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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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 Handle Sensitive Issues at Your School
Business and Operations // March 5, 2018
Of all the responsibilities you shoulder as a key administrator, the one you might most readily relinquish is that of fielding a serious complaint from a parent, student, or employee.
Read MoreHow Schools Can Prepare Students for the STEM Workforce
Private School News // February 26, 2018
Jobs in STEM occupations—science, technology, engineering, and math—are on the rise. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of STEM occupations have grown from 9.7 million to 17.3 million since 1990.
Read MoreInternational Student Enrollment on the Decline
Private School News // February 26, 2018
For the first time in over a decade, colleges and universities saw a 3.3% decline in international freshman students. Media sources were quick to pick up the story, pointing blame at President Trump’s administration. However, the latest government study shows the decline began before the new president took office, leaving some to wonder if the well of opportunity has started to dry up.
Read MoreThe Importance of Female Leadership in Private-Independent Schools
Private School News // February 26, 2018
Our schools are filled with strong women who have dedicated their lives to creating safe educational environments where students can learn and grow. But research shows that many women aren’t obtaining leadership positions in K–12 schools across the U.S.
Read MoreThe Buildings and Grounds Committee’s Role in a Leased or Rented Facility
Board of Trustees // February 22, 2018
The Buildings and Grounds Committee, charged with protecting the school’s campus and equipment, faces a complex situation if the school’s site is leased or rented. Any recommendations involving renovations, refurbishment, or expense must be approved by the property owner, lease committee, or other entity for which the bottom line may well outweigh the school’s best interests.
Read MoreThe ‘Marriage’ of the Board President and School Head
Board of Trustees // February 22, 2018
The leader of the Board and the leader of your school are partners. One cannot function without the understanding, guidance, and respect of the other. It is, in fact, a marriage of sorts. And, like other marriages, it is subject to ups and downs, honeymoons and divorces. Obviously, the welfare of the school is critically dependent on this successful marriage.
Read MoreWhat Parents and Students Want When It Comes to Your School
Advancement // February 18, 2018
You want to attract mission-appropriate families to your school who become ingrained in your community. The challenge for Admission Officers is that parents and students often want different things from your school—and have different values when it comes to what is important to them.
Read MoreHow You Can Help Your Teachers Become Remarkable Advisors
Academic Leadership // February 15, 2018
It’s up to the School Head to create your advisory program, but it’s often left to Division Heads to implement the school’s plan and ensure its continued success. So how do you, as a link between the School Head and your faculty, help teachers become exemplary advisors?
Read MoreFive Actions That Can Help Improve Student Engagement
Academic Leadership // February 15, 2018
One of your primary duties as an academic leader is to support your faculty and help them connect with their students. However, most seasoned leaders will tell you that perfecting the art of student engagement varies greatly, depending on the students’ ages and your overall school culture.
Read MoreUsing Analytics to Improve Your Marketing Communications Efforts
Advancement // February 7, 2018
It’s no longer enough to create content, pop it onto your website, and hope it attracts mission-appropriate students and families to your school. You must have a content strategy in place to create and distribute content effectively. Many teams have created such a strategy but forget an extremely important aspect—measurement and analytics.
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