2027 Finance Series

Tuesday, February 2, 2027 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM

Session 1: The New Enrollment Economy

Enrollment isn't just a marketing challenge anymore, it's a financial one. This session examines how demographic shifts, growing affordability concerns, and evolving family expectations are rewriting the rules of school finance. We'll explore what these forces mean for tuition strategy, financial aid, and the assumptions baked into your budget, and how to build enrollment planning that holds up in a very different market.

Tuesday, February 16, 2027 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM

Session 2: The Cost of Talent

Your people are your mission and your biggest line item. This session takes an honest look at compensation, retention, benefits, burnout, and the staffing models that define independent schools. In a labor market where great educators have more options than ever, we'll examine how to think strategically about what talent costs, what it's worth, and how to invest in the people who make your school what it is.

Tuesday, February 23, 2027 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM

Session 3: From Stability to Sustainability

Being stable today is not the same as being sustainable tomorrow. This session moves beyond the annual budget to long-range financial modeling and strategic decision-making under real uncertainty. We'll explore how to stress-test your assumptions, plan across multiple scenarios, and make the kind of forward-looking choices that keep a school strong for the next generation, not just the next fiscal year.

Chris Harper is a seasoned educational leader and finance expert who began his transition into education as a classroom teacher and coach, bringing a foundational understanding of school culture to his current roles as CEO/Co-founder of Roosevelt Solutions Inc. and Adjunct Professor of Finance at Columbia Teachers College.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics while serving as track co-captain and setting school records, Harper later completed his MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management—combining rigorous business training with a passion for education.

Harper spent nearly a decade as a faculty member at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, where he co-taught AP Economics and coached cross country and track. He understands the daily realities of school life from the ground up.

That educational foundation, enhanced by elite business preparation, proved invaluable as he moved into school administration, serving as CFO/COO at respected institutions such as Landon School and Ethical Culture Fieldston School. In these roles, he brought both a teacher’s perspective and sophisticated financial expertise to complex decisions. Harper’s approach to school finance emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and dignity—building systems that support student success and the educators who serve them. His unique journey from classroom to C-suite allows him to bridge the gap between mission and financial sustainability, helping school leaders see that sound business practices ultimately serve learning.