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Wednesday, June 24
 

1:00pm EDT

Registration
Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Wednesday June 24, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
  Registration

2:00pm EDT

Keynote | Small School, Big Brand
Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Small schools face a choice: compete like larger institutions or compete as something entirely different. Too often, they choose the former, borrowing tactics from big schools and attempting to prove they offer just as much. The result? Marketing that positions distinctive schools as scaled-down versions of their competitors. This keynote offers a better strategy. Drawing from a decade as Chief...
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Speakers
avatar for Trey Boden

Trey Boden

Founder & Principal, Roar
Stories shape the way people see, feel, and act, and every school has the opportunity to tell a transformational story. With 15 years of experience in branding and marketing for PreK-12 schools and churches, Trey Boden leads with conviction, creativity, and a desire for all people... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
  Keynote

3:00pm EDT

Break
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
  Meals & Networking

3:30pm EDT

Alternative Revenue Streams & Resource Development
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Tuition alone can't sustain the full breadth of mission-driven programming many small schools aspire to offer. In this session, the head of school of The Fletcher School and executive director of The Rankin Institute at Fletcher School will share their plans to build alternative revenue streams that strengthen both financial sustainability and educational impact. Fletcher's leaders will share...
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Speakers
avatar for Tara Terry

Tara Terry

Head of School, The Fletcher School
Dr. Tara Terry is the head of The Fletcher School, an independent K-12 school for students with learning differences located in Charlotte. Tara has spent the majority of her career in schools that educate students with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia and ADHD... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
  Financial Sustainability

3:30pm EDT

The Multi-Role Reality: Leading When You Wear Many Hats
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
In small schools, leadership often means being head of school, admissions director, development officer, and crisis manager—all before lunch. This session acknowledges the unique pressures of multi-role leadership and offers practical strategies for thriving, not just surviving, in this reality. Join Beverly Fowler, Head of School at Salisbury Academy, to explore how to prioritize effectively...
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Speakers
avatar for Beverly Fowler

Beverly Fowler

Head of School, Salisbury Academy
Beverly Fowler serves as the head of school at Salisbury Academy, where her leadership is defined by a deep-rooted commitment to experiential learning and community. With over two decades of experience in education, including a pivotal tenure as the academy’s associate head, Beverly... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
  People & Team

3:30pm EDT

Building Your Marketing Stack
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Small school marketing teams face an impossible challenge: deliver professional brand work with little to no staff, limited budget, and endless demands. AI has changed what's possible, but most schools don't know how to leverage it strategically. This session helps you build your marketing stack one brick at a time, choosing the right foundations, tools, people, and processes for your school's...
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Speakers
avatar for Trey Boden

Trey Boden

Founder & Principal, Roar
Stories shape the way people see, feel, and act, and every school has the opportunity to tell a transformational story. With 15 years of experience in branding and marketing for PreK-12 schools and churches, Trey Boden leads with conviction, creativity, and a desire for all people... Read More →
Wednesday June 24, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
  Strategy & Systems

5:00pm EDT

Reception
Wednesday June 24, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

Wednesday June 24, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
  Meals & Networking
 
Thursday, June 25
 

8:00am EDT

Continental Breakfast
Thursday June 25, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Thursday June 25, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
  Meals & Networking

9:00am EDT

Keynote | Sustainable Financial Models for Small Schools
Thursday June 25, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Small schools don’t have the luxury of inefficiency. Every program choice, every hire, every enrollment decision reverberates across the whole institution. The margin for error is thinner, but the opportunity for clarity is greater.Serving as a senior leader or trustee of a small independent school is deeply rewarding – and undeniably demanding. This work, best done in strong partnership...
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Speakers
avatar for Sadie Albertyn

Sadie Albertyn

Senior Strategist, Mission & Data
Sadie Albertyn is Mission & Data’s senior organizational effectiveness strategist, known for translating big ideas and complex data into strategies schools can actually act on. She began her career at Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest institutional hedge fund, helping... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
  Keynote

10:00am EDT

Break
Thursday June 25, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am EDT

Thursday June 25, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am EDT
  Meals & Networking

10:30am EDT

Tuition Pricing & Financial Aid Sustainability
Thursday June 25, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Setting tuition each year is one of the most consequential decisions independent school leaders and boards make. It sits at the intersection of mission and market, requiring schools to balance affordability, accessibility, competitiveness, and long-term financial sustainability. And the stakes are high: for most independent schools, tuition is the single largest driver of financial health.In every...
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Speakers
avatar for Sadie Albertyn

Sadie Albertyn

Senior Strategist, Mission & Data
Sadie Albertyn is Mission & Data’s senior organizational effectiveness strategist, known for translating big ideas and complex data into strategies schools can actually act on. She began her career at Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest institutional hedge fund, helping... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
  Financial Sustainability

10:30am EDT

Building a Culture That Attracts & Retains Educators
Thursday June 25, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Small schools face a critical challenge: staff retention and recruitment consistently rank among the top concerns for school leaders. Yet recent SAIS research on early-career educators reveals that culture – not just compensation – is what keeps talented teachers engaged and committed in the long term. This session explores how to intentionally build and sustain a school culture that becomes...
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Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Maglio

Elizabeth Maglio

Director of Professional Learning, SAIS
Elizabeth joined the SAIS team in July 2021. She began her career in education in 2005 as a leadership program faculty advisor for middle school students at Envision EMI in Washington, D.C. She continued there as a program coordinator and professional development manager. In 2012... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
  People & Team

10:30am EDT

Future-Focused Strategic Leadership
Thursday June 25, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Use strategic futures tools to clarify long-range vision and make bold decisions with confidence. Participants will use scenario planning to stress test strategic objectives over the next 1–3 years.
Speakers
avatar for Ann Marsh Rutledge

Ann Marsh Rutledge

Director of Strategic Design & Innovation, SAIS
Ann Marsh joined the SAIS staff in 2025. She previously served as the executive director of Mount Vernon Ventures, where she led Educational Consulting and Research & Development. Over the course of her 15-plus years in education, she has taught and tutored students in grades PK through... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
  Strategy & Systems

12:00pm EDT

Lunch
Thursday June 25, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT

Thursday June 25, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
  Meals & Networking

1:00pm EDT

Development: From Wishful Thinking to Financial Strategy
Thursday June 25, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
When enrollment dips or budgets tighten small school leaders quickly turn to development as a solution. But development is not a rescue plan, it’s a long-term revenue strategy.In this session, Jill Goodman, founder of Jill Goodman Consulting, will reframe development as a core component of financial sustainability rather than a hopeful fix for budget shortfalls. Jill will bust the myths that...
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Speakers
avatar for Jill Goodman

Jill Goodman

Founder, Jill Goodman Consulting
Jill Goodman brings 25 years of experience helping independent and private school leaders transform their vision into reality.

Jill's journey in independent schools began as a parent volunteer and evolved into deep leadership roles. Over two decades, she served on boards of trustees for two schools, worked as development director and marketing/communications manager in the Baltimore area, and launched Jill... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
  Financial Sustainability

1:00pm EDT

Professional Development on Limited Resources
Thursday June 25, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Small schools rarely have dedicated PD budgets or full-time professional learning staff. Yet educators still need meaningful opportunities to grow. This session features a small school leader who has successfully built a robust professional development culture without breaking the bank. You'll discover creative, low-cost strategies that deliver real impact for teacher growth and student...
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Speakers
avatar for Stephanie Griffin

Stephanie Griffin

Assistant Head of School for Academics, Trinity Episcopal School
Stephanie Griffin is the assistant head of school for Academics at Trinity Episcopal School, where she also teaches a social action seminar - a class committed to developing the next civically engaged leaders and advocates. She has spent almost two decades doing what independent school... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
  People & Team

1:00pm EDT

Systems & Structures That Maximize Efficiency
Thursday June 25, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
When everything feels important, it can be hard for small-school leaders to know where their time is best spent. This session will examine how heads of school and leadership team members can develop clearer systems, better priorities, and more effective working rhythms so they can lead with greater focus, support their teams more effectively, and reduce unnecessary bottlenecks.

Speakers
avatar for Aubrey Bursch

Aubrey Bursch

CEO, Easy School Marketing
Aubrey Bursch is the CEO of Easy School Marketing, dedicated to empowering small independent and private schools to thrive through increased enrollment, retention, and revenue. With deep roots in education as the daughter of lifelong educators and a mom to two independent school students... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
  Strategy & Systems

2:00pm EDT

Break
Thursday June 25, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

Thursday June 25, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
  Meals & Networking

2:30pm EDT

Cohort Meeting #1 - Collaborative Problem Solving for CFOs, Enrollment Professionals & Advancement Practitioners
Thursday June 25, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
You've spent the morning gathering insights from breakout sessions on the unique challenges and opportunities of small school leadership. Now it's time to make those ideas stick. In this first role-based cohort meeting, you'll join fellow colleagues in similar roles to process what resonated most, tackle real challenges together, and plan concrete next steps you can take back to your schools.This...
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Speakers
avatar for Aubrey Bursch

Aubrey Bursch

CEO, Easy School Marketing
Aubrey Bursch is the CEO of Easy School Marketing, dedicated to empowering small independent and private schools to thrive through increased enrollment, retention, and revenue. With deep roots in education as the daughter of lifelong educators and a mom to two independent school students... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
  Cohort

2:30pm EDT

Cohort Meeting #1 - Collaborative Problem Solving for Heads of Schools
Thursday June 25, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
You've spent the morning gathering insights from breakout sessions on the unique challenges and opportunities of small school leadership. Now it's time to make those ideas stick. In this first role-based cohort meeting, you'll join fellow colleagues in similar roles to process what resonated most, tackle real challenges together, and plan concrete next steps you can take back to your schools.This...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Jill Goodman

Jill Goodman

Founder, Jill Goodman Consulting
Jill Goodman brings 25 years of experience helping independent and private school leaders transform their vision into reality.

Jill's journey in independent schools began as a parent volunteer and evolved into deep leadership roles. Over two decades, she served on boards of trustees for two schools, worked as development director and marketing/communications manager in the Baltimore area, and launched Jill... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
  Cohort

2:30pm EDT

Cohort Meeting #1 - Collaborative Problem Solving for Mid-Level Leaders
Thursday June 25, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
You've spent the morning gathering insights from breakout sessions on the unique challenges and opportunities of small school leadership. Now it's time to make those ideas stick. In this first role-based cohort meeting, you'll join fellow colleagues in similar roles to process what resonated most, tackle real challenges together, and plan concrete next steps you can take back to your schools.This...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Maglio

Elizabeth Maglio

Director of Professional Learning, SAIS
Elizabeth joined the SAIS team in July 2021. She began her career in education in 2005 as a leadership program faculty advisor for middle school students at Envision EMI in Washington, D.C. She continued there as a program coordinator and professional development manager. In 2012... Read More →
Thursday June 25, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
  Cohort
 
Friday, June 26
 

8:00am EDT

Continental Breakfast
Friday June 26, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Friday June 26, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
  Meals & Networking

9:00am EDT

Keynote | Governance, Growth & Moving Forward
Friday June 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Governance, Growth & Moving Forward will focus on what effective governance looks like in small schools where there are fewer leaders, more hats to wear, and often fewer resources to deploy. Grounded in the Governance Health Index (GHI) framework, this session will explore how boards can sharpen strategic direction, strengthen collaborative leadership, and steward limited capacity in ways that...
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Speakers
avatar for Brett Jacobsen

Brett Jacobsen

President, SAIS
Brett joined the SAIS team in July 2024, having most recently served as the chief executive officer at The Mount Vernon School in Atlanta. Since joining SAIS, he has overseen the launch of the Governance Health Index; enhanced data and benchmarking, including monthly pulse surveys... Read More →
Friday June 26, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
  Keynote

10:00am EDT

Break
Friday June 26, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am EDT

Friday June 26, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am EDT
  Meals & Networking

10:30am EDT

Cohort Meeting #2 - Your 90-Day Action Plan: Moving Forward in Your Journey for CFOs, Enrollment Professionals & Advancement Practitioners
Friday June 26, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
The Small Schools Summit has equipped you with new insights, strategies, and connections, but real change happens when you translate learning into focused action. In this closing cohort session, you'll craft a personalized 90-day action plan grounded in the learning journey you've been following throughout the summit, whether that's financial sustainability, strategy and systems, or people and...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Aubrey Bursch

Aubrey Bursch

CEO, Easy School Marketing
Aubrey Bursch is the CEO of Easy School Marketing, dedicated to empowering small independent and private schools to thrive through increased enrollment, retention, and revenue. With deep roots in education as the daughter of lifelong educators and a mom to two independent school students... Read More →
Friday June 26, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
  Cohort

10:30am EDT

Cohort Meeting #2 - Your 90-Day Action Plan: Moving Forward in Your Journey for Heads of Schools
Friday June 26, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
The Small Schools Summit has equipped you with new insights, strategies, and connections, but real change happens when you translate learning into focused action. In this closing cohort session, you'll craft a personalized 90-day action plan grounded in the learning journey you've been following throughout the summit, whether that's financial sustainability, strategy and systems, or people and...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Jill Goodman

Jill Goodman

Founder, Jill Goodman Consulting
Jill Goodman brings 25 years of experience helping independent and private school leaders transform their vision into reality.

Jill's journey in independent schools began as a parent volunteer and evolved into deep leadership roles. Over two decades, she served on boards of trustees for two schools, worked as development director and marketing/communications manager in the Baltimore area, and launched Jill... Read More →
Friday June 26, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
  Cohort

10:30am EDT

Cohort Meeting #2 - Your 90-Day Action Plan: Moving Forward in Your Journey for Mid-Level Leaders
Friday June 26, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
The Small Schools Summit has equipped you with new insights, strategies, and connections, but real change happens when you translate learning into focused action. In this closing cohort session, you'll craft a personalized 90-day action plan grounded in the learning journey you've been following throughout the summit, whether that's financial sustainability, strategy and systems, or people and...
See More →
Speakers
avatar for Elizabeth Maglio

Elizabeth Maglio

Director of Professional Learning, SAIS
Elizabeth joined the SAIS team in July 2021. She began her career in education in 2005 as a leadership program faculty advisor for middle school students at Envision EMI in Washington, D.C. She continued there as a program coordinator and professional development manager. In 2012... Read More →
Friday June 26, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
  Cohort

12:00pm EDT

Adjourn
Friday June 26, 2026 12:00pm - 12:00pm EDT

Friday June 26, 2026 12:00pm - 12:00pm EDT
  Registration
 

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