evaluations erode trust between administrators and teachers, because teachers often don’t feel supported—they feel judged.
Read More2019 Recommended Summer Reading for Academic Leaders
Academic Leadership // June 25, 2019
The summer months are a perfect time for self reflection, level setting, and creating new goals. We have a few summer reading picks that are perfect for academic leaders. Read on for our 2019 recommendations for summer reads and resources.
Read MoreFour Tips for Managing Summer Enrollments
Advancement // June 18, 2019
Here are a few tips to manage summer enrollment so you’re able to secure your last mission-appropriate families before the school year begins.
Read More2019 Recommended Summer Reading for Advancement Professionals
Advancement // June 15, 2019
Summer is here—which typically means a bit of a slower pace for enrollment management, fundraising, and marketing communications professionals as the hallways clear and families take vacations. It’s also a great time to pick up some summer reading. Here’s what our team recommends you grab for summer 2019.
Read MoreGuidelines for Maintaining Your Gift Documentation Records
Advancement // June 12, 2019
Managing your school’s records, especially gift documentation, is extremely important. If you’re not sure how to properly store and manage your records, we’re sharing our advice for ensuring these vital documents are kept and organized properly.
Read More2019 Recommended Summer Reading for Business Managers
Business and Operations // June 8, 2019
Summer reading is a great way to brush up on your leadership skills to take your career to the next level. Check out our 2019 summer reading recommendations for business managers.
Read MoreSix Tips For Success If You’re New to the Business Office
Business and Operations // June 7, 2019
Whether you’re starting in a fresh position (in your current school or a new one) or have a member joining your team, we wanted to share some advice for new business managers. Take a moment to read through to start your school year off on the right foot.
Read MoreWomen in Leadership: Perceptions and Strategies for Success
School Heads // June 5, 2019
Smart, passionate women dedicate their lives to supporting students in our schools. But research shows that there is still work to be done when it comes to gender perceptions and equality.
Read More