2023 TABS CONFERENCE

Explore this year’s sessions. There’s something for everyone!

Concurrent Sessions Guide

ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION

ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION

Getting Rid of Teacher Evaluations: The Power of Student Course Feedback

Traditional teacher evaluations ask students to rate the effectiveness of instruction and pedagogy in the classroom, but students often don’t know what helps them learn best, leading to inaccurate data and a lack of teacher buy-in. We will share our revised student feedback tool, based on a student’s need to be known, focused, and supported. We will also share the research that led to this change and the subsequent impact on teaching at Mercersburg.

Amy Kelley, Mercersburg Academy
Jennifer Smith, Mercersburg Academy

ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION

Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI

Artificial intelligence has advanced and is now integrated into our daily lives. But how does it really work? What is AI? How does it think and make decisions? In this presentation, I will explain how the algorithms that power AI work in general terms that anyone can understand. No prior knowledge is necessary. Knowing how AI functions will give you a deeper understanding of its strengths and weaknesses, as well as possible future innovative applications.

Michael Lomuscio, ‘Iolani School

ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION

Bigger than Ourselves: Cultivating Engagement, Accountability, and Compassion Within Our Community

Learn how Pomfret School implemented an experiential learning course that engages students in solving real-world problems and the impact of the course on our community. The curriculum focuses on food insecurity in America: understanding the complexities of the problem and educating our school community on these issues. Throughout the course, students plan, pack and deliver backpack meals to the local elementary school. They must pose questions, solve problems and assume responsibility for the program to be successful.

Brenda Bullied, Pomfret School
Anne Richards, Pomfret School

ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION

Emotional Intelligence 101: Baby Steps Toward Incorporating E.I. Into Your Curriculum and Your School Culture

This workshop will provide simple, practical ways that classroom teachers can begin to incorporate Emotional Intelligence into their courses and collaborate with other professionals at their schools to begin to raise the Emotional Intelligence of their overall school culture. The workshop will be led by a classroom teacher, a school psychologist, and the director of our school’s health and wellness program. Participants will have the opportunity to practice some of these strategies and will leave with some simple tools they can begin implementing immediately in their classrooms and beyond.

John Gregory, Asheville School
Mary Elizabeth Martin, Asheville School
Scott Miller, Asheville School

ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION

Rethinking the Triple Threat–Building a House for Faculty Thriving

A confluence of factors today is creating a tipping point for the teaching profession: The number of teachers leaving their jobs is increasing, the number of college students pursuing teaching continues to decrease; and burnout continues to be significant for educators after the pandemic. Generational trends and new priorities suggest rethinking the traditional “triple threat model” for independent schools, expanding this to consider a new model that supports faculty thriving and student engagement. This presentation will consider the possibilities for moving forward.

Greg Martin, Vermont Academy
Michael Spencer, Oregon Episcopal School

ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION

A DEI Audit for Assessing Teacher Practice: Empowering Schools to Build Inclusive Classrooms

How can schools lead faculty to self-assess their incorporation of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom from a variety of perspectives including intentional pedagogy, inclusive curriculum, social justice, and classroom climate? Learn how the Kravis Center for Excellence in Teaching and the DEI Center at Loomis Chaffee collaborated to research, design, develop, and administer a DEI audit and how the results informed individual and departmental areas of growth and professional development opportunities moving forward.

Sara Deveaux, Loomis Chaffee
Fiona Mills, Loomis Chaffee
Ashley Augustin, Loomis Chaffee

ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION

A DEI Audit for Assessing Teacher Practice: Empowering Schools to Build Inclusive Classrooms

How can schools lead faculty to self-assess their incorporation of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom from a variety of perspectives including intentional pedagogy, inclusive curriculum, social justice, and classroom climate? Learn how the Kravis Center for Excellence in Teaching and the DEI Center at Loomis Chaffee collaborated to research, design, develop, and administer a DEI audit and how the results informed individual and departmental areas of growth and professional development opportunities moving forward.

Sara Deveaux, Loomis Chaffee
Fiona Mills, Loomis Chaffee
Ashley Augustin, Loomis Chaffee

ADMISSION, FINANCIAL AID & ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

FEATURED SESSION:

Admission, FINANCIAL Aid & Enrollment MANAGEMENT

Admission, Financial Aid, & Enrollment Management

In independent schools, three teams impact revenue: admissions, development, and finance. When these teams synchronize and are aligned on strategy and goals, you get a balanced budget trifecta.

Bringing the three revenue offices together can be challenging, as each office has unique perspectives, priorities, and approaches. Yet their collaboration is crucial to ensure they work towards financial sustainability. Join Jenn Haley—a former Director of Institutional Advancement—and Charlie Lytle—a former Director of Admissions—to learn how they fostered alignment among their admissions, development, and finance offices to improve the educational outcomes of students, support faculty and staff, and achieve long-term financial goals.
Charlie Lytle, Blackbaud
Jenn Haley, Blackbaud

Admission, FINANCIAL Aid & Enrollment MANAGEMENT

Maximizing International Recruitment within a Budget

Take a deep dive into what other school recruiters do as they look at planning an international recruitment trip. This session will go through case studies, budget plans, the ability to cohort with other schools, and the proper channel’s to help guide your trip and make it successful. Join three schools as they discuss how they navigate this and what they have learned over the years.

Julie Cameron, Ridley College
Andrew Garlinski, Shattuck-St. Mary’s School
Vanessa Goulding, ICEF
Tyler Hart, Cushing Academy

Admission, FINANCIAL Aid & Enrollment MANAGEMENT

What's in a Name? Rebranding your Financial Aid Office

Thinking about rebranding your financial aid department? Join representatives from Lawrenceville who will share their experience shifting from the “Financial Aid Office” to the “Office of Scholarship Aid”? The discussion will cover:
1) why the importance of a name change and what it signifies
2) what are some concrete examples of how the operation has modernized and
3) education both internally and externally on the goal of access and affordability.

Greg Buckles, The Lawrenceville School
Lauren Gold, The Lawrenceville School

Admission, FINANCIAL Aid & Enrollment MANAGEMENT

Race in Admissions: Assessing the Impact of the Harvard Supreme Court Case on Boarding Schools

Admission practices around diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical issues for all schools. This interactive session will explore how the SFFA v. Harvard ruling impacts boarding schools, and will provide school leaders with tips on how they should respond to the ruling.

Brian Garrett, McLane Middleton
Christina Dotchin, Enrollment Management Association

Admission, FINANCIAL Aid & Enrollment MANAGEMENT

Post-COVID Admissions: Recruiting and Assessing Complex Kids and Anxious Parents

How is our applicant pool changing? What are best practices for marketing to this shifting international and domestic demographic? How can we best work with COVID-disrupted children and hands-on, anxious parents? What are the best new assessment methods in this test optional/chatbot landscape? A panel consisting of a range of enrollment directors and an educational consultant/psychologist will address these macro questions that are driving current and future enrollment management best practices.

Charles Brown, Indian Mountain School
Amy Graham, Stevenson School
Jill Hutchins, Dublin School
Don McMillan, McMillan Education
Dr Sarah McMillan, McMillan Education

John Hutchins, Phillips Exeter Academy

 

Admission, FINANCIAL Aid & Enrollment MANAGEMENT

Driving Boarder Marketing and Recruitment Through Linkedin

A look at how boarding schools can use the free platform of Linked In to target current and prospective parents, drive brand awareness, maximize messages, build a following and use analytics to adapt and respond.

Robin Fletcher, The Boarding Schools’ Association

Admission, FINANCIAL Aid & Enrollment MANAGEMENT

It’s Not You, It’s Your Data: 5 Questions You Should Ask Your Data Every Day

It feels like your school is doing everything “right” when it comes to making data-informed decisions around enrollment. You’ve invested heavily in your website and marketing strategy, you’ve doubled down on the travel budget, and you have the FTEs to enroll a strong class…so why are you struggling to achieve your strategic goals? Whether your school is looking to find and enroll more students, source more full/high pay families, or meet other strategic enrollment plans, this session will identify some of the most common metrics to watch, where you might be missing out, and how to get the most out of the data you have.
Jill Hutchins, Dublin School
Kate Auger-Campbell, ISM

Admission, FINANCIAL Aid & Enrollment MANAGEMENT

The state of boarding school enrollment

What is the state of boarding school enrollment? This data-rich session will feature key findings from the Enrollment Management Association’s recent State of the Independent School Enrollment Report with an emphasis on data and takeaways for boarding schools. Interested in learning how many FTEs should be in your enrollment office? Wondering if admission or enrollment is the best title? Want to know the latest DEI admission practices? Come to this session to equip yourself with the most up-to-date data and insights from EMA!

Christina Dotchin, Enrollment Management Association
Jim Daughdrill, Enrollment Management Association

DEVELOPMENT & ADVANCEMENT

Development & Advancement

Strategic Virtual Engagement Opportunities Including an Exclusive Program for Alumni

Video/virtual tools like Zoom have provided an opportunity to connect with alumni and constituents all over the world. Utilizing this resource, Westminster has embraced several virtual engagement opportunities, including the Seventh Form, a new program exclusively for alumni who have celebrated their 50th Reunion and older.

Jennifer Keyo, Westminster School

Development & Advancement

Partnerships between Heads of School and Chief Advancement Officers

The relationship between Heads of School and Chief Advancement Officers are critical, not only for the financial sustainability of schools, but also for building relationships with a wide range of constituents. We invite you to come and hear from two heads and two advancement leaders about the importance of collaborating strategically to develop partnerships, maximize travel opportunities, steward donors, engage Trustees, execute strategic plans, and generate excitement and philanthropy among donors for the annual fund, capital projects and comprehensive campaigns.

Lisa Winick, Milton Academy
Peter Curran, Blair Academy
Craig Hall, Blair Academy
Quentin McDowell, Mercersburg Academy

Development & Advancement

A Unique Proposition: Exploring the Opportunities and Challenges of Boarding School Fundraising

As centers of rich traditions and exemplary facilities and programs, boarding schools naturally offer opportunities for students and families to build affinity with the school. However, the increasingly competitive landscape means a strong value proposition and creative stewardship strategies are more important than ever to secure philanthropic support. This panel of heads of school will explore how to make a compelling case for your institution?s unique value and foster a culture of philanthropy among families and alumni.

Lise Charlier, The Cambridge School of Weston
Laura Danforth, The Masters School
Frederic J. “Rick” Happy, CCS Fundraising
Dan Griffiths, Stevenson School

Development & Advancement

Recession, Resignation, and Revenue: The Independent School Fundraising Landscape

We will lead a discussion on the trends monitored from independent schools across the nation. This will cover a range of topics related to the giving landscape, financial aid need, and demographic shifts, as well as their impact on school fundraising strategy: How can historic fundraising trends inform how schools adjust fundraising strategy during times of economic uncertainty?· What has changed about the ways financial aid is sought and granted?· Who is most likely to give to your school, and why? Is it alumni, parents, or other community members?· Finally, what are the impacts of demographic cliffs and shifts on school strategy? How will the makeup of your constituents change, and what effects and takeaways exist relative to fundraising efforts? By staying attuned to these trends, you can ensure that your school is well positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Jackie Sullivan, Graham-Pelton

Jamie Pugh, Graham-Pelton

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

End the Exodus: Strategies for Retaining Faculty of Color

In recent years, the most forward-thinking schools have turned their eye to expanding diversity amongst the faculty to provide mirrors for the student body. However, without solid retention efforts, a school may experience the “leaky bucket effect” and need to attract exponentially more faculty of color just to maintain their current levels. This workshop will cover several strategies and tools your institution can use to increase retention amongst BIPOC faculty.

Claudia McGuigan, The Hotchkiss School

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Design Matters: Creating Spaces and Places for Belonging

For too long, schools have under-considered the significant impact that the physical organization of space has on the way that we can develop and enhance all aspects of community life. Research pertaining to educational architectural design and the built environment will be offered to provide school leaders with a better toolkit for understanding the ways in which the landscape of our campuses, particularly gathering spaces, directly drives climate and outcomes related to belonging within our schools. We will explore the compelling case that being more strategic about the small details of our facilities and big picture of our campus architecture can improve messaging to communities, behaviors within community spaces, and contribute to positive outcomes related to the school environment and stakeholder wellbeing. Key tools and takeaways that leadership teams can readily apply to their campuses will also be provided.

Alex Curtis, Choate Rosemary Hall
Carrie Grimes, Vanderbilt/Peabody College

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

A DEI Audit for Assessing Teacher Practice: Empowering Schools to Build Inclusive Classrooms

How can schools lead faculty to self-assess their incorporation of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the classroom from a variety of perspectives including intentional pedagogy, inclusive curriculum, social justice, and classroom climate? Learn how the Kravis Center for Excellence in Teaching and the DEI Center at Loomis Chaffee collaborated to research, design, develop, and administer a DEI audit and how the results informed individual and departmental areas of growth and professional development opportunities moving forward.

Sara Deveaux, Loomis Chaffee
Fiona Mills, Loomis Chaffee
Ashley Augustin, Loomis Chaffee

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Power of "I am from" for Identity, Place and Connection

We believe it is crucial for students to understand where they have come from to be able to hold their identity, navigate connections with their peers and staff, and set a trajectory for their success beyond your institution. In this session we will highlight an exercise developed from an article by Beverly Tatum, participants will engage in sharing about their identity and practicing a creative tool that might help their students too.

Tyler Pau, Kamehameha Schools
Rei Koizumi, Kamehameha Schools

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Integration v Isolation: Creating a successful All Gender Housing Floors

Creating an all-gender housing space is only the first step. What comes next? How do you incorporate an all-gender floor into the rest of your dorm space? George School’s Tom Hoopes and Ginny Waller share their experience creating an all-gender housing floor and more importantly, provide tips on how to integrate an all-gender housing floor within an existing gendered dormitory.

Tom Hoopes, George School
Ginny Waller, George School

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Amplifying DEI Goals with Technology: A Framework to Operationalize DEI

From better data to faculty/staff professional development to enhanced classroom experiences, technology can be the key to unleashing your school’s DEI initiatives. Understanding how to design and implement technology solutions to address complex DEI priorities will allow schools to reach their instructional and operational goals and foster inclusive cultures. Boarding school leaders interested in the intersectionality of technology and DEI must have a clear understanding of what’s possible and insights into innovative strategies being deployed at schools around the country. Attendees will receive access to a DEI framework that provides a roadmap for the technology puzzle pieces your school might be missing for a complete DEI strategy.

Christina Lewellen, Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools
Lawrence Alexander, DEIB Consultant

Financial management & Sustainability

financial management & sustainability

Faculty Load: Finding the Boarding School "Fit" in a New Labor Landscape

The session presents research from other industries along with education on difficulties around recruitment and retention. The presenter will share current strategies being used to address the challenge with time for participants to share in groups.

Brenda Petersen, Western Reserve Academy

Leadership & governance

Safety and Risk Management in Student Housing: Legal Tips for Independent Schools

This session will provide guidance to independent schools on how to identify, prevent, and proactively manage potential risks in student housing. Learn about the potential legal challenges that schools face and strategies on how to mitigate those challenges in areas including student health and safety, drug and alcohol use, appropriate boundaries, managing student on student interactions, service animals, and threats from third parties. Learn to spot issues and understand tools available to protect students and your school.
Grace Lee, Venable

leadership & governance

Leadership & governance

Faculty Load: Finding the Boarding School "Fit" in a New Labor Landscape

The session presents research from other industries along with education on difficulties around recruitment and retention. The presenter will share current strategies being used to address the challenge with time for participants to share in groups.

Brenda Petersen, Western Reserve Academy

Leadership & governance

Safety and Risk Management in Student Housing: Legal Tips for Independent Schools

This session will provide guidance to independent schools on how to identify, prevent, and proactively manage potential risks in student housing. Learn about the potential legal challenges that schools face and strategies on how to mitigate those challenges in areas including student health and safety, drug and alcohol use, appropriate boundaries, managing student on student interactions, service animals, and threats from third parties. Learn to spot issues and understand tools available to protect students and your school.

Grace Lee, Venable

Caryn Pass, Venable

Megan Harlan, Fountain Valley School of Colorado

Leadership & governance

Increasing Safety through Risks and Controls Assessment

Educating and caring for students at a boarding school can be an enormous liability with all of the safety issues and concerns that can arise on a daily basis. The use of a risks and controls assessment can be an effective tool to highlight the greatest risk areas along with ensuring you have adequate controls in place to reduce risk to a level of acceptable tolerance. While there will always be potential for safety concerns, this preventative approach will help ensure the proper guards and supports are in place to create the safest environment possible on your campus.

Sara Fieman, Kamehameha Schools
Laura Perales, Kamehameha Schools

 

Leadership & governance

Leadership in Independent Schools: A Case Study for Advancing Women's Careers

A panel presentation of a case study of leading professionals in the private school arena. While women have historically dominated the education profession only 26% occupy positions of leadership, including Head of School and President. A multi-pronged effort will be required to overcome barriers to women in leadership. Professional male colleagues will need to join the conversation to help determine what is needed in terms of mentoring and support to then move the needle. A case study of intentional mentoring and career advancement will be presented. Panelists will share their experiences of positioning themselves, self advocacy and professional development necessary to achieve advancement to and success in leadership. Come meet a dynamic group of professionals making strides in the private school industry.

Jacqui Yamada, Educational Leadership Consultant 

Laurie Lambert, Stoneleigh-Burnham School

 

Leadership & governance

Tackling Big, Systemic, Scary Institutional Questions

There are moments in a school’s institutional journey when a commitment to stewardship requires senior leaders and trustees to take on big, systematic institutional questions. Raising these topics can feel intimidating because we know that even starting the discussion can feel scary to members of the community. Addressing these critical questions and coming out stronger is best done through an agile combination of process design, group facilitation, savvy data analysis, and approachable data visualization. As a tangible example, we will use St. Anne’s-Belfield School’s discernment process weighing whether to continue their boarding program. The session will then trace how the school leveraged this process to accelerate progress once the decision had been made to reinvest in the residential life program and examine its impact on the holistic strategic priorities of the Preschool – Grade 12 community.

Ari Betof, Mission & Data
Autumn Graves, St. Anne’s-Belfield School

Leadership & governance

Managing the Behavioral Expectations of Non-employee Spouses and Partners

Many schools have adopted practices to ensure their employees understand behavioral expectations regarding student safety including criminal background checks, codes of conduct, handbook policies and training programs. But what about the nonemployee spouses and partners of your faculty and employees? Most of those programs are not applied to them. This session will provide practical guidance on ensuring that all members of your school community understand expectations regarding healthy interactions with students and mandatory reporting obligations.

Linda Johnson, McLane Middleton Professional Association

Leadership & governance

Rethinking the Triple Threat–Building a House for Faculty Thriving

A confluence of factors today is creating a tipping point for the teaching profession: The number of teachers leaving their jobs is increasing, the number of college students pursuing teaching continues to decrease; and burnout continues to be significant for educators after the pandemic. Generational trends and new priorities suggest rethinking the traditional “triple threat model” for independent schools, expanding this to consider a new model that supports faculty thriving and student engagement. This presentation will consider the possibilities for moving forward.

Greg Martin, Vermont Academy
Michael Spencer, St. Paul’s School

Leadership & governance

Partnerships between Heads of School and Chief Advancement Officers

The relationship between Heads of School and Chief Advancement Officers are critical, not only for the financial sustainability of schools, but also for building relationships with a wide range of constituents. We invite you to come and hear from two heads and two advancement leaders about the importance of collaborating strategically to develop partnerships, maximize travel opportunities, steward donors, engage Trustees, execute strategic plans, and generate excitement and philanthropy among donors for the annual fund, capital projects and comprehensive campaigns.

Peter Curran, Blair Academy

Craig Hall, Blair Academy

Quentin McDowell, Mercersburg Academy

Lisa Winick, Milton Academy

Leadership & governance

Tools for Trauma-Informed Support in Moments of Crisis and Beyond

Are you a senior leader–perhaps a Head, Assistant Head, Dean of Students, or Advisor–navigating the complex waters of responding to sexual misconduct, interpersonal violence, and boundary crossings? Whether the scenarios concern students or students and adults, understanding the nuances of trauma and how it impacts the experiences of survivors can reduce personal harm and promote healing, while also saving time and reducing cost to your school. This workshop combines research insights, scenario-based activities, and tools to understand how trauma impacts the brain. You’ll leave with strategies to help a dysregulated individual, foster empowerment, and approach these challenging situations with a trauma-informed lens.
Jamie Forbes, Learning Courage, New Hampshire
Amy Wheeler, Learning Courage
Jayde Bennett, Learning Courage
Christy Cooper, The Hotchkiss School

HEALTH & WELLNESS

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Integrated Health & Wellness at Westover School: How it Works & Can be Replicated

Westover School utilizes an integrated model for health and wellness to support our students. The Director of Health and Director of Counseling & Student Wellness have created various protocols that foster whole-person wellness. Some of these include how we approach differential diagnosis, co-facilitating interventions, multiple methods for formal communication, and our approach to absences or formal medical leaves. We will outline these methods and invite questions so others can replicate this at their schools!

Victoria Bosse, Westover School
Jen Hill, Westover School


HEALTH & WELLNESS

Female Boarding Students on the Spectrum: Under Diagnosed and Misunderstood

Males are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at four times the rate of females. The symptoms of ASD in females present challenges in a boarding setting where community expectations often center on pro-social behaviors, strong executive functioning skills, and the ability to adapt to new routines. In this session we will share strategies for working with neurodivergent students and crowdsource data on how schools are adapting to their needs.

Caroline Hedde, George School
Eric Wolarsky, George School

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Emotional Intelligence 101: Baby Steps Toward Incorporating E.I. Into Your Curriculum and Your School Culture

This workshop will provide simple, practical ways that classroom teachers can begin to incorporate Emotional Intelligence into their courses and collaborate with other professionals at their schools to begin to raise the Emotional Intelligence of their overall school culture. The workshop will be led by a classroom teacher, a school psychologist, and the director of our school’s health and wellness program. Participants will have the opportunity to practice some of these strategies and will leave with some simple tools they can begin implementing immediately in their classrooms and beyond.

John Gregory, Asheville School
Mary Elizabeth Martin, Asheville School
Scott Miller, Asheville School

HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Academy Student Assistance Program: Evaluation and Treatment of Teenage Substance Use with a Non-Disciplinary Approach

In this workshop, you will hear about one school’s model to assess, educate and provide support to students struggling with drug and alcohol use. The program’s non-disciplinary nature is designed in parallel with the harm reduction approach to treating adolescent substance use and misuse. Its goal and intent is multifaceted, encouraging students to reach out for help for one self and others, receive counseling and health education support, and gain refusal skills amongst peers. It also aims to provide treatment interventions that attend to root causes of substance use, such as underlying mental health conditions and other maladaptive behaviors.

Szu-Hui Lee, Phillips Exeter Academy
Marco Thompson, Phillips Exeter Academy

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Intersectionality, Connectedness and Youth Wellbeing

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated already declining youth mental health with disproportionate impact on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC youth. “School connectedness” and access to supportive resources and adults serve as a protective barrier for youth, but at boarding schools, the stakes seem higher than ever amidst institutional reckoning with histories of harm. This workshop is an inquiry into the personal day model at The Thacher School, including key findings related to identity and student well being.

Kendrea Hart, The Thacher School
Sepideah Mohsenian-Rahman, The Thacher School

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Inclusive Education: Supporting Neurodivergent Students in the Classroom

Neurodivergent students are entering boarding schools in increasing numbers. Students who are “twice exceptional”. Students who have academic disabilities, performance deficits, and social-emotional challenges. Many have undergone psychoeducational assessments and the summary reports are replete with classroom recommendations. Although psychoeducational assessments are an evidence-based practice, there is scant research on how to best communicate assessment findings to teachers and ensure that they produce positive outcomes for neurodiverse students. Thus, the objective of this interactive presentation is to use a targeted multi-tier approach to translate assessment results and recommendations into teacher-friendly classroom interventions. Best-practice interventions that work in real time and are effective will be provided.

Julie Badynee, Western Reserve Academy
David Chiarella, Western Reserve Academy

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Preventing Intense Homesickness at Boarding School

Students’ healthy adjustment to separation from home involves preventing homesickness, partnering with parents, and promoting social connection. Nearly all boarding students miss something about home; fortunately, a smaller percentage experience intense homesickness associated with clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression. For those students, their performance suffers along with their mental health and can eventually result in medical leave or withdrawal. Learn how to prevent and treat extreme homesickness with innovative, inexpensive, research-based supports.

Chris Thurber, Phillips Exeter Academy

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Tools for Trauma-Informed Support in Moments of Crisis and Beyond

Are you a senior leader–perhaps a Head, Assistant Head, Dean of Students, or Advisor–navigating the complex waters of responding to sexual misconduct, interpersonal violence, and boundary crossings? Whether the scenarios concern students or students and adults, understanding the nuances of trauma and how it impacts the experiences of survivors can reduce personal harm and promote healing, while also saving time and reducing cost to your school. This workshop combines research insights, scenario-based activities, and tools to understand how trauma impacts the brain. You’ll leave with strategies to help a dysregulated individual, foster empowerment, and approach these challenging situations with a trauma-informed lens.

Jamie Forbes, Learning Courage

Amy Wheeler, Learning Courage

Jayde Bennett, Learning Courage,

Christy Cooper, The Hotchkiss School

Marketing & Communication

marketing & communication

Tips for Building Your School's Strategic Marketing Plan

Building a strategic marketing plan for your boarding school is a critical component of your school’s enrollment marketing strategy. A well thought out marketing plan should incorporate strategies, tactics, and detailed calendar and budget to support your enrollment marketing efforts.

Donna Balinkie, Kalix Marketing Group
Jonathan Oleisky, Kalix Marketing Group

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Winning the Marketing Game: How Collaboration Creates Champions

“Talent wins games, but teamwork wins championships.” Those words ring true for the most successful businesses, organizations, and schools too. In this session we’ll discuss how Baylor School masterfully unlocked the potential within their marketing and admissions teams. We’ll share the ways they worked together, how they embraced the importance of their digital presence, and became a poster child for investing in collaboration- and reveal how your school can too.

Barbara Kennedy, Baylor School
Tracy Tigchelaar, Finalsite

marketing & communication

Microsoft Ads for Boarding School Enrollment

Google is great – but is Bing better? Did you know that 1/3 of private schools’ organic website traffic comes from Microsoft search engines? In the same way that Google Ads allows you to run ads on the Google search network and partner networks, Microsft Ads allows you to run ads on both the Bing search network and its partners including Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, AOL, and more — yes, people still use these search engines! We will dive into how to develop and execute an authentic Bing Ads campaign, how it ties in with an overall enrollment marketing campaign, and review the data through a Microsoft Ads Case Study with Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, FL.

Alexandra Tolischus, Saint Andrew’s School
Angie Ward, Enroll Media Group

marketing & communication

Telling an Authentic Story: A Journalistic Approach to Marketing

Traditional approaches to marketing involve the curation of stories and visuals that support the school’s initiatives and goals rather than reflecting the face of the current student population. As our communities become more diverse, the MarComm approach needs to evolve to meet the needs of the institution while also authentically and organically telling the school story. In this presentation, we hope to share the tenants of the Cate Communications Office, the philosophy we follow that takes a journalistic approach, and the value it adds to the school’s Admissions, Advancement, and DEI efforts. This session is geared toward MarComm professionals but is valuable for any external-facing department of the school, particularly those that collaborate with MarComm.

Avani Shah, Cate School

marketing & communication

Driving Boarder Marketing and Recruitment Through Linkedin

A look at how boarding schools can use the free platform of Linked In to target current and prospective parents, drive brand awareness, maximize messages, build a following and use analytics to adapt and respond.
Robin Fletcher, Board Schools’ Association

residential & student life

residential & student life

How to Grow Old in Boarding School: Longevity and Relatability

Boarding school is hard work. Two different generations of boarding school educators share their perspectives on retaining your most experienced and valuable faculty. We will talk about how to support faculty in building equity, finding purpose and balance, and creating the financial security for retirement. We will present strategies to help manage the contradiction of faculty taking care of themselves and taking care of their students by continuing to stay connected and relatable to students.

Christopher Button, Virginia Episcopal School
Nolan LaVoie, Miller School of Albemarle

residential & student life

Integration v Isolation: Creating a successful All Gender Housing Floor

Creating an all-gender housing space is only the first step. What comes next? How do you incorporate an all-gender floor into the rest of your dorm space? George School’s Tom Hoopes and Ginny Waller share their experience creating an all-gender housing floor and more importantly, provide tips on how to integrate an all-gender housing floor within an existing gendered dormitory.

Tom Hoopes, George School
Ginny Waller, George School

residential & student life

Ten Steps to Effective Crisis Response

It can happen anytime; allegations of student misconduct such as assault, bullying or hazing. In this interactive session a head of school, dean of students and legal counsel will take you through a hypothetical applying the ten steps to effective crisis response. How you respond to a situation involving the safety and well-being of your students is critical to both those involved as well as to the overall operation and long-term reputation of your school.

Mb Duckett Ireland, George School

Linda Johnson, McLane Middleton
John McVeigh, Holderness School

residential & student life

Expanding the Toolkit: Alternative Approaches to Student Sexual Misconduct

Over the years, many independent schools have developed robust sexual misconduct policies that include a formal investigative process. Some components of these investigative processes have been developed in response to the heightened protections required in college and university settings and, thus, may not appropriately account for the unique opportunities and challenges of a high school setting particularly in circumstances when younger students might benefit from an alternative form of resolution. Deerfield Academy Associate Head of School for Student Life, Amie Wilmer Creagh, and General Counsel, Christopher Brigham, will combine two different perspectives (residential life and legal) to discuss alternative, non-disciplinary models that in certain situations can be used to empower students, restore relationships, and contribute to a more positive campus culture. The presentation will invite collaborative discussion on the risks/benefits of implementing such alternative models.

Christopher Brigham, Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C.
Amie Wilmer Creagh, Deerfield Academy

 

residential & student life

The Phone Conundrum: Why Schools Need to Make the Call

Phones are a permanent part of life, but what’s the right place for them at boarding schools? They’re convenient, but the individual and community “costs” of convenience are high: fractured attention, lost focus, diminished bandwidth, sexting, insufficient sleep, a diminished sense of community, and decreasing student wellbeing. We will share a novel process for keeping core school values and student needs at the center of our decision-making by involving all stakeholders in the conversation.

Jennifer Cerny, Culver Academies
Justin Pannkuk, Culver Academies

residential & student life

Middle Management: Leading by Coaching

Assistant deans and directors, form deans, house heads, dorm parents, and advisors are managers of students and, at times, colleagues. In this session, we will first introduce five essential skills from the practice of coaching for leaders to use in decision making, navigating group dynamics, challenging conversations, accountability, and boundary setting before opening the floor to creative collaboration to guide attendees on the practical application of these skills in their work with both students and colleagues.

Jacquelin O’Rourke, Outermost Education Services

Ellissa Popoff, The Frederick Gunn School

Maureen Harrison, Outermost Education Services

residential & student life

Preventing Intense Homesickness at Boarding School

Students’ healthy adjustment to separation from home involves preventing homesickness, partnering with parents, and promoting social connection. Nearly all boarding students miss something about home; fortunately, a smaller percentage experience intense homesickness associated with clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression. For those students, their performance suffers along with their mental health and can eventually result in medical leave or withdrawal. Learn how to prevent and treat extreme homesickness with innovative, inexpensive, research-based supports.

Christopher Thurber, Phillips Exeter Academy

residential & student life

Establishing a Professional Learning Community of Boarding and ResLife Staff—and Leveraging TABS’ Support Along the Way

Join two Heads of House from Ridley College and the TABS Member Engagement team to learn how a cohort of Canadian residential life leaders launched a professional learning community of residential life staff–and explore how you might partner with TABS to host a residential life gathering in your area. The Ridley team will provide a framework for establishing a local network, stress the significance of collegiality among like-minded boarding schools, and partner with TABS to promote the professionalization of the residential-life positions.

Jessica Roud, Ridley College

Andrew McNiven, Ridley College

Emily Breite, TABS

residential & student life

Anticipating and Preparing For Student Crises in Boarding Schools

Leading a boarding school is increasingly more challenging, and the student crises are increasingly complex. In this lively and interactive program, Sara Schwartz will outline the challenges we see in 2023, including: defining in loco parentis and the scope of a school’s legal duty to protect students from risks, such as self-harm, sexual assault and sexual abuse. Sara will offer strategies for anticipating, preventing and responding to student crises; supporting communities in the wake of a crisis; institutional accountability; and transparency and communication approaches.

Sara Schwartz, Schwartz Hannum PC

residential & student life

THE CULTURAL CARRIERS OF THE SCHOOL: WHAT CAN BOARDING SCHOOLS DO TO EMPOWER, EQUIP, AND DEPLOY THE SENIOR CLASS

As residential community educators, we know that the culture of a school is set and supported by the senior class.  A great senior class will have resounding effects on a school well beyond the year of their graduation.  So how can we ensure that a great culture is passed down from year to year?  This session will explore the way that 2 fully residential boarding schools have programmatically approached student life, residential life, and leadership coaching, all specifically aimed at supporting the senior class in their ownership of the school culture. We will discuss obstacles and opportunities from practical experience.

Gregory Guldin, St. Andrew’s School (DE)
Ryan Alexander, Woodberry Forest School

residential & student life

Making Boarders' Lives Better

There are many ways staff can improve the life of their boarders, building from the development of positive relationships and school systems. In this session, explore how the Australian boarding staff create a positive boarding experience for their students by defining staff roles, robust staff training, keeping child protection and safeguarding at the forefront, knowing where their boarders are and what they are doing, staying active whilst on duty, and above all, truly getting to know their boarders and their families.
Richard Stokes, Australian Boarding Schools Association
Jared Daunt, Australian Boarding Schools Association

Concurrent Sessions Guide