Retention is one of the most important measures of success.

In this symposium, you will learn:

  • Ways to create a truly welcoming and inclusive culture to increase awareness
  • Purchasing decisions of GenX and Millennial parents
  • Communicating your value proposition despite being remote, every-day tactics for your faculty and advisors to implement when reaching out to families
  • Explore big picture templates for tracking a large number of families and their concerns

Featured Speaker

Tim Fish
Chief Innovation Officer
National Association of Independent Schools (DC)

Tim serves as chief innovation officer at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Prior to joining NAIS, Tim was associate headmaster at McDonough School (MD), where he led the advancement of strategic initiatives and oversaw admission, technology, student services, diversity, and service learning.

Tim is the coauthor of an NAIS book on technology leadership and has consulted for more than 50 schools and organizations. From 2011-13, Tim served as the founding president of the FolioCollaborative, a nonprofit community of more than 85 independent schools working together to improve teaching by inspiring informed conversations for growth. Tim is passionate about transformative teaching, technology integration, enrollment management, and big ideas.

He has a bachelor’s degree from St. Francis University and a Master of Education in instructional technology from George Mason University.

Agenda

Symposium Overview

Time

Topic

11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET

Welcome & Keynote

Tim Fish, Chief Innovation Officer,
National Association of Independent Schools (DC)

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET

Panel Discussion: Communications & Retention Training for the Whole School

Panelists:

  • Reto Camenzind - Co-Director of Admissions, Senior School, St. George’s School (BC)
  • David Darby, Assistant Head: Enrolment Management, Lakefield College School (ON) - Moderator
  • Sheriann Heath-Johnston, Director of Admissions, Hillfield Strathallan College (ON)
  • Rebecca Malotke-Meslin, Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid at The Avery Coonley School (IL)
  • Kemi Nonez - Director of Diversity, Equity & Engagement, Associate Director of Enrollment Management, Durham Academy (NC)
  • Andrew Weller, St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, Dean of Enrollment and Strategic Marketing (VA)

1:00 pm ET - 1:55 pm ET

Concurrent Sessions Round 1

Concurrent Session A: A Strategic Approach to Retention, Laurel Baker Tew, Chief Enrollment Officer and Director of Admission and Financial Aid, Viewpoint School (CA) and Chad Tew, founder and Chief Disruption Navigator at LearnCollab™(CA)

Concurrent Session B: Retention 101 - David Darby, Assistant Head: Enrolment Management, Lakefield College School (ON)

Concurrent Session C: Faculty Culture - The Secret (and Most Powerful) Weapon for Admissions and Retention - Hal Hannaford, Retired Headmaster, Selwyn House School (QC)

Concurrent Session D: The Recipe for Retention, Kate Auger-Campbell, Account Executive, SchoolAdmin (TX) & Brandi Eppolito, VP of Marketing, SchoolAdmin  (TX)

2:00 pm ET  - 2:55 pm ET

Concurrent Sessions Round 2

Concurrent Session A: Worried about Attrition and Retention? Use Engagement as a Predictor -  Ian Symmonds, Chief Strategist, Ian Symmonds & Associates (CA)

Concurrent Session B:  Inspiring Your School Community to Keep Your Families Enrolled, Rick Newberry, President, Enrollment Catalyst (FL)

Concurrent Session C:  Surveys! How to Create and Use Parent Survey Results to Drive Retention Efforts, Dana Nelson-Isaacs, Founder and President, DNI Consulting (CA)

3:00 pm ET - 3:45 pm ET

Action Planning and Brainstorming in Small Groups with Panelists
 

3:45 pm - 4:00 pm ET

Closing Session 

  • Group Share Out
  • Summarize key takeaways

After the symposium, each attendee will be provided with a key takeaways document  - a nugget of knowledge from each of the panelists and speakers.

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