Trustee Series

ISACS Trustee Series

This year-long program offers 10 salient Zoom webinars tailor-made for both trustees and heads.

Our experts will guide you through governance topics aimed at enhancing the health and efficacy of your board. Two roundtable sessions are included to support both incoming and current board chairs.

This Series is for independent school trustees & heads.

Questions?

Contact programinfo@isacs.org

Dates & Topics

Times: 3–4 p.m. CT | 4–5 p.m. ET

Thursday, September 18, 2025
Independent School Trends Trustees Will Navigate This Year
Debra Wilson, NAIS

Join Debra Wilson, NAIS President, as she highlights and expands on the influences and data directions impacting independent schools.

Thursday, October 16, 2025
Strategic Financial Planning for Trustees
James P. Honan, Harvard

From an expert in the financial management of independent schools, explore the knowledge, skills, and capacities trustees of independent schools need to ensure their schools will be financial sustainable. During this webinar, we will examine key issues and challenges trustees face as they govern for financial sustainability, and we will also discuss specific strategies and approaches for such work.

Thursday, November 20, 2025
Empowering Independent School Trustees: Current Trends, Culture & Campaigns
Meghan Davison & Bob Weston, CCS Fundraising

How are independent schools navigating the evolving philanthropic landscape? Review fundraising trends and their impact on independent schools. Gain practical insights on how boards can effectively contribute to fundraising efforts, from annual funds to capital campaigns, by building a meaningful culture of philanthropy. Learn best practices for leveraging three key fundraising tools as trustees: analyzing the giving landscape, fostering a culture of philanthropy, and preparing for and executing successful campaigns.

Thursday, December 11, 2025
Board Chair Roundtable I
Georgy Ann Peluchiwski & Stephanie Rogen, Greenwich Leadership Partners

For current & incoming board chairs only.

Join us for a facilitated conversation on the issues confronting board chairs. Peluchiwski and Rogen invite your participation to share and hear from peers.

This session will not be recorded.

Thursday, January 22, 2026
Navigating the Future: Key Trends Impacting Independent Schools
Amada Torres, NAIS

This webinar will explore the key trends reshaping the landscape of independent education—from economic shifts and demographic changes to evolving admissions strategies, philanthropy, workforce dynamics, and the head-board relationship. Designed specifically for trustees, this session will equip you with timely insights and practical knowledge to help your institution navigate change and lead with confidence.

Thursday, February 12, 2026
Everyday Succession Planning: Resilience for Leadership Transition
Georgy Ann Peluchiwski & Stephanie Rogen, Greenwich Leadership Partners

Boards that deliberately and continuously succession plan are prepared and ready for transitions because they have a firm handle on the leadership capabilities needed for a thriving organization. However, we believe succession planning is perhaps the most underdeveloped muscle in school governance. Join us for a discussion of approaches and practices to everyday succession planning. 

This session will not be recorded.

Thursday, March 5, 2026
From the Classroom to Courtroom: 
Hot Legal Topics & Governance Trends for Trustees
Megan Mann, Approach

Drawing on industry research and real-world experiences, Mann will share insights from her work with independent schools nationwide on governance, leadership development, legal education, and risk and crisis management. From enrollment agreement pitfalls to leadership successes, this webinar provides a platform for exploring critical issues, sharing strategies, and fostering community learning to equip schools for the road ahead.

Thursday, April 30, 2026
The Year Before the Strategic Plan
Greg Bamford, Leadership+Design

How can trustees and heads anticipate beginning a strategic plan—before the planning starts?  This session is for the year(s) before strategic planning—as you assess your school’s readiness for strategic work, wrangle with the complexities of timing, build shared understanding with your community, and frame the questions that will matter for the future.  We’ll consider five critical conversations to have before ever reaching out to prospective consultants—or deciding to go it alone.

Thursday, May 7, 2026
Board Chair Roundtable II: Being the Board Chair Your Board Needs 
Lynn Wendell, Independent Schools Chairpersons Association

For current & incoming board chairs only.

As board chair, you bring to the role unique background, skills, and experiences that you hope (fingers crossed!) will help you lead your board well.  Sometimes, we find ourselves facing unexpected or unusual circumstances for which we may feel wholly unprepared.  How can you, as chair, step back to recognize what your board needs from you during those times? And what can you do to equip yourself to meet those needs?

This session will not be recorded.

Thursday, May 14, 2026
Design Levers for Effective Change
Antonio Viva, Leadership+Design

Trustees are charged with driving strategic change. Yet any school’s history will include successful change initiatives and others that failed to thrive. This session examines stages of change and levers leaders can apply when implementing strategic changes. We’ll explore how to examine the environment and community readiness for change as well as the groundwork needed prior to getting started. Learn, as change unfolds, how to monitor successes and barriers. Even as the new status is accepted and established, how does that new status become the foundation for further growth?

2025–26 Brochure

Presenters

Debra Wilson

Debra Wilson

Debra Wilson

Debra Wilson began her tenure as president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in August 2023. Previously, she served as president of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). Her SAIS role followed 19 years at NAIS, as assistant director of regulatory affairs and later as general counsel. She has served on several independent school and educational nonprofit boards and co-authored the NAIS Trustee Handbook (10th & 11th editions). Wilson received a BA from Sewanee: The University of the South and a JD from the University of South Carolina.

James P. Honan

James P. Honan

James P. Honan

James P. Honan is a senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is also a faculty member at the Harvard Kennedy School and serves on the faculty executive committee of Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative. Honan has served as a consultant on strategic planning, governance, and resource allocation to colleges, universities, schools, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. He holds a BA from Marist University, an MA from George Washington University, and an EdM and EdD from Harvard University.

Meghan Davison

Meghan Davison 

Meghan Davison

Meghan Davison serves as executive vice president at CCS Fundraising. With over 15 years of experience in nonprofit consultation and campaign management, she has advanced projects with aggregate fundraising targets exceeding $1 billion. Davison leverages her expertise of the philanthropic landscape to foster strategic partnerships with education institutions across the central U.S. and is passionate about leveraging innovation and analysis to drive tailored solutions. She specializes in strategic planning, major gift program management, data analytics, and campaign communication.

Bob Weston

Bob Weston

Bob Weston

Bob Weston serves as senior vice president and independent schools practice lead at CCS Fundraising, with three decades in the independent school sector. An educator, administrator, and advancement professional, Weston has directed transformative fundraising initiatives—from $5 million to over $100 million—and advised on strategic planning, endowment growth, and donor engagement. His expertise and understanding of independent school values have elevated philanthropic outcomes and advanced institutional missions nationwide.

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski is a partner at Greenwich Leadership Partners with decades of experience in financial services, nonprofit board service, strategic planning, organization design, enterprise risk management, and independent school leadership. Within her 12-year tenure as a trustee at the Latin School of Chicago, she served as board chair, treasurer, and chair of the finance committee. Currently, she co-chairs Latin’s Senior Advisory Council and serves on the boards of the Independent School Chairperson’s Association and High Jump Chicago.

Stephanie Rogen

Stephanie Rogen

Stephanie Rogen

Stephanie Rogen, principal and founder of Greenwich Leadership Partners, is a consultant, coach, and facilitator to educational and nonprofit boards and leaders. Rogan works with nonprofits ranging from Columbia University to The White House Project and Northwell Health and is a guest lecturer at the UPenn Graduate School of Education. She is a trustee for College Unbound and has served on the boards of the HTH Graduate School of Education, Blair Academy, St. Luke’s School, Year Up, and the Greenwich United Way.

Amada Torres

Amada Torres is the vice president of studies, insights, and research at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) where she researches and reports on market and socioeconomic trends, governance and leadership, community well-being, diversity, and other studies of interest to NAIS schools. As a contributor to the NAIS Trendbook, she speaks on issues and trends related to independent education, financial sustainability, admissions and marketing, and advocacy. Torres serves as a trustee of Keys School, Tessa International School, and the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals.

Amada Torres

Amada Torres

Greg Bamford

Greg Bamford

Greg Bamford

Greg Bamford is a co-founder and partner of Leadership+Design. Previously he was associate head of school for strategy and innovation at Charles Wright Academy and head of school at Watershed School. In addition, Bamford recently completed two terms on the board of his alma mater, The Overlake School. He brings a strategic lens to leadership development, innovation, and change management. Bamford has been a speaker at conferences, and his writing has appeared in publications such as Independent School, Net Assets, and The Yield.

Megan Mann

Megan Mann launched Approach in 2024, drawing on over 17 years working in the legal, nonprofit and education sectors. Her work focuses on administrative and governance leadership levels as well as faculty professional development. Previously the general counsel and vice president of legal education and support at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) she managed intricate legal, crisis, and risk management matters, providing valuable consultation and educational support to member schools. She is an independent school alum, parent, and trustee.

Megan Mann

Megan Mann

Lynn Wendell

Lynn Wendell

Lynn Wendell

Lynn Wendell has worked as a consultant for well over 150 independent schools and nonprofits. She served as a trustee at three independent schools and as board chair at San Francisco University High School. In addition, she is currently co-chair of the program committee and on the executive committee of Independent Schools Chairpersons Association (ISCA). She has served on nonprofit boards, board committees, and advisory councils.

Antonio Viva

Antonio Viva is a partner at Leadership+Design. He is a seasoned educator, experience designer, strategic advisor, and nonprofit leader. He served as the head of school at Walnut Hill School for the Arts for 12 years. He also served as senior research and design associate for the Education Development Center, Inc. where he worked on national school design projects. Previously, he was the executive director of Artisans Asylum in Boston, MA, one of the oldest and largest makerspaces in the US. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Union College in English and Education respectively.

Antonio Viva

Antonio Viva

Enroll Your School in the Trustee Series

Registration Fee

$600 per school
for ISACS member schools

$700 per school
for non-members

Registration FAQs

Important details

  • The registration fee covers your entire school, giving your school community access to both the live & recorded presentations.
  • Once a school has been enrolled, no one else will be able to enroll that school.
  • Once registered, your entire community will be eligible to register on Zoom for the Series.

If your school is a member of any of the following associations, please register for the Parent Series through your association's website in order to receive the ISACS member rate:

  • Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS)
  • Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS)
  • Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS)
  • New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS)
  • Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS)

If you have any questions, please contact your school’s association directly.

How It Works

  1. The person who enrolls the school will become the Contact Person and will a confirmation email which includes specific Zoom registration details for that particular webinar to share with their school community.
  2. All participants from the enrolled school who plan to attend the live webinar must register themselves on Zoom.

Live Presentation

These one-hour webinars are offered via Zoom where participants can interact with presenters in real time.

Recordings

Registered schools will receive a link to the recordings, which will be available until June 30, 2026.

The February 12 webinar and the Board Chair Roundtables (December 11 & May 7) will not be recorded. 

Log in to enroll your school.

Questions?

Contact programinfo@isacs.org

ISACS reserves the right to revoke the registration and end the participation of any registrant who does not follow the ISACS Policies & Disclaimers for Professional Learning Events.