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.
Strengthen Your School’s Volunteer Program to Benefit Your Students and Community
Academic Leadership // March 19, 2018
Many private-independent schools want their students to become purveyors of positive change in their communities. School leaders, therefore, incorporate this fundamental goal into their missions, and create service learning programs to help deliver on their pledge.
Read MoreThe Benefits and Challenges of Personalized Learning
Academic Leadership // March 19, 2018
Personalized learning initiatives—a specific focus on matching students’ individual learning styles and competencies to their educational processes—have long been a focus for private-independent schools. As technology makes personalized learning initiatives even more individualized, a new study has analyzed the impact of personalized learning and whether it’s truly helping students succeed.
Read MoreThree Crucial Truths to Uncover During Exit Interviews
Advancement // March 15, 2018
A family can choose to leave your school for many different reasons. It’s up to the Admission office to determine why—and surface any underlying financial or culture issues that might be plaguing your school, causing families to choose other educational institutions.
Read MoreThe First Step of Any Successful Fundraising Campaign
Advancement // March 15, 2018
Your case statement is a core element of every fundraising campaign. This marketing tool communicates with donors and prospects, and begins the process of matching their values and interests with your school’s mission and guiding principles.
Read MoreHow to Manage a Sudden Enrollment Shift
School Heads // March 5, 2018
It can be a worst-case scenario for a School Head. You work with your team to solidify your budget months in advance, and plan for the coming school year accordingly. But, in August, you realize that fewer students enrolled than you had planned, or perhaps an unexpected increase in expenses surfaces.
Read MoreEnsure Your Long Term Disability Benefits Are Right for Your Community
Business and Operations // March 5, 2018
Your school is always looking to attract and retain the best mission-appropriate faculty and staff to help your students succeed. Your school’s benefits package serves as a powerful ally in quest. Ensuring that your current and prospective employees are adequately protected illustrates for them that they are a valued part of your organization.
Read MoreCommunicate End-of-Year Changes Effectively
School Heads // March 5, 2018
It’s getting warmer, the days are getting longer and, yes, we are quickly approaching the end of the school year. No doubt spring brings excitement to your hallways, but there’s still much to do before the school year concludes. As School Head, you must navigate the changes that will take place at the end of the year.
Read MoreHow 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.
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