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Heads & Trustees Day
May 1, 2024 - Virtual
WHY ATTEND?
Gather your Board and join your colleagues for the 2024 VAIS Heads & Trustees Day. This Virtual ½ day Program features an engaging Keynote, Learning Blocks for you and your team, and fast-paced Lunch & Learn concurrent sessions.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Heads, Board Chairs, Board Members, Business Officers, Advancement Leaders
HOW WILL WE LEARN?
This virtual event is designed to meet the varied needs of school leaders and trustees.
KEYNOTE
The Threat of Analog Governance in an AI World: Creativity and Strategy for Today’s Boards
André Withers, Partner, Consultant Coach, Educators Collaborative, LLC
 Independent school boards are responsible for ensuring that the institution fulfills its mission and uses its resources wisely. Paradoxically, we are doing so in a world where we’re not simply fulfilling mission and directing resources but instead fending off threats in all sectors and adapting to forces that are ever-changing. It means that Boards can no longer remain insular and analog. They must rethink their governance posture in order to navigate educational, societal, and global headwinds. This interactive session will provide new ideas, useful data, and encouragement to look at resources, safety, and governance in innovative ways.
SCHEDULE
| May 1, 2024 |
All Sessions are Virtual |
| 9:00-10:15 AM |
Welcome, Keynote, & Q&A
The Threat of Analog Governance in an AI World: Creativity and Strategy for Today’s Boards, André Withers, Partner, Consultant Coach, Educators Collaborative, LLC
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| 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM |
Break |
| 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM |
Learning Block I: Finance
Net Tuition Revenue: The Only Number That Matters
Palmer Ball, Palmer Ball Consulting
As financial aid becomes a larger portion of school budgets and thus a larger component of student recruitment and retention, schools need to change their budget focus and Admissions goal setting from student headcount to Net Tuition Revenue (NTR). Participants will receive and review templates that allow a school to annually monitor and track their NTR, NTR per student, and NTR per grade. The session will also identify important financial aid metrics schools should be tracking and monitoring year by year, with recommendations on how to identify and slow down or turn around negative trends.
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| 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM |
Learning Block II: School Safety
The Role of the Board in School Safety
Chris Joffe, CEO, Joffe Emergency Services
Board members are deeply involved in our schools, and are invaluable partners for everything from fundraising to academics. But there's one area most schools have not deeply engaged their board chair in safety and security. In this session, we'll discuss why this matters, what board members bring to the table, and how school leaders can more deeply engage their board leadership in their safety and security strategy.
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| 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM |
Break |
| 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM |
Learning Block III: Philanthropy and Fundraising
Strategic Leadership in Fundraising: Aligning Vision and Voice
Robert Bull, President, The Compass Group
Discover how the collective power of your school’s leadership contributes to fundraising success. In this workshop, we highlight the indispensable roles of the Head of School and Board of Trustees in driving successful fundraising campaigns. Participants will be introduced to the elements of talking with “one voice” to craft a compelling narrative that effectively tells your school’s story and the transformative power of philanthropy in realizing your vision. Learn how to confidently deliver your story and inspire generous support from your community.
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| 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM |
Learning Block IV: Board & Head Partnership
Mastering the Board – School Leader Partnership
Mike Mizzoni, Chief Governance Officer, BoardOn Track
The relationship between a board and school leader is key to the long-term success of any school organization. The best schools understand that this relationship evolves and requires active attention. In this session, we will unpack the overlapping, yet distinct roles of your governance and management teams. Attendees will leave with strategies to future proof the board and to optimize the time of your school leader/Executive Director. Come with your questions, concerns, and we will encourage your participation!
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| 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM |
Break |
| 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM |
LUNCH & LEARN SESSIONS WITH VAIS PARTNERS
[these 20-minute sessions run at 1:20 and repeat at 1:40]
- The Shifting Headship Landscape, Indy School Consultancy
- Compliance and Safety: Kari’s Law and Ray Baum’s Act, VIcom & 911 inform
- Insurance & Risk Landscape: What Heads and Trustees Should Know, RCM&D
- Equity Work Beyond Building Awareness, The Equity Collaborative
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REGISTRATION:
Please register only ONE person from your school who will distribute all the information and access to your staff. Registration deadline is Monday, April 29, 2024.
| WHO? |
FEE |
| VAIS Member Schools |
$225/school |
SPEAKER BIOS
André Withers: Originally from Indiana, Withers has been in independent schools for over 25 years. His initial foray into the world of independent schools was as a Middle School teacher and Advisor in Indianapolis. As opportunities arose, Withers was able to also find his first administrative role as Director of Diversity. Soon after, and with much success, was appointed Director of Middle School. Concurrent to the work at those two schools, André was invited to serve on the board of ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) where he chaired the Equity Committee and was a member of multiple accreditation teams. That valuable work also led to additional service with NAIS. Withers was a faculty member of the Summer Diversity Institute and subsequently worked as the director of that professional development opportunity for three years. In 2004, Withers and his family landed in Washington, DC. While working in senior leadership there, he served a term on the Board of AIMS (Association of Independent Maryland Schools) while also being a sought-after presenter nationally and internationally.
Palmer Ball is the Interim CFO at Ashley Hall in Charleston, SC. Prior to that, she was the Assistant to the Head for Finance at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Greenville, SC and served as Business Manager at Spartanburg Day for 21 years. Palmer taught the school finance class at Klingenstein (Columbia University) with NBOA and is the ED of PAIS, representing independent schools in SC. She also consults with independent school financial operations.Palmer received NBOA’s prestigious Ken White Award, served two terms on NBOA’s Board of Directors, and was elected to ABOIS. She has served on the faculty of NBOA’s Business Officer Institute multiple times, served as a faculty mentor for NBOA’s 2021-22 and 2022-23 Leadership Academy with Vanderbilt University, and has given numerous presentations at national and regional conferences.
Chris Joffe is the founder and CEO of Joffe Emergency Services. Chris has spent his career dedicated to making communities safer, and over the past decade, he and his team have worked with thousands of schools across the country to provide training, consultation, and support. Chris studied Paramedicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and technology, business, and integrated design at the University of Southern California (USC). His book, titled “All Clear: Lessons from a Decade Managing School Crises”, was published in November 2023.
Robert Bull is the President of The Compass Group, overseeing consulting services and driving strategic growth. With over two decades of fundraising experience, he has secured nearly $2 billion in philanthropic gifts across various sectors. Robert's background includes six years at Ketchum, Inc., where he refined skills in campaign planning, major gift strategy, special events management, and volunteer leadership. He has also served as Chief Development Officer at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Robert is an educator, speaker, and trustee at Goucher College, co-chairing the $100 million Undaunted campaign. He holds an MS in Organizational Leadership and Management from Antioch University New England and a BA in Theatre and Arts Administration from Goucher College. Currently pursuing a doctoral degree at Antioch University, Robert is dedicated to advancing philanthropy and mission-based institutions.
Learn concurrent sessions.
 Mike Mizonni brings a wealth of experience to his role as BoardOnTrack’s Chief Governance Officer. Prior to joining the BoardOnTrack team 5 years ago, Mike worked for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, where he served as the Director of Trustee and Community Relations and formerly as Deputy General Counsel. Mike began his career as a Legislative Aide at the Massachusetts State House while attending law school full-time. In addition to his professional experience, Mike volunteers for a variety of organizations. He has served as the Vice-Chair of the Town of Littleton School Committee, on the Board of Directors of the Freedom Summer Collegiate, an education non-profit that he co-founded, and as an active member of the UMass Lowell Young Alumni Council. Mike currently lives in Littleton, Massachusetts, and is a proud graduate of both the University of Massachusetts Lowell and New England Law Boston. While not working, Mike enjoys playing soccer, volleyball, traveling, and spending time outside with his French Bulldog, Charlie!
Learn concurrent sessions.
SPONSORS:
VAIS appreciates the support of the following Sponsors for the Heads & Trustees Day.
Event Exhibitor
Academic Partners
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