2025-26 The View from the Top: Strategy, Culture, and Leadership in Practice ~ Conversations for Heads and Senior Leaders
Main Registration Page
Sessions are 12:00-1:00 PM
Join Us Virtually
Independent school leadership isn’t getting any easier — and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
This webinar series gives Heads of School and senior leaders fresh strategies, smart tools, and practical frameworks to tackle today’s toughest challenges: from making AI your secret weapon, to cracking the financial code, to running board and admin meetings people actually look forward to. You’ll leave each session with
- ready-to-use resources
- sharper decision-making skills
- a sustainability plan that helps you lead without burning out
Most importantly, you’ll gain a circle of peers who “get it” — and who are just as committed to leading with clarity, courage, and a touch of sanity.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Executive Coaching: Advanced AI for Heads of School and Senior Leadership
Presented by: Nishant Mehta, MehtaCogintion
Discover how AI can serve as your personal strategy aide. Learn to capture daily leadership insights, draft board-ready memos in minutes, and build systems that keep long-term goals front and center. Participants leave with a custom prompt library, leadership-reflection template, and the tools to make AI a trusted partner in decision-making.
Participants will:
- Automate a leadership journal capturing daily wins & blind spots.
- Draft a board-ready strategic memo in 15 minutes.
- Build automated AI tasks to boost leadership capacity.
- Create a personal AI tone and style guide so that your AI sounds like you.
- Identify one AI-driven decision each week and reflect on outcomes.
- Establish an ethics filter to flag sensitive data before prompting.
About the Presenter: Nishant Mehta
Over a career spanning two decades, Nishant Mehta has worked in or consulted nationwide with schools and other organizations, big and small, on issues of leadership, culture, strategy and change management, and equity and justice. He has lived in four countries and is fluent in several languages. He is recognized by his peers and the broader industry for his passionate leadership and vision in improving educational access and centering our attention and intention on breaking down silos in our schools. He is a sought-after writer, speaker, and presenter on advancing cultures of inclusion, learning, and leadership in organizations. He also mentored new and aspiring heads of school through programs set up by NAIS and The Children’s School.
Nishant has served on many national, regional, and local boards, including the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), National Business Officers Association (NBOA), Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE), the Asheville School, Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre Advisory Board, and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta Advisory Board. In 2016, Nishant began work with Sesame Workshop, the makers of the show Sesame Street, as a script advisor. Five years ago, he helped Sesame Workshop launch a pilot curriculum in elementary schools in Toda City, Japan.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Finances and Independent Schools:
Developing Your Financial Acumen
Presented by Chris Harper, Founder, Roosevelt Solutions; Adjunct, Klingenstein Center
Gain the financial fluency every Head needs. From interpreting key reports to aligning budgets with mission, this session builds confidence in navigating complex financial decisions. Case studies and peer discussion bring the concepts to life.
Agenda:
- Overview of Independent School Financial Models
- Interpreting Key Reports: Budget, Balance Sheet, Forecasting
- Strategic Financial Planning: Aligning with Mission
- Tuition Pricing and Revenue Diversification
- Case Studies: Financial Decisions from the Head’s Perspective
- Q&A and Peer Discussion
About the Presenter: Chris Harper
Chris Harper is a seasoned educational leader and finance expert who began his career as a classroom teacher and coach, bringing that foundational understanding of school culture to his current role as CEO and 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 his Bachelor of Science in Economics while serving as track co-captain and setting school records, Chris later earned his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. This combination of rigorous business training and passion for education shaped the trajectory of his career.
Chris 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. This experience gave him firsthand insight into the daily realities of school life. His educational foundation, enhanced by elite business training, proved invaluable as he transitioned into school administration.
He went on to serve as CFO/COO at respected institutions such as Landon School and Ethical Culture Fieldston School, where he brought both a teacher’s perspective and sophisticated financial expertise to complex decisions. Chris’s approach to school finance emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and dignity—developing systems that support both student success and the educators who serve them.
His unique journey from classroom to C-suite, grounded in world-class business education, allows him to bridge the often-challenging gap between educational mission and financial sustainability. Harper helps school leaders understand that sound business practices ultimately serve learning.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Netflix’s Adolescence Asks How Cruelty Can Go Unnoticed in Schools
presented by Dr. Robin Stern, Licensed psychoanalyst, educator, author, and commentator
Peer bullying can be more complicated than many adults realize. Using insights from Netflix’s Adolescence, this session explores the hidden dynamics of peer cruelty and bullying. Learn how to recognize subtle patterns, support students, and strengthen your school’s culture of care.
About the Presenter: Dr. Robin Stern
Robin Stern, Ph.D., is a licensed psychoanalyst and a renowned expert in gaslight manipulation and emotional intelligence. She co-founded the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and currently serves as the senior advisor to the director. Through her work with Yale, she co-developed RULER (an acronym for the five key emotion skills of recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating emotions), an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning, and the app HowWeFeel, designed to teach the language of emotions and enhance well-being. Dr. Stern is the author of The Gaslight Effect: How to Spot and Survive the Hidden Manipulation Others Use to Control Your Life, the workbook version The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide, and the co-author of Emotional Intelligence for School Leaders. She also hosts The Gaslight Effect Podcast.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Building and Strengthening Your Administrative Team
presented by: Ayanna Hill-Gill, President, ADVIS;
Board Governance Expert & Educational Leadership Consultant
Deepen your leadership bench by designing stronger, more effective administrative teams. Explore strategies for crafting strategic agendas, fostering trust, and providing feedback that grows leaders. Includes interactive case examples and peer planning.
Agenda:
- Characteristics of Effective Admin Teams
- Who’s at the Table? Rethinking Team Composition
- Building Psychological Safety and Trust
- Crafting Strategic, Agenda-Driven Admin Meetings
- Case Example: Balancing Operational and Big-Picture Items
- Tools & Frameworks for Feedback Conversations
- Breakouts: Peer Scenarios and Action Planning
About the Presenter: Ayanna Hill-Gill
Ayanna Hill-Gill—known to many as Yanni—is a nationally recognized board governance expert and trailblazer in independent school leadership. As President of ADVIS (Advancing Independent Schools), she brings decades of experience as both an accomplished educator and a specialist in nonprofit board governance, helping school boards transform from well-intentioned groups into high-performing governance teams. Certified in Nonprofit Board Governance Consultation from BoardSource, Yanni has facilitated hundreds of retreats, workshops, and strategic planning sessions for independent schools across the country. Her engaging approach, rooted in fiduciary, strategic, and generative governance, helps trustees move from uncertainty to confidence in their roles.
Her governance philosophy centers on the principle “To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required,” reflecting her belief that effective boards are built on trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to institutional excellence. With a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Dickinson College and an M.Ed. in Organizational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, Yanni has paired her academic training with decades of dedicated service as Head of School at both Purnell School in New Jersey and Atlanta Girls’ School in Georgia. Her leadership emphasized integrating anti-bias work into school culture, strengthening academic programs, and ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion were lived experiences.
Yanni’s influence extends nationally, with service on the boards of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools, The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), and Emory University’s Visiting Board of Trustees. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum and Kiwanis International. Through ADVIS, she supports the boards of more than 130 member schools, providing governance training, consultation, and strategic support that strengthens educational communities and builds sustainable leadership pipelines.
Beyond her professional work, Yanni is an active community leader and dedicated parent. Recently becoming an empty nester, she celebrates her daughter’s start at Boston University and cheers on her son, a senior soccer player at the same institution. She enjoys concerts, theater, time at the beach, and curling up with a good book. A lifelong puzzle enthusiast and soccer fan, she is already planning her trip to the 2026 World Cup. Yanni’s commitment to service extends to her church and her efforts to advance financial literacy, STEM education, and leadership development for underserved communities.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Designing Generative and Strategic Board Meetings
presented by: Ayanna Hill-Gill, President, ADVIS;
Board Governance Expert & Educational Leadership Consultant
Reimagine your board’s work with the Main Effort Map framework. This hands-on session helps leaders focus board conversations on long-term priorities, align committees to mission, and streamline fiduciary tasks—transforming meetings into engines of strategic progress.
Agenda:
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- Fiduciary vs. Strategic vs. Generative Governance
- Introducing the Main Effort Map: Overview and Examples
- Aligning Committees to Strategic Priorities
- Building Agendas that Prioritize Strategic Dialogue
- Streamlining Routine Work: Consent Agendas & Dashboarding
- Interactive Activity: Designing a Sample Board Agenda
- Rollout Planning: Bringing the Framework to Your Board
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About the Presenter: Ayanna Hill-Gill
Ayanna Hill-Gill—known to many as Yanni—is a nationally recognized board governance expert and trailblazer in independent school leadership. As President of ADVIS (Advancing Independent Schools), she brings decades of experience as both an accomplished educator and a specialist in nonprofit board governance, helping school boards transform from well-intentioned groups into high-performing governance teams. Certified in Nonprofit Board Governance Consultation from BoardSource, Yanni has facilitated hundreds of retreats, workshops, and strategic planning sessions for independent schools across the country. Her engaging approach, rooted in fiduciary, strategic, and generative governance, helps trustees move from uncertainty to confidence in their roles.
Her governance philosophy centers on the principle “To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required,” reflecting her belief that effective boards are built on trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to institutional excellence. With a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from Dickinson College and an M.Ed. in Organizational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, Yanni has paired her academic training with decades of dedicated service as Head of School at both Purnell School in New Jersey and Atlanta Girls’ School in Georgia. Her leadership emphasized integrating anti-bias work into school culture, strengthening academic programs, and ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion were lived experiences.
Yanni’s influence extends nationally, with service on the boards of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools, The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), and Emory University’s Visiting Board of Trustees. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum and Kiwanis International. Through ADVIS, she supports the boards of more than 130 member schools, providing governance training, consultation, and strategic support that strengthens educational communities and builds sustainable leadership pipelines.
Beyond her professional work, Yanni is an active community leader and dedicated parent. Recently becoming an empty nester, she celebrates her daughter’s start at Boston University and cheers on her son, a senior soccer player at the same institution. She enjoys concerts, theater, time at the beach, and curling up with a good book. A lifelong puzzle enthusiast and soccer fan, she is already planning her trip to the 2026 World Cup. Yanni’s commitment to service extends to her church and her efforts to advance financial literacy, STEM education, and leadership development for underserved communities.
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Setting Boundaries for Sustainable Leadership
Panel Discussion
Heads of School face unrelenting demands. This workshop empowers leaders to protect their energy and lead sustainably through boundaries, values-alignment, and prioritization.
Agenda:
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Recognizing the Leadership Burnout Cycle
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Identifying Your Non-Negotiables
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Practical Boundary-Setting (with Boards, Faculty, and Families)
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Saying No with Clarity and Integrity
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Designing Your Leadership Sustainability Plan
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Peer Coaching & Reflections
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PROGRAM FEES
HOW IT WORKS
PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BELOW
- Only ONE person per school needs to register ONE time for the entire Series.
- At the time of registration, you MUST enter in the names and emails of the other people from your school who will be attending the Series.
- To do this, select both the "Member" and "Register Your Attendees" tickets. There are additional instructions on the registration page.
- If you do not do this, no one other than you will be able to access the Series.
ACT 48 CREDITS
• You may request credit up to 7 days after the event.
• Per the PA Department of Education,
ADVIS is required to report your successful completion of Act 48 evaluation within 30 days of the event.
• Contact Candyce Wilson for more information.
ACCESSIBILITY
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please feel free to request an accommodation on the registration form. For inquiries about accessibility, please contact Membership and Outreach Manager Candyce Wilson. At least two weeks' advance notice will help us to provide seamless access.
EVENT CONTACT
Dena Torino, Director of Programming
No refunds will be provided for the Legal Summit Series.