Travel & Events

Great to spend time with these amazing school leaders this week at the GISA (Georgia Independent School Association) Heads’ Retreat at St. Simons Island, GA.

I had an opportunity to meet with their Emerging Leaders Cohort and give a presentation to the heads, addressing the topic of board evaluation and goal setting. Many thanks to Dr. Jeff Jackson, Dr. Stan Whitlock, Ed.D, and Paula Gillispie for their leadership of GISA. And what a special treat to be on the program with Arch McIntosh and Darren Pascavage.

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” – Sir Isaac Newton.

Recently, there was an opportunity to celebrate two giants in the world of Christian school leadership. Curt Masters, head of school at Brentwood Academy, and Hugh Harris, founding head of school of Franklin Christian Academy, are stepping down following long and very distinguished careers. We honored them at a special luncheon hosted by Nate Morrow at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville. Everyone in this photo are amazing leaders who I have learned much from in my career. From left to right are Hugh Harris, me, Curt Masters, Nate Morrow, and Richard Anderson, founding head at CPA and now at Grace Christian Academy.

Society for Classical Learning does it again! The West Coast Symposium outside Portland, OR was a special opportunity for heads and boards to hear messages of encouragement and support for best practices regarding the board’s strategic role in advancement. With Advancement being one of SCL’s accreditation standards, this workshop was a special opportunity to learn from experienced leaders on these issues. I’m pictured with colleagues Jeffrey Yoder, Grant Wiley, Jason Smith, Starrla Fowler, and Sarah Spencer.

It’s always a privilege to work with the great team at the Society for Classical Learning. Recently, I had the honor of being the keynote presenter at SCL’s East Coast Symposium in Atlanta, hosted by Heritage Preparatory School. Our focus was on advancement and how the board can be most effective in its strategic advancement role. Many thanks to the wonderful leaders from SCL, including Angie Copetillo, Lauren Key, and Starrla Fowler. Also pictured is event host Matt Skinner, president of Heritage Preparatory School. It was a great two days of information, fellowship, and fun.

As always, a big thank you to The Budd Group for their special support in providing every attendee with a copy of my book. Note The Budd Group Sign in the background!

ISAS (Independent Schools Association of the Southwest) recently held their Trifecta Conference (Heads, Board Chairs, and Business Officers) in Houston. I was honored to speak to a wonderful group of board chairs on the topic of Board Chairs Providing Leadership in Challenging Times. It was a lively session with great questions and comments. My thanks to Scott Griggs, ISAS Executive Director, and Heather Junker, Director of Professional Learning for their leadership and hospitality.

It was such a rewarding experience to lead Trinity Presbyterian School, under the guidance of Head of School Suzanne Satcher and Ben Wilson, through a board retreat. Trinity Presbyterian is another shining example of a school dedicated to excellence with a unique mission. The board at Trinity Presbyterian is striving to be a best practices board, serving with a positive outlook and a focus on a bright future. My heartfelt appreciation goes to Suzanne and Ben for their leadership and commitment to the continued success of Trinity Presbyterian.

Fayetteville Academy, led by the dedicated Head of School Blair Fisher and Board Chair Ed Petkovich, is a school with a commitment to excellence and a forward-thinking mission. The board at Fayetteville Academy is working diligently to adopt best practices, serving and leading with the belief that their best days are still ahead. My sincere thanks to Blair and Ed for their leadership and unwavering dedication to the school’s future. It was a special privilege to lead the board retreats for these your amazing school!

Boards that hold retreats do so for a variety of reasons but rising above everything is a desire to improve, engage in discussions of best practices, and grow in their understanding of fundamental roles and responsibilities. Such was my experience in working with Westminster Catawba Christian School in Rock Hill, SC. An exciting two-day retreat exploring the content of my book, Healthy Boards, Successful Schools, and some great conversations about the future of this excellent school. My thanks to board chair, Austin Livingston, head of school Scott Dillon, and all board members who were fully engaged our entire time together.

It’s always an honor to present at the Society for Classical Learning Annual Conference. Just a few weeks ago, I led a pre-conference workshop addressing the challenges of governance and leadership. We had a room full of heads and board leaders ready to dive into best practices regarding roles and responsibilities, board culture, and navigating the uncertainty in the days ahead. Great discussion from a group of dedicated classical school leaders. Many thanks to SCL president Eric Cooke and his wonderful team. And a special thanks to The Budd Group who provided a copy of my book to everyone who attended. A few stayed late for the photo.

St. Paul Christian Academy of Nashville, TN, a wonderful school I have had the privilege to work with on several occasions, held a board retreat recently. It was a special pleasure to come along side this school and conduct their retreat. Many thanks to Head of School, Will Norton, and all of the school’s Board of Trust members for a great day of discussion with a deep dive into what it means to be a best practices board. So much to be excited about for this school!