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.
Reaching Stealth Applicants: Engaging Families Before They Inquire
Enrollment Management // September 25, 2024
The admissions process has typically followed a straightforward path. Families initiated contact with schools signaling their interest, which provided admission teams instant visibility into potential applicants. As competition for private school admission intensifies, standing out is no longer a...
Read MoreTop Five Strategies to Advance School Leadership
Academic Leadership // August 19, 2024
Studies show that an informed leadership team significantly impacts a school's effectiveness and provides the necessary support for educators, administrators, students, and families. Ensuring a positive correlation between school leadership and success starts with advancing your leadership team; you...
Read MoreGet Ready For Summer Institute 2024
ISM Announcements // June 20, 2024
Summer Institute is back! Join us for another exciting year of learning, motivation, and collaboration. This year, we are focusing on building community. We welcome old and new faces as we strive to strengthen and support the independent school ecosystem. For those joining us for #SI2024, we look fo...
Read MoreHealthy Habits for Your Holiday Break
School Health and Wellness // November 30, 2023
The holidays are busy, packed with festive meals, family commitments, and fun outings. This extra hustle and bustle can make it challenging to maintain healthy habits—but that doesn't mean it's impossible. And if you're already feeling the stress of the holiday season, you're not alone. Sleepopol...
Read MoreSocial Media Marketing for Private Schools: Tips to Consider During the Holidays
Marketing Communications // November 30, 2023
In December, some private schools consider taking a break from their social media posting strategy. Even though your students aren't in session during the holidays, your school’s social media marketing for private schools should stay active. To find out more, we talked to two leaders in private school education who have thought much about this topic—Penny Abrahams, ISM Senior Consultant, and Clint Losch, Outsourced School Solutions Digital Head of Marketing, to find out what they recommend.
Read MoreWhat’s Behind the Scroll? Decoding the Psychology of Social Media
School Health and Wellness // October 26, 2023
Social media is an integral part of modern life, especially for adolescents who use technology for everything from education to socializing. It provides 24/7 connectivity; at its best, it promotes creativity and community, and makes it easier for people to communicate and share information.
Read MoreFour Ways to Build Relationships That Increase Long-Term Giving
Fundraising // October 26, 2023
It’s no secret that a successful Development program relies on relationships. Building those relationships has remained an essential—and delightful—component of the Development Officer's role for decades.
Read MoreWelcome to Our Newest Members
ISM Announcements // October 26, 2023
September was busy with lots of “first days” as schools started back for the year. Here at ISM we were busy introducing our newest members to all of the resources they’ll want to take advantage of in the coming year. Join us in welcoming our newest ISM members.
Read MoreSchools Create Videos for Fundraising and Engagement Campaigns
Fundraising // October 26, 2023
Creating content to inspire donations is a challenging feat for private school fundraisers. Donors want to know their contributions make a difference—they need to see a tangible impact on the school where their children invest their time. Conveying inspirational content with written messaging isn’t ...
Read MoreKey Elements of a Successful Campaign Plan
Advancement // October 26, 2023
For every school, the right preparation ensures a campaign's success. A campaign plan lays out the design and proposed steps for implementation: identify your prospects; engage your constituents; and solicit, recognize, and steward your donors. Your plan illustrates what the campaign will look like from establishing goals to achieving results.
Read More