25th Annual Heads Retreat

Bryan Smyth, Ph.D.

ISM Consultant | Director of Research

Expertise

Bryan’s central purpose is to help students flourish. He believes that the enhancement of school environments and cultures is the best way to facilitate growth in children and adults.

Current Role

As a Consultant and ISM’s Director of Research, Bryan:

• Oversees ISM’s research initiatives designing studies, conducting statistical analyses and advancing our knowledge in areas important to independent school leadership
• Conducts onsite scheduling consultations, having had extensive experience creating and implementing unique daily schedules and annual calendars for both boarding and day schools
• Helps schools analyze and strategies their strategic operations conducting Strategic Performance Analyses, Strategic Planning/Strategic Financial Planning, and Strategic Academic Planning consultations
• Writes frequently for Ideas & Perspectives and co-authors books in the areas of scheduling, student-centered policies, faculty growth and evaluation, finance, social-emotional well-being, and research
• Leads ISM’s Student-Centered Scheduling workshop and The Assistant Headship workshop

Bryan joined ISM as a Consultant in 2013, following 13 years in independent school administration.

Prior Experience

Bryan came to ISM from Mount Pisgah Christian School, GA, where he served as the Vice President, Head of the Upper School, Guidance and College Advisement Director, varsity head coach, and psychology teacher over the course of his tenure. Prior to that, he was the Associate Head of School at Brandon Hall, GA.

He is also a licensed clinical psychologist whose practice specialized in the psychological assessment and treatment of adolescents and their families. This varied background and set of experiences affords him the ability to view a school’s form and function from multiple viewpoints, leading to solutions that take into account all perspectives.

Education

Bryan holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree in clinical psychology from Marquette University, WI, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois. He also earned an MBA from Reinhardt University, GA, that focused on the application of business principles to the management of independent schools.

Andrew Taylor, Ed.D.

ISM Consultant

Expertise

Andrew shares his expertise in school management, professional growth and development, project-based learning, faculty evaluation, and more. He worked in private-independent schools for 22 years before joining ISM in 2017.

Current Role

As an ISM Consultant, Andrew:

• Writes for ISM’s advisory letter Ideas & Perspectives, distributed to school leaders in almost 1,000 schools
• Leads and co-leads of ISM workshops in student-centered scheduling, leading effective lower schools, executive leadership, and summer program development
• Co-facilitates ISM’s annual Heads Retreat
• Hosts webinars in the areas of leadership, change management, and learning theory
• Presents at association conferences
• Conducts national and international on-site consultations
• Facilitates Board and school leadership retreats.

Prior Experience

Andrew previously served as Head of Tower School, MA, where he was charged with rationalizing the operating budget, right-sizing the staffing model, and reconfiguring the school schedule to facilitate interdisciplinary instruction and project-based learning.

Before that, he was Head of Lower School at St. Paul’s, MD, where he oversaw the school’s adoption of the International Primary Curriculum. He also facilitated the creation of a project-based learning initiative, implemented a re-defined teacher observation process, and supported asynchronous, online professional development.

Andrew began his career as an undergraduate instructor in Human Genetics, Human Social Biology, and Anatomy & Physiology at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. He also taught Biology at the high school level.

After immigrating to the United States, he taught science at Brentwood School, CA, where he developed its Lower School Summer Program. Later, he was Director of Admission and Assistant Head of School at St. James’ School, CA, with significant involvement in fundraising and growing enrollment. Andrew was also the Assistant Headmaster and Director of Summer Programs at the John Thomas Dye School, CA.

Andrew has presented at CAIS, SAIS and NAIS Conferences.

Education

Andrew earned his Doctorate of Education at UCLA, and his master’s degree in Educational Administration from California State University, Northridge. Andrew’s two bachelor’s degrees are in Human Biology and Science Education.