T R U S T E E / S C H O O L H E a D C O N F E R E N C E

T r u s t e e / S c h o o l H e a d C o n f e r e n c e

S a t u r d a y , F e b r u a r y 2

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Registration South Galeria

Continental Breakfast Biltmore Bowl Foyer

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. General Session Biltmore Bowl

Welcome and Announcements James McManus Executive Director, California Association of Independent Schools

Introduction Nora Malone Board Vice President and Chair of the Elementary Board of Standards, CAIS, and Head of School, Village School

Keynote Address Paul Tough Author “The Hidden Power of Character”

10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Workshop Session One

12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Lunch Biltmore Bowl

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Workshop Session Two

3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Workshop Session Three

4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Reception Biltmore Bowl

S u n d a y , F e b r u a r y 3

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Breakfast Biltmore Bowl

9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. General Session Biltmore Bowl

Introduction Lucinda Lee Katz Board President, CAIS, and Head of School, Marin Country Day School

Keynote Address Patrick F. Bassett President, National Association of Independent Schools “25 Factors Great Schools Have in Common”

S e s s i o n O n e 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Marketing for the Whole Campus: Onsite and Online Jon Moser, CEO/Founder, finalsite, and Reveta Bowers, Head of School, The enterC for Early Education Crystal Ballroom What does a visitor to a school’s campus, or to its website, see first? Is each parent, student, alumnus, or friend welcomed and directed to what they need? Using school case studies, as well as examples from the corporate world, the presenters will offer their perspective on the “user-oriented” climate that can spell success at independent schools. Topics addressed will include the following: “unmarketing,” branding, user experience, and setting the tone for a school’s team and beyond. These strategies and big picture ideas will help to energize your discussions on campus and promote the development of truly welcoming environments.

Reasonable Accommodation of Students Michael Blacher, Attorney, and Donna Williamson, Attorney, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Cordoban Room Accommodating students with disabilities is an increasingly pressing issue for schools. Parents are making more de- mands—as are their attorneys. This presentation will examine what schools can, and cannot, ask about student disabilities during the application process. It will lay out the legal requirements under federal and state law when it comes to accommodating student disabilities. It will also examine the meaning of “reasonable accommodations” and how that applies to K-12 programs. Participants will learn the law and spend time discussing best practices in this area.

Online Learning: Five Critical Challenges, Five Unprecedented Opportunities Brad Rathgeber, Director, Online School for Girls, and Stuart Posin, Director of Academic and Administrative Technology, Marlborough School Corinthian Room Independent schools are beginning to see opportunities for online learning, but they also recognize many of the challenges. School brands are at stake. Finances can be bolstered or undermined. Faculty can engage in or resist online learning. And most schools don’t know where or how to get started. This presentation will identify five critical challenges and five unprecedented opportunities that independent schools face as they consider integrating online learning into their programs. Particular focus will be paid to the areas of pedagogy, finance, administration, communication, and professional development. Attendees can expect to leave this presentation with an understanding of directions for success and pitfalls to avoid when building an online program at their school.

Here are the Numbers! Data and Highlights from Independent School Surveys Gretchen Reed, Senior Director, Professional Development, National Business Officers Association, Martha Ambros, Director, Cal-ISBOA (California Independent School Business Officers Association), and Mayer Riff, Chief Financial Officer, The Center for Early Education Gold Ballroom NBOA (National Business Officers Association) and Cal-ISBOA (California Independent School Business Officers Associa- tion) collect extensive data annually covering the financial and operational aspects of hundreds of independent schools. This presentation will share comparative data on enrollment statistics, financial aid ratios, tuition levels, compensation levels, financial ratios, investment returns, and more. Two veteran business officers will demonstrate how to glean very useful data from the Cal-ISBOA survey, the NBOA Financial Position Survey, the NBOA Compensation Benchmark and Staffing Study, the Commonfund Endowment Survey, and more. Overall trends revealed by these surveys will also be highlighted.

Keynote Follow-Up Session Paul Tough Roman Room This session will provide participants with the opportunity to pose follow-up questions and to carry on conversation with the keynote speaker. Re-Thinking the New Trustee Orientation Eric Temple, Head of School, and Pam Hommeyer, Chair, Trustee Committee, Lick-Wilmerding High School Bernards Room New Board members often bring prior trustee experience and some knowledge of governance dynamics with them as they join their peers at the Board table. Thus, the new trustee orientation must be more sophisticated than simply acquainting new members with the basics of the school’s finances and governance. Using backwards design and the framework of differentiated instruction, this session will help trustees and heads re-think the goals for new trustee orientation and develop creative ways to achieve these goals. Though the presenters will share a model new to their school, the session is designed for trustees and heads to leave with concrete planning that can be used for their own next new trustee orientation.

The Triple Bottom Line: Why Greening Your School Makes Sense/Cents Paul Chapman, Executive Director, Inverness Associates Athenian Room Why should schools develop a culture of environmental sustainability? With increasing environmental challenges in recent years, the “triple bottom line” has helped us focus on the importance of “people, profit and planet” in steward- ing our organizations. Applied to education, the “triple bottom line” in green schools can help save money, improve achievement, and promote health. This workshop, presented by the former Head of Head-Royce School, describes the features of green, sustainable schools and how to develop them. It highlights the vital leadership role school heads and Boards play in the process. Case studies from Paul Chapman’s two books, Greening America’s Schools 1.0 and 2.0 (NAIS, February 2012, 2013), will highlight best practices from independent schools across the country, and especially those schools that have documented significant cost savings.

A New Approach to Accreditation Damon Kerby, Trustee, The Branson School, and CAIS Representative on the WASC Commission, James Astman, Headmaster, Oakwood School, and James McManus, Executive Director, California Association of Independent Schools Emerald Ballroom CAIS has spent four years completely revamping its accreditation process, and 13 member schools are piloting a new accreditation manual for the Association this year. The new approach is both more streamlined and more probing, with a heightened emphasis on analysis, intelligent use of data, and identification of the dynamics that drive school change. This session will focus upon the major changes in the accreditation process, the new Independent School Dashboard that all schools will begin using by 2013-14, and new accreditation standards that relate to trustees and their vital work in leading their schools.

Trusteeship 101 Roger Weaver, President, The Weaver Group Tiffany Ballroom This session, designed specifically for new trustees, will provide an overview of seven dimensions of Board service that are essential for effective governance: legal responsibilities, oversight and stewardship obligations, governance-administration separation of powers, characteristics of effective trustees, characteristics of high functioning Boards, potential trustee pitfalls, and productive communication practices. This session is intended to be interactive, with ample opportunity for questions and discussion.

Managing Risk After The Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy Ronald C. Wanglin, Chairman of the Board, Bolton & Company, and Rick Shaw, President, Awareity Heinsbergen Room The tragic events that recently took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School, as well as those at Taft Union High School, have become a lightning rod for schools and their Boards in reevaluating their exposure to armed attacks and in deter- mining how they can best provide a safe and secure environment for their students, faculty, and staff. This session will address best practices for identifying potential exposures, including evaluating school policies and procedures, conduct- ing a campus/school risk assessment, physical solutions, insurance, and risk management protocols. The presenters will also explore innovative web-based platforms that have been used by K-12 schools, colleges, and universities to automate risk management best practices and avert preventable incidents, lawsuits, and tragedies. S e s s i o n T w o 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Admissions, Marketing, Demographics, and Affordability: The Changing Landscape Donna Orem, Chief Operating Officer, National Association of Independent Schools Tiffany Ballroom This session will provide an overview of issues relating to admissions, marketing, demographics, and affordability, and the considerations the changing landscape presents for independent schools. The presentation will offer key research-based messages for promoting independent schools. Participants will trouble-shoot with possible solutions to the challenges, including the use of the NAIS Demographic Center. The Role of the Board Chair Miranda Heller, Consultant, and Irvenia Waters, Consultant, Strategic Perspectives Consulting, Travis Brownley, Head of School, Marin Academy, and Wanda Holland Greene, Head of School, The Hamlin School Emerald Ballroom The Board Chair plays a crucial role in the leadership of an independent school. However, many trustees do not fully understand the role’s scope and requirements, compromising the thoughtful succession planning that ideally would oc- cur around such a key role. Committee on Trustees members, to the extent they are involved in succession planning, ask “What should we look for in the next Board Chair?” Prospects for the Board Chair position want to know “What does this entail? Should I take this on?” For those who have agreed to chair an independent school Board, their initial excitement might turn to remorse (“What have I gotten myself into?”) or panic (“How on earth am I going to pull this off?”). This workshop—presented by two experienced Board Chairs and two Heads of School—attempts to answer these questions, as it examines the roles and responsibilities of the Board Chair, the personal characteristics suited to the role, and ways to assess prospects for the Board Chair position. The importance of the Head of School/Board Chair relationship will be highlighted, as well as techniques for ensuring an effective partnership. We will also share helpful tools and techniques for managing a Board. Anyone involved in Board Chair succession planning, as well as current and aspiring chairs, will find this workshop of interest. School Leaders Roundtable Ole Jorgenson, Head of School, Almaden Country School, Harry V. McKay, Jr., Head of School, Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School, Deborah Richman, Head of School, Turning Point School, Aimeclaire Roche, Head of School, The Bishop’s School, Percy Abram, Head of School, Gateway School, and Barbara Gereboff, Head of School, Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School Bernards Room The School Leaders Roundtable enables heads and trustees to consider new viewpoints and share strategies across a range of topics, including assessing the “value added” of an independent school education, implementing effective strategies for trustee education and engagement, anticipating the direction of technology and learning, adapting philanthropic approaches to today’s donors, and supporting the head and managing stress. Panelists will take turns addressing these and other topics, while inviting audience members to participate. The roundtable is relevant for heads of all experience levels and insightful for trustees as well. Risk Management for Independent Schools Denise Gutches, CEO, DKG Consulting, Inc., and Ronald C. Wanglin, Chairman of the Board, Bolton & Company Corinthian Room Independent schools continue to be faced with a broad variety of complex institutional and financial risks from both internal and external sources. Challenges presented by the economy, the structure of the school’s financial model and decision-making, and critical insurance and risk management issues can have a significant impact on long-term sustainability. This session will provide a best-practices approach for addressing these and other key areas from both an operational and a fiduciary perspective. Annual Legal Update for California Independent Schools Michael Blacher, Attorney, and Donna Williamson, Attorney, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Athenian Room With another year of new cases, new statutes, and new challenges to examine, this workshop will provide an analysis of the most significant legal developments from around the country and will focus on the practical implications for California independent schools. We will also discuss how heads of school and Board members can be proactive and protect their schools from potential liability. Participants do not need a legal background to benefit from this session. They should come prepared to ask questions and should feel free to share their own experiences. The Debatable Propositions: Tools for Talking about Financial Sustainability Gretchen Reed, Senior Director, Professional Development, National Business Officers Association Gold Ballroom Financial sustainability remains a hot topic in independent education at both the K-12 and higher education levels. Virtu- ally everyone agrees that without dramatic changes, tuition levels will continue to rise to levels that won’t be sustainable. But how do schools make structural changes that can positively impact their financial futures? This session will revisit and update the two prevailing paradigms of financial sustainability: the “New Normal” (cutting expenses and adding revenue streams to slow the rate of tuition increases) and “Full Steam Ahead” (identifying a school’s “value proposi- tion” and pricing tuition accordingly). The presenter will review the data about the kinds of changes that schools have discussed or implemented in this challenging economic environment—such as increasing class size or teaching loads. This session will also focus on some debatable propositions to be discussed in small groups, modeling an approach to talking about financial sustainability that can generate new thinking. While this session will not provide “the answers,” it will give institutional leaders some useful tools to formulate answers that fit their own school situations.

Designing Schools for the 21st Century Learner Maureen Sullivan, Principal, and V. Joseph Pica, Principal, Pica+Sullivan Architects, Ltd. Crystal Ballroom This presentation will address two crucial questions about designing schools: Who is the 21st century learner, and how can campus plans and school facilities be designed to enhance the learning experience and add up to more than a sum of the parts? Crucial to addressing these issues is an understanding of how learning and teaching have evolved signifi- cantly in the new century. Students are more actively engaged than ever before in project-based learning, collaboration, extensive use of technology (including digital interactive interface), and informal discussions in non-programmed ven- ues. This presentation will explore current trends in school design that accommodate learning advances and encourage opportunities. Case studies of independent schools will be used, and best practices for campus planning and facility design will be explored. This session will focus on creating vital and active campus centers, designing “in-between” spaces, extending learning opportunities beyond the classroom, creating campus identity, enhancing entrances and fostering a welcoming environment, achieving passive security, and designing creative and flexible education spaces that will respond to future needs.

A Model of Collaboration Between Independent Schools and Other Educational and Community Institutions Robert Woolley, Director of Development, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, John West, Headmaster, Mirman School, Scott Moran, Head of School, Westland School, Peter Smailes, Headmaster, Curtis School, and Lisle Staley, Head of School, Berkeley Hall School Roman Room How can independent schools and other educational and community institutions within geographic proximity provide political, strategic, and professional support and intervention through collaboration? This presentation will share the history and experience of the Mulholland Educational Corridor Association (MECA) and its challenges and successes in addressing issues of community relations, city politics, and institutional sustainability for four independent schools, two religious institutions and their associated schools, a university, and a museum.

Hiring for Success Michael Pratt, Principal, and Mark Oppenheim, Principal, m/Oppenheim Associates Cordoban Room In Good to Great, Jim Collins writes that nothing is so vital in strengthening an organization as getting “the right people in the right seats.” If success depends on hiring the very best people, then it is critical for search committees to have thoughtful processes for surfacing alternative candidates and evaluating their various strengths. Using a case study and “real world” examples, this presentation will illustrate how search committees can tailor candidate evaluation to a school’s mission, culture, strategic objectives, priorities, and operating constraints. The presenters will also describe how clear and authentic communication between school representatives and candidates can be facilitated, as well as how differing constituent perspectives can be addressed. S e s s i o n T h r e e 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Small Schools CAN Implement Big Fund-raising Plans—and Your Board Members CAN Help! Kerri Speck, Trustee, and Anna Tran Reyna, Trustee, PS1 Pluralistic School Crystal Ballroom Two current Board members will present one school’s framework for implementing a major capital campaign. The presentation will include a description of the mechanics of the campaign from the first steps of identification all the way through stewardship of donors, and it will include advice about encouraging the participation of all members of a school’s Board of Trustees in the process. The presentation will conclude with a group discussion and open forum, during which all attendees will be able to share their experiences with fund-raising at their respective schools.

The Use of Assessment in CAIS Schools: Changing Realities and Expectations James McManus, Executive Director, California Association of Independent Schools, and Eric Temple, Head of School, Lick-Wilmerding High School Emerald Ballroom CAIS has increased and refocused its expectations regarding assessment and the use of data in member schools. The new accreditation process challenges each school to develop a system of assessment regarding student growth and achievement that is consistent with its mission and that helps teachers, administrators, and trustees to deter- mine whether or not the school is accomplishing its important goals in academic and non-academic realms. This session will review important findings from the 2012 Assessment Task Force survey, provide an update on resources that the task force is assembling, and share examples of useful alternative assessments that supplement measures like the ERB and SAT, which have notable limitations.

Tax-Exempt Financing for Nonprofit Independent Schools Ron Lee, Attorney, Jones Hall, A Professional Law Corporation, and Keith Zimmet, Trustee, Viewpoint School, and Attorney/Managing Shareholder, Lewitt, Hackman et al., A Law Corporation Corinthian Room This session will serve as a primer on lower cost, tax-exempt financing for nonprofit independent schools. Geared for trustees and administrators who are not finance professionals, this presentation will cover the basics of how tax- exempt financing works (as compared to a conventional bank loan), as well as the legal and practical limitations of tax-exempt financing.

Virtual Harassment—Investigating Harassment and Other Misconduct in Cyberspace Michael Blacher, Attorney, and Pilar Morin, Attorney, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore Athenian Room This session will explore a topic increasingly relevant to, and problematic for, every school. Can schools discipline students and employees when they engage in misconduct on the Internet? Is it limited to campus activity, or can schools address off-campus misconduct? What type of investigation is required or permitted? What activities or speech are protected? Do schools have any responsibility to inform parents about information on students’ personal web pages? This presentation will explain the current state of the law and best practices for dealing with online privacy and in- vestigations. It will also assist schools in creating practical and enforceable policies and practices.

The Data Driven School Donna Orem, Chief Operating Officer, National Association of Independent Schools Tiffany Ballroom Never has it been more important to base strategic decisions on concrete and accurate data that is continually updated. In this workshop, we’ll explore why market research and environmental scanning are key tools for school leaders, how to develop a research agenda and associated processes for your school, and what tools are available to make the research process easy and inexpensive. We’ll also examine a few case studies of how schools have used data to effectively advance their strategic agenda. Faculty Assessments that Work Brian Thomas, Associate Head of School K-12, and Laura Konigsberg, Assistant Head of Upper School and Dean of Teaching and Learning, Bentley School Roman Room Faculty performance assessment, at its best, can generate collaborative innovation. This session will offer practical advice, along with case studies, that can help schools provide authentic and helpful feedback to faculty and fellow administrators. This workshop shares the multi-faceted approach developed at Bentley School, which includes an annual formal classroom observation, informal peer-to-peer class visits, plans of assistance, videotaping, and new faculty mentoring. Participants have pre-observation meetings to discuss goals and guidelines, during which teachers choose their own focus-areas, using general school or departmental rubrics. This session will explore the diplomacy involved in offering formative feedback, along with strategies for improvement. Workshop participants will leave with examples of our observation rubrics as well as resources for developing school-specific plans for themselves.

What is Your Message? Jennie Winton, Founding Partner, Mission Minded, and Andrea Edwards, Director of Development, Crystal Springs Uplands School Gold Ballroom Can your trustees clearly, simply and quickly articulate the value of your school to someone who knows nothing about it? Do your community members describe the impact of your work through shared concepts and language? Does this language truly describe what is unique about your institution? The need to communicate well about independent schools is more important than ever. In this session, Mission Minded, a branding firm that works exclusively with nonprofits, foundations and independent schools, will describe approaches that help organizations to think strategically about their reputations, and then to write and design communication tools to attract prospective families, build loyalty and support among current and alumni families, and run successful fund-raising campaigns. Using the example of projects conducted with Crystal Springs Uplands School, this session will explore how the Minute Message Model can transform the way a school thinks about itself, communicates its values more effectively, and prioritizes its messages in a clear and cohesive way.

Schools Going Green: California Leads the Way Paul Chapman, Executive Director, Inverness Associates, Eric Feron Niles, Head of School, The Athenian School, Barbara Wagner, Head of School, Marlborough School, Lucinda Lee Katz, Head of School, Marin Country Day School, and Thomas W. Gilder, Head of School, Windward School Bernards Room Why should all schools grow greener? California’s independent schools are leading the way in this rapidly growing move- ment. Green, environmentally sustainable schools incorporate five key elements: they use resources efficiently, provide healthy operations, present a curriculum that nurtures environmental literacy, offer nutritious food, and engage student leaders in the process. This workshop will showcase the efforts of several CAIS schools that have achieved systemic changes at their school. A panel of school heads from four schools will describe their journey to becoming greener, more environmentally sustainable schools. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the importance of green schools, as well as specific examples of successful change.

The Edible Garden: A Gateway to Environmentally Conscious Students Andres Ospina, Administrative Manager, Steven Kiralla, Master Gardner/Environmental Director, Airianne Rassekhi, Science Director, Evrille Bortz, Curriculum Director, and Jeff Joyner, Trustee, Seven Arrows Elementary School Cordoban Room This seminar will focus on The Seven Arrows Elementary Board’s involvement with the school’s 14-year-old Edible Gar- den Program, a tangible and visible manifestation of our growing “green” philosophy and culture. Even with limited campus space, the project has proven itself to be a highly efficient way of integrating curricula, promoting healthy and conscious eating habits, and enabling students to connect with the earth—all while nurturing environmental literacy and marketing the school. This session will report on the school’s partnership with renowned chef and food revolution- ary Jamie Oliver, an SAE parent at the time, as well as on the Board’s involvement with fund-raising and its additional work—through countless meetings—with surveyors, botanists, landscape architects, gardeners, and others to design and secure approval for the project. Challenges, accomplishments, and lessons learned will also be reviewed. S u n d a y , F e b r u a r y 3

8:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet Biltmore Bowl

9:30 a.m. - “25 Factors Great Schools Have in Common” 11:00 a.m. Patrick F. Bassett President, National Association of Independent Schools Biltmore Bowl

Pat Bassett is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College, and he holds a master’s degree in film studies from Northwestern University. He has spent more than four decades in independent schools, serving as an Eng- lish teacher, lacrosse coach, dorm parent, and administrator at a variety of institutions. His career has included headships at Stuart Hall in Virginia and Pomfret in Connecticut, and he has served with distinction on numer- ous Boards of Trustees. Pat is the author of an impressive array of book chapters and articles, including several commentary pieces in Education Week, entitled “The End of Independent Schools” (March 13, 1996), “Why Good Schools Are Countercultural” (February 6, 2002), “Testing, Account- ability, and Independence” (August 19, 2002), and “Searching for Great Teachers” (February 26, 2003).

Since 2001 Pat has been the President of NAIS, and he will retire in June of 2013, making this the last of his many appreciated appearances at the CAIS Trustee/School Head Conference. Pat’s final CAIS presentation will draw heavily from his reading, research, and vantage point as the leader of NAIS and will focus upon those key factors that great schools have in common. He will conclude his remarks with some reflections and reminiscences on his life’s journey within the independent school world, which has left a deep and positive imprint on the thinking of Boards and heads in particular.