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ISACS NYSAIS Trustee Series

In partnership with ISACS, NYSAIS is offering our member schools access to this special online educational series for boards and heads of school. This series includes a collection of ten one-hour webinars on important governance topics held each of the following months:September, October, November & December 2025 and January – May 2026. In December 2025 and May 2026 there will be bonus sessions in a roundtable format specifically for incoming & current board chairs.

Target Audience

Trustees and Heads of School from NYSAIS Member Schools

Questions

NYSAIS Member Schools can reach out to our support team at
support.nysais.org with any questions regarding this series.

Webinars

 

Speakers
Topics
Month

Debra Wilson headshot

Independent School Trends Trustees Will Navigate This Year

Presenter: Debra Wilson, National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Date/Time: Thursday, September 18, 2025, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET

Join NAIS President Debra Wilson as she highlights the key influences and data directions impacting independent schools this year.

James P. Honan headshot

Strategic Financial Planning for Trustees

Presenter: James P. Honan, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Date/Time: Thursday, October 16, 2025, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET

Explore the knowledge, skills, and capacities trustees need to govern for financial sustainability—and specific strategies to get there.

Maeve Riley headshot
Bob Weston headshot

Empowering Independent School Trustees: Current Trends, Culture & Campaigns

Presenters: Maeve Riley, CCS Fundraising & Bob Weston, CCS Fundraising
Date/Time: Thursday, November 20, 2025, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET

Practical insights for building a culture of philanthropy and leading successful campaigns in today’s landscape.

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski headshot
Stephanie Rogen headshot

Bonus Webinar: Board Chair Roundtable I

Facilitators: Georgy Ann Peluchiwski, Greenwich Leadership Partners &
Stephanie Rogen, Greenwich Leadership Partners
Date/Time: Thursday, December 11, 2025, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET
Note: For current & incoming board chairs only. Not recorded.

A facilitated peer conversation on the issues confronting board chairs.

Amada Torres headshot

Navigating the Future: Key Trends Impacting Independent Schools

Presenter: Amada Torres, NAIS
Date/Time: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET

Timely insights on demographics, admissions, philanthropy, workforce dynamics, and the head–board relationship.

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski headshot
Stephanie Rogen headshot

Everyday Succession Planning: Resilience for Leadership Transition

Presenters: Georgy Ann Peluchiwski & Stephanie Rogen, Greenwich Leadership Partners
Date/Time: Thursday, February 12, 2026, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET
Note: Not recorded.

Approaches and practices for making succession planning a continuous strength of governance.

Megan Mann headshot

From the Classroom to Courtroom: Hot Legal Topics & Governance Trends for Trustees

Presenter: Megan Mann, Approach
Date/Time: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET

Governance and risk issues trustees should watch—from enrollment agreements to crisis management.

Greg Bamford headshot

The Year Before the Strategic Plan

Presenter: Greg Bamford, Leadership+Design
Date/Time: Thursday, April 30, 2026, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET

Five critical conversations to have before you launch strategic planning—and how to gauge readiness.

Lynn Wendell headshot

Bonus Webinar: Board Chair Roundtable II — Being the Board Chair Your Board Needs

Facilitator: Lynn Wendell, Independent School Governance Expert
Date/Time: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET
Note: For current & incoming board chairs only. Not recorded.

Recognize and meet your board’s needs in unexpected moments of leadership.

Antonio Viva headshot

Design Levers for Effective Change

Presenter: Antonio Viva, Leadership+Design
Date/Time: Thursday, May 14, 2026, 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET

Stages of change and practical levers trustees can apply to implement and sustain strategic shifts.

 

Live webinars will take place via Zoom, 4:00 – 5:00 pm ET on the following Thursdays:

  • September 18, 2025
  • October 16, 2025
  • November 20, 2025
  • December 11, 2025 – Roundtable for incoming & current board chairs only (not recorded)
  • January 22, 2026
  • February 12, 2026 – Not recorded
  • March 5, 2026
  • April 30, 2026
  • May 7, 2026 – Roundtable for incoming & current board chairs only (not recorded)
  • May 14, 2026

To accommodate busy schedules, webinars will be recorded and available to registered schools and their trustees until June 30, 2026, unless otherwise noted.

  • Trustee Series webinars will be recorded, unless otherwise noted.
  • Recordings will be available to registered schools until June 30, 2026.
  • Instructions to access recordings/resources will be sent within 24–48 hours of each live presentation to the registered school contact and anyone pre-registered on Zoom.
  • Passwords are not required; registrants will complete a Zoom On-Demand Online Form for each webinar.
  • Please do not share links outside your school community. ISACS may contact non-registrants to require a registration fee.
  • Not recorded: December 11, 2025 (Roundtable I), February 12, 2026 (Everyday Succession Planning), May 7, 2026 (Roundtable II).

Debra Wilson headshot

Debra Wilson

Debra Wilson is the President of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and co-author of the NAIS Trustee Handbook (10th & 11th editions). Previously President of SAIS and NAIS General Counsel.

Independent School Trends Trustees Will Navigate This Year | Sept 18, 2025

James P. Honan headshot

James P. Honan

Senior Lecturer, Harvard Graduate School of Education; faculty at Harvard Kennedy School; consultant on strategic planning, governance, and resource allocation across education and nonprofit sectors.

Strategic Financial Planning for Trustees | Oct 16, 2025

Maeve Riley headshot

Maeve Riley

Executive Vice President at CCS Fundraising; guides large-scale development initiatives and principal giving strategies for education and nonprofits.

Empowering Independent School Trustees | Nov 20, 2025

Bob Weston headshot

Bob Weston

Senior Vice President & Independent Schools Practice Lead at CCS Fundraising; decades of experience leading transformative campaigns and advising boards.

Empowering Independent School Trustees | Nov 20, 2025

Stephanie Rogen headshot

Stephanie Rogen

Principal & Founder, Greenwich Leadership Partners; consultant, coach, facilitator to boards and leaders; guest lecturer at UPenn GSE; extensive nonprofit governance service.

Board Chair Roundtable I | Dec 11, 2025 · Everyday Succession Planning | Feb 12, 2026

Amada Torres headshot

Amada Torres

Vice President of Studies, Insights & Research at NAIS; expert on market/demographic trends, governance & leadership, community well-being, and financial sustainability.

Navigating the Future: Key Trends | Jan 22, 2026

Megan Mann headshot

Megan Mann

Founder, Approach; former NAIS General Counsel & VP of Legal Education & Support; focuses on governance leadership, legal education, risk, and crisis management.

Hot Legal Topics & Governance Trends | Mar 5, 2026


Greg Bamford headshot

Greg Bamford

Co-founder & partner, Leadership+Design; former associate head (strategy & innovation) and head of school; frequent speaker and contributor.

The Year Before the Strategic Plan | Apr 30, 2026

Lynn Wendell headshot

Lynn Wendell

Governance consultant to 150+ schools & nonprofits; former board chair at San Francisco University High School; ISCA program committee co-chair.

Board Chair Roundtable II | May 7, 2026

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski headshot

Georgy Ann Peluchiwski

Partner, Greenwich Leadership Partners; former board chair, treasurer, and finance chair at Latin School of Chicago; extensive governance leadership.

Board Chair Roundtable I | Dec 11, 2025 · Everyday Succession Planning | Feb 12, 2026

Antonio Viva headshot

Antonio Viva

Partner, Leadership+Design; former head of school; experience designer and strategic advisor; prior executive director of Artisans Asylum.

Design Levers for Effective Change | May 14, 2026



Trustees of independent schools and heads of school.


NYSAIS member schools: $600 per school
Non-member schools: $700 per school


One registration per school provides access for your trustees and head to the entire Trustee Series.


Please have one designated contact person register for your school. That person will receive all Zoom links and reminders and should share them with your trustees and head.


Webinars are recorded and available to registered schools until June 30, 2026, unless noted. The Board Chair Roundtables are not recorded. Some sessions noted may also not be recorded.