Name
From Profiles to Purpose: Aligning Who You Serve with How You Serve
Date & Time
Thursday, September 18, 2025, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Angela Aaron Greg Donnellan Ted Graf
Description

In the evolving landscape of independent school admissions, “fit” is both a guiding light and a delicate balance. How do we define the students who thrive in our communities without turning reflection into restriction? How do we align our academic vision with enrollment goals, especially during seasons of transition? This session explores how one early childhood through grade 12 school developed learner profiles to bring clarity and cohesion across school functions. The work began during a pivotal planning year: preparing to create both a strategic enrollment and marketing plan while navigating the departure of a long-standing admissions team. This project became a catalyst for institutional reflection. What emerged was a shared language that informs conversations from admissions to the classroom. The process surfaced a deeper truth: when student needs exceed available resources, the impact ripples across the community. Learner profiles became tools to align enrollment decisions with program capacity, not as rubrics or gatekeeping tools, but as starting points for values-driven, human-centered dialogue about success, support, and sustainability. While admissions teams strive for inclusion, unsustainable placements can stretch faculty, strain resources, and affect school culture. Learner profiles offer a bridge, clarifying who thrives and why, while helping schools anticipate what kinds of support and systems are needed next. Key Takeaways: • How to develop learner profiles that guide without gatekeeping • How to align enrollment decisions with program capacity and values • How to facilitate professional development around fit, identity, and inclusion • How cross-functional collaboration supports sustainable admissions decisions

Location Name
408-409
Full Address
JW Marriott Austin
110 East 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
United States
Tags/Tracks
Leadership and Management Skills, Mission and Brand, Institutional Strategy, Programs and Outcomes, Selection and Onboarding of New Families