SBSA Conference

6:00 pm:
The Midwest Boarding Schools Association (MWBSA) invites Educational Consultants and partners attending the SBSA Conference at Wayland Academy to join us for a reception in Madison on Sunday, March 22. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and meaningful conversation while discovering what makes boarding in the Midwest truly exceptional. The event is hosted by representatives from Cranbrook Schools, Culver Academies, Lake Forest Academy, Western Reserve Academy, and Wayland Academy. Location to be announced.

11:30-1:30 pm:
Registration lllllSwan Library
Campus Tours
Lunch llllPickard Dining Hall

1:00 - 1:45 pm:
First Time Attendee SessionllllLocations TBD

2:00 - 2:45 pm:
Welcome from SBSA: Program OverviewllllKimberly Chapel
Welcome from Wayland Academy
Gold Sponsor Address: RG175

3:00 - 4:00 pm:
Cohort Groups SessionIllllLocations TBD

4:15-5:15 pm:
Breakout Session IllllLocations TBD

Session Descriptions:

Making Summer Matter: How Intentional Experiences Strengthen Retention and Student Success

Presented by:
Kathleen Nicholson, Wolfeboro Camp School
Jamie Goldsmith, Wolfeboro Camp School
Krissy Naspo, The Bertram Group

Academic summer programs are often seen as enrichment, but they can also be powerful tools for supporting student retention, school transitions, and long-term success.

This session explores how intentional summer experiences —whether at Wolfeboro Camp School or elsewhere—help students thrive at key points in their educational journey. Through case studies from consultants and school partners, participants will gain strategies for supporting transitions, rebuilding confidence, and strengthening executive functioning skills.

The WCS team will share examples of purposeful structures, support systems, and communication practices with schools and families that may inspire participants’ own student support initiatives. Time will also be reserved at the end for schools with summer programs to share their approaches and insights on how intentional summer learning promotes year-round growth.

Strategic Takeaways from EMA’s 2026 State of the Independent School Enrollment Industry Report

Presented by:
Mark Copestake, Senior Director of Professional Development, EMA (E3n)
Kitsana Salyphone, Director of Membership and Business Development, EMA (E3n)

This presentation will provide an in-depth analysis of the key findings from the fifth edition of EMA’s flagship State of the Independent School Enrollment Industry (SOTI) Report, conducted every three years. Drawing on insights from more than 700 schools, the report highlights essential trends shaping the independent school enrollment management landscape. Organized around core themes, it offers critical data on enrollment management office structures, compensation patterns, and the role of senior enrollment leaders across the U.S. and Canada.

Attendees will leave this session with a clearer understanding of current industry trends, practical ideas for translating data into actionable strategies, and the information needed to advocate for resources and strategic improvements within their own institutions.

Authentic Social Media Presence: Let Your Students Lead

Presented by:

Angie Ward , Enroll Media Group

Can students really run a school’s social media? Absolutely—when given the right guardrails, strategy, and teamwork. In this session, we'll dive into ways your small boarding school can empower students to create authentic content. With students playing a growing role in the boarding school decision-making process, they must see real, student-driven voices on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This session will also explore how authenticity builds trust and pairs seamlessly with a targeted, data-driven advertising campaign on Meta—creating the ultimate strategy to attract, engage, and enroll today’s boarding school students.

Beyond Tuition: Building Revenue Through Strategic Partnerships & Auxiliary Programming

Presented by:
Derrick Skivington-Green, Wayland Academy

In this session, Derrick Skivington-Green of Wayland Academy presents a forward-thinking framework for diversifying and generating alternative revenue streams in small boarding schools. Drawing on his extensive background in strategic partnerships and community engagement—from leading initiatives at ActionCOACH of WI to launching entrepreneurial ventures and serving as Executive Director of the Hartland Chamber of Commerce—Derrick brings a powerful business mindset to the education space. His unique perspective helps schools rethink traditional models, unlock new opportunities, and build sustainable revenue pathways that strengthen both mission and margin.

This session will guide attendees through:
• Identifying and leveraging campus assets for external use
• Understanding what makes a strategic partnership truly valuable
• Engaging community organizations and businesses to co-create mission-aligned programming
• Shifting mindset from educator to entrepreneur to unlock sustainable growth

Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to generate alternative revenue, strengthen community ties, and build innovative auxiliary programs that support their school’s mission and financial health

Translating Therapeutic Gains: A Model for Sustained Success in a Boarding School Environment

Presented by:
Nichol Ernst, Summit Achievement
Phil Cocchiola, Oxford Academy

This presentation addresses a persistent conference topic by diving into the nuanced support structures required for students transitioning from therapeutic programs. We will explore the clear advantages and necessary risk mitigation strategies for this student population. The central focus is the intentional design of staff development, moving support beyond specialized roles (therapist, learning specialist) and into the collective responsibility of the entire community. Attendees will learn actionable strategies for training all personnel to effectively meet these students’ needs and ensure their successful integration into boarding school life through structured, positive daily engagement.

5:30 pm:
Evening ReceptionllllJanik Field House

7:00 pm and 8:00 pm:
Shuttles to hotel

8:15 am:
Shuttles from hotels to Wayland

9:00-10:00 am:
BreakfastlllllPickard Dining Hall

9:00-5:00 pm:
Relaxation StationlllllSwan Library

10:00 - 11:00 am:
State of Small BoardinglllllKimberly Chapel
Silver Sponsor Address: Clarity
Gorman Award Presentation
2027 Host School Announcement

11:15 am - 12:15 pm:
Breakout Session IIlllllLocations TBD

Session Descriptions:

Evolving Horizons: China’s “Double Reduction” Era and Its Impact on Boarding Recruitment

Presented by:
Alexis Boyer-Meyerman, Thomas Jefferson School
Allan Zhang, Senior Consultant, USCIE Group

The international boarding recruitment market in China is changing quickly. The government’s “double reduction” policy, which reduces homework and limits private tutoring in Grades 1–9, is already influencing how families think about learning, pressure, and long-term success. At the same time, demographic realities such as fewer children, high competition for top universities within China, and greater interest in well-rounded education are shaping decisions about studying abroad.

This session will provide boarding-school admission professionals with a timely overview of how these factors affect interest in U.S. boarding schools. Using current research as well as recent, direct insights from families, agents, and international-school leaders in China, the presentation will highlight the most relevant trends for small schools.

Participants will gain:
• A clear understanding of the policy and demographic forces shaping Chinese educational decision-making
• Strategic considerations for messaging and positioning boarding-school programs to align with evolving Chinese family priorities and shifting immigration policies in the USA
• Targeted recruitment tactics and segmentation approaches suited to small boarding­ schools operating with limited international-marketing capacity

The goal is to offer useful context and realistic tactics that support strong and sustainable recruitment from a market that remains important for mission, diversity, and enrollment stability.

Real Strategy for Independent Schools

Presented by:
John Farber, Resource Group 175

Most independent school strategic plans aren’t actually strategic—nor are they true plans for turning vision into action. Far too many become glossy documents full of aspirations but lacking the clarity, discipline, and decision-making needed to create real change.

In this session, we’ll cut through the confusion by defining what strategy really is (and isn’t), examining common pitfalls and failed-plan scenarios, and outlining the essential components of a strategy that drives measurable, sustainable progress. Attendees will leave with a clearer framework for building strategic plans that prioritize choices, allocate resources, and chart a path that genuinely moves a school forward.

Digital Reputation: A Strategic Approach to Gaining Positive School Reviews

Presented by:
Matthew Soule, Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School

With 78% of families visiting review sites before ever reaching a school’s website, your digital reputation has never mattered more. Online reviews now play a pivotal role in admissions success, student retention, and long-term school pride. This session dives into why these platforms have become so influential—and, more importantly, how schools can proactively and systematically generate more positive reviews.

You’ll learn practical, research-backed strategies for identifying who to ask, when to ask, and how to make the process easy and authentic for your community. Whether your school is struggling with low visibility or looking to amplify an already strong reputation, you’ll leave with a clear, actionable plan to turn satisfied families, students, alumni, and staff into your school’s most powerful public ambassadors.

Darrow’s on the Move! Lessons to Share from our Near Closure: Year 2

Presented by:
Vince Schmidt, Darrow School
Andy Vadnais, Darrow School

As a follow-up to last year’s presentation, Andy and Vince will revisit the pivotal moments that brought Darrow School to the brink of closure and outline the efforts that kept it open through its first year of renewal. Building on that foundation, they will highlight the strategies that proved most effective—such as identifying signature programs, empowering key individuals, and rebuilding community trust—while also candidly discussing what did not work and how those lessons inform Darrow’s future direction.

Although this presentation centers on Darrow’s experience, the focus extends to providing specific, actionable guidance for other school professionals. Attendees will gain insights into how to:
• Stay relevant in an increasingly competitive independent school marketplace
• Partner effectively with their boards and alumni during times of institutional change
• Maintain a positive public persona through crisis and recovery
•Engage and manage relationships with referring professionals

Sur-Thriving Independent Schools as People of Color in the Present Day

Presented by:
Alex Fernandez, Fay School
Roselle Garro, The Bement School

In this session, you will learn different skills and resources to utilize to overcome some of the challenges that you might face as a person of color in an independent school. Learn how to best support students of color, how to support yourself, when to say no, and why your presence matters so much at your school. While the rest of the world may be on fire, there is joy you can find in your work and in your community as a person of color.

12:15 - 12:30 pm:
Networking Opportunities

12:30-1:30 pm:
LunchlllllPickard Dining Hall
First Time Attendee Group AssignedTables

1:30 - 2:30 pm:
Breakout Session IIIlllllLocations TBD

Session Descriptions:

Helping Families Say Yes: A Persuasive Approach for Schools and IECs

Presented by:
Kate Auger-Campbell, Bridgeworks Group
Jill Hutchins, McMillan Group

Whether you’re enrolling a student into your school or guiding a family through the admissions landscape, you’re selling something—your values, your expertise, and your vision of success. But today’s families don’t want to be pitched to; they want to be understood. In this interactive session designed for both Admission Officers and Independent Educational Consultants, we’ll explore the power of consultative selling—an approach that centers on empathy, curiosity, and collaboration. Together we’ll discuss how to lead with questions, uncover what truly matters to families, and close with clarity and confidence.

Better Late Than Never: Mid-Year Onboarding Success Strategies

Presented by:
Jennifer Cronin, Eagle Hill School
Molly Gray, Eagle Hill School

They’ve missed the balloons, the opening cookout, the icebreakers, and that all-important first day of school. They may have missed team tryouts, play auditions, and even the first family weekend. So what’s a midyear admit to do?

We’ve all been there: months of planning go into fall orientation, complete with ceremonies, community-building activities, and carefully sequenced information. But when a student arrives in October, November, or even January, what does a meaningful welcome really look like for a small boarding school community?

Midyear admits often arrive with more complex stories—academic gaps, social anxieties, emotional transitions—that can make joining ongoing classes, activities, and peer groups even more challenging.

In this session, Eagle Hill School’s Dean of Admission Jennifer Cronin and Associate Director of Enrollment Molly Gray will present “A Midyear Success Strategy,” a practical protocol designed to support midyear students from arrival to assimilation. Participants will also be invited to share their own wins (and misses) as we collectively explore best practices for enrolling, integrating, and retaining midyear students in small boarding environments.

All Hands on Brand: Marketing as a Team Sport in Small Schools

Presented by:
Nora Dock, Vermont Academy
Jackie Kenney, Dublin School
Lisa Leidy, Square Spot Design

Many small boarding schools are doing more with less, and nowhere is that more evident than in marketing and communications. Without a dedicated communications director, admission teams are often tasked with managing messaging, storytelling, and digital strategy on top of everything else. How can schools maintain consistency, creativity, and impact under these constraints? In this session, enrollment leaders from Dublin School and Vermont Academy will share a candid conversation about what it takes to market a school effectively without an in-house communications department. Drawing from real examples, we will explore:
• How to set realistic goals and identify the most high-impact marketing priorities.
• Ways to leverage the unique storytelling assets already within your community: students, faculty, and families.
• Systems and workflows that keep messaging aligned and admissions-driven, even across small teams.
• When and how to bring in outside expertise to fill strategic or creative gaps, and how to make those partnerships efficient, affordable, and mission-aligned.

Participants will leave with practical tools to help their schools tell their stories more effectively, build momentum with limited resources, and find clarity in what marketing success at a small boarding school looks like.

The Fragile Ecology of Community: Building Resilience in Small Boarding Schools

Presented by:

Robert Hansen, The Leelanau School
Becca Dymond, The Leelanau School

In a small boarding school, every student truly matters—far beyond their academic footprint. Each young person plays a powerful role in shaping the social and emotional climate of the community. One conflict, one unmet need, or one sudden shift in behavior can send ripples through the entire campus, impacting peers, dorm life, and even the overall sense of stability and belonging. In an environment where the community is the curriculum, every individual’s wellbeing has a profound and immediate influence on the whole school ecology.

This session will explore how to cultivate resilience in that ecology by moving beyond reactive responses and toward proactive, intentional care. We’ll share practical strategies for reading the “vital signs” of your community, normalizing restorative practices, navigating the complexities of parent involvement, and equipping students themselves to be stewards of emotional health.

Participants will leave with tools and frameworks they can immediately adapt to their own schools—ways to anticipate challenges before they escalate, and to strengthen the culture of care that makes small boarding schools uniquely powerful places for growth.

---

Supercharge Students, Strengthen School Culture: The Case for Strategic Novelty

Presented by:
Adam Beeson , New Summit Academy Costa Rica
Rebekah Jordan, Crossbridge Education
Dr. Heather Tracy, New Summit Academy & The Bridge Costa Rica
Beth Venable, The Outdoor Academy

In today’s fast-paced, tech-saturated world, students are pushed to check boxes, pad résumés, chase constant digital connection, and keep pace with AI-driven efficiency. Yet mounting mental health data shows that this relentless pressure is undermining the healthy development of the very young people we’re counting on to navigate the 21st century. What’s missing is space—space to step back, slow down, and immerse themselves in meaningful, novel, real-world experiences that build character, spark curiosity, and cultivate a deeper sense of purpose.

Study away programs - whether semester schools, therapeutic interventions or international experiences - serve as developmental accelerators. By immersing students in novel contexts, these programs give them space to reflect, to connect, and to invest in their own humanity and community. Research confirms that students return to their home schools with stronger academic skills, clearer values, healthier relationships, and a renewed sense of agency. In other words, they return supercharged and ready to contribute to the community with energy and maturity.

In this interactive session, leaders from two established study away schools and one independent educational consultant will share evidence, stories, and strategies that small boarding schools can adapt for their own campuses. Together we’ll explore:
• Why strategic novelty cultivates humanity and acts as a developmental accelerator in a tech-heavy world
• How novel experiences not only change students themselves, but serve as catalysts for community growth
• What small boarding schools can borrow from study away models to supercharge their own programs
• Practical collaboration strategies with study away programs that turn potential competition into mutual benefit

This session is ideal for enrollment leaders, heads, and student-life professionals who want to:
• Retain and re-energize students by offering unique programming and flexible pathways,
• Differentiate their schools in a crowded market, and
• Reclaim what makes small boarding schools essential

2:30 - 2:45 pm:
Networking Opportunities

2:45 - 3:45 pm:
Breakout Session IVlllllLocations TBD

Session Descriptions:

Recruit Intentionally, Retain Consistently: When Admission and Res Life Tag-Team Cultural Fit

Presented by:
Matthew Gilliland, North Cross School
Kate Branciforte, North Cross School

In small boarding programs, retention begins with a recruitment process that prioritizes cultural fit and hinges on a residential life program that intentionally creates a home away from home for students from down the road and around the globe. This session explores how strengthening collaboration between Admissions, Residential Life, and other signature programs can transform admission guesswork into attracting mission-aligned students and families. We’ll share how our small boarding program leverages downtown residential housing to create a vibrant, close-knit community that helps global students thrive. Attendees will leave with practical insights for assessing cultural fit and mission alignment, leveraging key partnerships, building intentional community, and creating a shared ownership of student success.

Leading for International Mindedness in Boarding Schools: From Good Intentions to Daily Practice

Presented by:
Gingi Sheppard, Bishop's College School

This session explores how school leaders in boarding schools can effectively foster international mindedness (IM) through intentional leadership practices. Drawing from a qualitative study involving interviews with experienced school leaders, the session highlights strategies that thoughtfully support IM. Participants will engage with findings that reveal both the promise and complexity of IM, including the challenge of navigating dominant cultural narratives and the need to expand epistemologies beyond Western frameworks.

Learning Objectives: Understand how international mindedness can be interpreted and applied in boarding school contexts. Identify leadership strategies that effectively promote IM across school culture and curriculum. Explore the role of digital literacy in supporting IM and mitigating the influence of social media. Reflect on how IM can expand epistemologies and challenge dominant cultural narratives.

The Adolescent Brain on Boarding School: How 9th-Grade Junior Boarding Programs Support Healthy Development

Presented by:
Jennifer Weeden, Fay School
Lesley Gibbs, Rectory School
Helen Waldron, Oxford Academy, Waldron Education

Studies of human brain development reveal something remarkable: during adolescence, the brain re-enters a period of plasticity as powerful and dynamic as infancy. In this “second window of opportunity,” young teens are primed to absorb new experiences, form lasting habits, and develop the skills that will shape their adult lives. But this same openness also makes them vulnerable—to social media, to unengaging learning environments, and to negative peer dynamics.

This session will illuminate the middle school brain through a neurodevelopmental lens and show how independent schools can harness this critical stage of growth. Attendees will learn how to connect the science of adolescent brain development to the real advantages their schools offer—from leadership opportunities and academic challenge to athletics, arts, community service, and the uniquely supportive structure of boarding communities. You will leave with language and insight to help families and consultants understand why the middle school years are such a transformative—and essential—time to invest in an independent school education.

---

Do you Know My Name? Building Trust and Relationships Within Your School Community

Presented by:
Lauren Lewis, Clarity
Jackie Kenney, Dublin School
Susie Whelan Horan, Trinity-Pawling School

A strong, trusting partnership between families and a school is essential for long-term sustainability—and the foundation of that relationship is often built during the enrollment and financial aid process. But when should schools begin cultivating trust? How can they establish rapport early, communicate with clarity, and support families through what can feel like an overwhelming or vulnerable experience?

In this session, a Clarity Client Success Manager and an independent school administrator will share practical strategies for strengthening family–school relationships through the financial aid process. Together, they’ll explore communication approaches that foster confidence, transparency, and partnership, helping schools create a more supportive and connected community from the very first interaction.

---

Dealing with Anxious School Refusal: You're (Probably) Doing It Wrong

Presented by:
Everett Logan, Mountain Valley
Jessica Toffey, Winchendon School

Boarding schools are increasingly encountering students whose anxiety shows up as class avoidance, time in the dorm, nurse-seeking, or chronic late starts. The instinctive response—reducing academic demands, excusing missed classes, providing “safe spaces,” or allowing ongoing avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations—may feel supportive, but it often reinforces the anxiety maintenance cycle and leads to further disengagement.

This session challenges prevailing school-based practices that accommodate anxiety rather than treat it. Participants will examine how well-intended adjustments can inadvertently strengthen avoidance patterns and erode a student’s confidence, resilience, and connection to school life.

Drawing on an exposure-informed, values-driven approach, this presentation will offer practical strategies for boarding school faculty and administrators to help anxious students face—rather than retreat from—discomfort. Attendees will learn actionable interventions that build distress tolerance, promote healthy risk-taking, and support re-entry into academic and residential life with greater courage, competence, and independence.

3:45 - 4:00 pm:
Networking Opportunities

4:00 - 5:00 pm:
Cohort Groups Session IIlllllVarious Locations
Wayland Panel for Consultants

5:15 pm:
Evening ReceptionlllllLindsay Gym
Karaoke To Follow

7 and 9 PM:
Shuttles to hotels

8:15 am:
Shuttles from hotels to Wayland

9:00-10:00 am:
Breakfast IIIIIPickard Dining Hall

9:00 - 2:00 pm:
Relaxation StationIIIIISwan Library

10:00 - 11:00 am:
Morning MeetingIIIIIKimberly Chapel
Bronze Sponsor Address: Enroll Media Group

11:00 am - 12:00 pm:
Breakout Session VIIIIILocations TBD

Session Descriptions:

Retention by Design: Turning Admits into Engaged Students

Presented by:
Andrea Chesley, Wayland Academy
Bryanna Michaletz , Wayland Academy
Dominick LaPorte, Wayland Academy

How can small boarding schools intentionally shape the student journey from “You’re in!” to “I belong here”? This session explores practical, evidence-informed strategies that strengthened our transition from acceptance to arrival at Wayland Academy. By implementing a series of thoughtfully sequenced weekly emails, strategically timed virtual touchpoints, and strong cross-department collaboration among admission, academic, and student life teams, we reduced uncertainty, built trust, and created predictable communication rhythms that benefited both students and the institution.

We’ll also examine the post-arrival tools—such as a 21-day check-in survey and ongoing mid-year feedback loops—that helped us spot early indicators of risk, celebrate successes, and respond proactively. Participants will leave with actionable frameworks for designing communication systems, engagement timelines, and data-informed practices that cultivate belonging from day one and strengthen retention by design.

Apples, Oranges, and Aid Forms: Creating Consistency When Every Folder and Document Looks Different

Presented by:
Alisa Evans, Mission Enrollment
Susie Whelan Horan, Trinity-Pawling School

No two financial aid folders ever look the same. One family uploads a complete set of U.S. tax transcripts; another submits only pay stubs and a lengthy “other considerations” letter; a third provides foreign income documents that don’t neatly align with U.S. tax categories. For small boarding school teams, this variability can slow down decisions, create confusion, and introduce unintentional inconsistencies in awards.

This session offers a clear roadmap for building a steady, equitable review process—even when the documentation is anything but uniform. We’ll unpack what tax transcripts reveal (and what they don’t), how to interpret non-U.S. financial records, and how to confidently determine when clarification is necessary versus when it’s appropriate to move forward. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to streamline workflows, strengthen internal protocols, and ensure every family is evaluated with fairness, consistency, and confidence.

Key Takeaways:
• Identify the most common inconsistencies in financial aid documentation (U.S. and non-U.S.).
• Learn how to assess and compare income when forms, tax systems, and verification levels vary widely.
• Apply structured review protocols and documentation practices to maintain fairness across applicants.
• Determine when to request additional information—and when to rely on established policies to guide decisions.
• Implement practical workflow strategies that help small offices make consistent, equitable financial aid decisions all season long.

Keeping the Lights on and the Mission Strong: Financial Tools for Small Schools

Presented by:
Karen Volpi, NBOA
Andrew Vadnais, Darrow School

Small boarding schools operate with heart, purpose, and—often—razor-thin margins. Limited enrollment, high operational costs, and unpredictable revenue streams can make financial sustainability feel out of reach. This session provides leaders of small boarding schools with practical, accessible financial tools to navigate these challenges with greater clarity and confidence.

Co-presented by Karen Volpi, Director of Accounting and Finance Programs at NBOA and former CFO of Darrow School, and Andy Vadnais, current Head of School at Darrow School, this session blends strategic insight with hands-on experience. Attendees will learn how to use financial dashboards, heat maps for financial health, and long-range financial modeling—no finance background required.

As a special highlight, participants will get an early look at NBOA’s new cash flow forecast tool, modeled closely on the system Darrow used to weather financial crisis and chart a stable path forward.

Participants will:
• Understand the critical role of proactive financial planning in small boarding school sustainability.
• Learn how to implement tools that strengthen financial visibility, transparency, and decision-making.
• Explore real-world examples of how small boarding schools have used these tools to stabilize operations and support long-term growth.

---

Classrooms Without Walls: Designing, Implementing, and Sustaining Experiential Learning on Weekends

Presented by:

Luke Salerno, The Gow School

Small boarding schools have a unique opportunity to rethink how time, space, and community connections shape student learning. This session invites school leaders and educators to reimagine their weekend and academic structures through a flexible, student-centered lens—one that blends intentional academic support with meaningful off-campus experiences, social-emotional growth, and strong community engagement.

Drawing on the first full year of an ambitious redesign at The Gow School—including a restructured academic schedule, revamped weekend programming, and intentional use of nearby urban and natural resources—this presentation will share a real-world case study with proven impact. Attendees will leave inspired, informed, and equipped with a framework they can adapt to their own school culture and constraints.

---

Leveraging AI to Transform Boarding School Admissions: A Proposal for Professional Development

Presented by:
Heather DAgostino, Ross School
Jennifer Keogh, Ross School

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how schools communicate, evaluate, and operate—yet boarding school admissions remains, at its core, a deeply human profession. This session will equip admissions professionals with practical and ethical strategies for weaving AI tools into their daily workflows in ways that boost efficiency, elevate the applicant experience, and preserve the personal connection that sets boarding schools apart.

Focusing on real-world, time-saving applications, we’ll explore how AI can streamline communication, support data-driven decision-making, and reduce administrative burnout—without ever replacing the holistic, relationship-centered judgment that defines great admissions work. Attendees will leave with clear guidelines, actionable tools, and a confident understanding of where AI adds value—and where the human touch must remain front and center.

12:00-1:00 pm:
LunchIIIIIPickard Dining Hall

1:00 - 2:00 pm:
Breakout Session VIIIIIILocations TBD

Session Descriptions:

From Vermont to Vietnam: Consistent Financial Aid Reviews for Global Applicants

Presented by:
Alisa Evans, Mission Enrollment
Bill Mena, Assist Scholars

For boarding schools serving families from across the U.S. and around the world, financial aid review can quickly become a complex puzzle. What qualifies as “middle income” in rural New England may reflect a dramatically different reality overseas. Exchange rates shift, financial systems vary, and cultural norms around paying for education differ widely.

This session equips financial aid practitioners with the tools to navigate these variables with confidence, clarity, and fairness. Using real-world examples from both domestic and international cases, we’ll examine common missteps in interpreting unfamiliar financial data and highlight the patterns that matter most. Participants will walk away with practical frameworks that promote consistent, equitable decision-making—no matter where a family calls home.

Key Takeaways:
• Identify and adjust for regional and international cost-of-living differences.
• Understand how cultural norms and economic context shape financial disclosures.
• Learn tools and strategies for converting, normalizing, and comparing global financial data.
• Apply decision-making frameworks that ensure consistency, transparency, and mission alignment across all applicant reviews.

Trends in Boarding School Sustainability & Governance

Presented by:
Ann Snyder, NAIS

This presentation will examine the essential factors that shape the long-term sustainability of small boarding schools—through the lenses of leadership, governance, and financial strategy. Drawing on NAIS data and additional research, we’ll explore why some schools face mounting risks and potential closure while others remain stable, solvent, and even thriving. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the indicators that matter most, the strategic choices that influence institutional health, and the leadership practices that position small boarding schools for a resilient future.

---

From First Click to Campus: Driving Digital Engagement to Strengthen the Small-School Experience

Presented by:
Jason Warnick, Wayland Academy
Rob DiMartino, Finalsite

In today’s competitive landscape, small boarding schools must forge meaningful digital connections long before families ever set foot on campus. This session explores how authentic storytelling, aligned marketing and enrollment strategy, and intentional use of technology can amplify your mission and strengthen engagement across the entire family journey.

Drawing on combined perspectives from a school leader and the leader of Finalsite—each sharing insights in an instructive capacity—we’ll break down how schools can streamline systems, improve communication, and design digital pathways that support recruitment, retention, and community belonging. We’ll also highlight practical, right-sized ways to leverage AI to increase capacity, integrate tools for efficiency, and deliver personalized, mission-consistent experiences that reflect your school’s culture and values.

Participants will leave with actionable strategies to elevate digital engagement, maximize limited resources, and create more impactful, connected experiences from first inquiry through alumni connection.

---

Supporting Adolescents in a Complex World: Challenges for Boarding Schools

Presented by:
Robb Genetelli, Landmark School

Adolescents today are facing an unprecedented array of challenges—and boarding schools are grappling with the growing complexity and cost of meeting those needs. Students are arriving with higher levels of anxiety, diverse learning profiles, inconsistent or overly intensive parental involvement, and increased exposure to substance-related risks. These pressures place significant strain not only on students, but also on the systems and professionals responsible for supporting them.

This workshop will examine the evolving landscape of adolescent needs and the unique hurdles boarding schools face in responding effectively. Through research-informed insights and facilitated discussion, we’ll explore the impact these concerns have on school communities and identify strategies to better support today’s youth. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of emerging trends, shared challenges, and the collaborative approaches needed to sustain healthy, well-resourced learning environments.

I, You, We—Speaking Your Truth

Presented by:
Douglas Sutherland, Dublin School

It is important to realize that everyone does not come from same place, physically or mentally. We all have our expectations, beliefs, and thoughts which shape how we move through space. “I” expect schools to be comfortable with these conversations. “You” believe there is only one way for this to work. “We” think it can be better. This session will provide ways to approach challenging conversations and interactions specifically around DEIB. It will address your school’s mission and your personal mission to build a community that thrives. These are not easy conversations. However, they are conversations school are designed to address.

2:00pm:
Conference Adjourns

2:15pm:
Shuttle vans to Madison airport