Invest in Your Personal Well-Being and Professional Growth
As a Head of School, staying focused on your school’s big-picture goals can be difficult when you’re navigating the daily responsibilities and pressures of operations. This challenge is what prompted us to create our Annual Head’s Retreat — a gathering that gives School Heads the time and space to step back and refocus, discuss emerging trends, and cultivate visionary leadership.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL LEADERS
Explore ISM’s professional development events.
Develop new skills, gain confidence in your role, and lead with clarity. Be mentored by leaders who are experts in their field, many currently working in private schools today. Get hands-on experience, network with fellow school leaders, and walk away with an action plan you can use the minute you return to campus.
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The New Independent School Development Officer
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/17/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Learn strategies and tactics to excel as a new or aspiring development director.
$3,995.00
General & Silver
$3,550.00 Gold
$3,550.00 3+ Person
Leading the Effective Lower School
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/18/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Transform your lower school into a thriving, student-focused learning community using proven, research-driven strategies.
$4,495.00
General & Silver
$3,995.00 Gold
$3,995.00 3+ Person
The Independent School Business Officer
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/16/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Excel as a strategic business thinker, whether you’re new to the profession, starting in independent schools for the first time, or a seasoned professional.
$2,495.00
General & Silver
$2,220.00 Gold
$2,220.00 3+ Person
Leading the Effective Upper School
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/18/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Discover and refine your personal leadership style as you reflect on strategies for faculty evaluation, navigating change, fostering a healthy school culture, and designing a modern schedule.
$4,495.00
General & Silver
$3,995.00 Gold
$3,995.00 3+ Person
Chairing Your Department: The First Five Years
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/18/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Strengthen your leadership skills, enhance your communication abilities, manage your team with confidence, and align your efforts with your school’s mission and long-term goals.
$4,495.00
General & Silver
$3,995.00 Gold
$3,995.00 3+ Person
Mastering Your Role as Middle School Dean of Students
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/17/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Explore how to support your school’s mission and culture, engage your faculty and staff, and enrich the student experience.
$3,495.00
General & Silver
$3,110.00 Gold
$3,110.00 3+ Person
The New Admission Director
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/17/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Gain the skills, strategies, and best practices needed to excel as a new or aspiring admission and enrollment management director.
$3,495.00
General & Silver
$3,110.00 Gold
$3,110.00 3+ Person
The Assistant Headship: Leading from Outside the Circle
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/16/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Enhance your leadership skills and elevate your impact as you support your school head.
$2,495.00
General & Silver
$2,220.00 Gold
$2,220.00 3+ Person
Balance Your Roles as Upper School Dean of Students
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/18/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Navigate your dynamic and expanding role as an upper school dean of students with confidence, always keeping students at the center of your decisions.
$4,495.00
General & Silver
$3,995.00 Gold
$3,995.00 3+ Person
Leading the Effective Middle School
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/18/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Learn how to uphold your school’s mission and culture, engage faculty and staff, and enhance the student experience.
$4,495.00
General & Silver
$3,995.00 Gold
$3,995.00 3+ Person
The New Marketing Communications Director
Date(s): 7/14/2025 — 7/16/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Discover how to excel as a marketing communications director, even if you just aspire to be one someday.
$2,995.00
General & Silver
$2,665.00 Gold
$2,665.00 3+ Person
Evolve Your Support Program for Students With Learning Differences
Date(s): 7/16/2025 — 7/18/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Discover how to enhance your school’s learning support program to better serve all students.
$2,495.00
General & Silver
$2,220.00 Gold
$2,220.00 3+ Person
Thriving in Headship for the New and Aspiring School Head
Date(s): 7/16/2025 — 7/18/2025 ● Location: Philadelphia, PA ● Status: Open
Discover how to manage the nuances and demands of school headship.
$2,495.00
General & Silver
$2,220.00 Gold
$2,220.00 3+ Person
14th Annual Advancement Academy
Date(s): 7/21/2025 — 7/24/2025 ● Location: Redondo Beach, CA ● Status: Open
The ISM Advancement Academy is a professional development opportunity like no other. Designed specifically for the needs of private school leaders, this week-long event is hands-on, practical, and collaborative. With guidance from experienced mentors, you'll leave the Advancement Academy with a network, plan, and tools to make an immediate difference at your school.
$4,340.00
General & Silver
$3,860.00 Gold
$3,860.00 3+ Person
Human-Centered AI: Strategies for Communicating About AI at Your School
Date(s): 7/24/2025 ● Status: Open
Effectively navigate diverse community perspectives, including skepticism, and determine the best communication strategies to frame AI.
$225.00
General & Silver
$180.00 Gold
$180.00 3+ Person
Make Your Website Work for You: Real-Time Data for Smarter Strategy
Date(s): 7/29/2025 ● Time: 3:00pm ET ● Status: Open
Stop guessing what your website visitors are looking for and start knowing exactly who they are, what interests them, and how to reach them with UnboundDiscover from ISM.
$0.00
For all members & General
Human-Centered AI: Solutions to Preserve Connection and Belonging
Date(s): 7/31/2025 ● Status: Open
Explore how AI can be leveraged to enhance the core human elements of an independent school education — not detract from them.
$225.00
General & Silver
$180.00 Gold
$180.00 3+ Person
Starting Strong: Succeeding as a New Teacher in a Private-Independent School
Date(s): 8/11/2025 — 8/12/2025 ● Status: Open
Gain essential strategies to navigate independent school culture, manage responsibilities, communicate effectively, and thrive from day one.
$900.00
General & Silver
$800.00 Gold
$700.00 3+ Person