Offering a vibrant and dynamic academic program must always be the top priority for a school. Nothing is more important. The majority of CAIS Heads were academic leaders before being promoted to Head of School. The Academic Administration module is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to explore the key components of leading an academic program. The module will present best practices and a variety of case studies that will allow participants to understand the complexities of operating an effective academic program. Practical strategies will be discussed and developed through this highly interactive module.

Learning Intentions:

• Expose delegates to a wide range of topics that are the responsibility of school academic leaders.
• Understand the complexity and importance of sustainable academic programs in CAIS schools.
• Appreciate the significance the school’s academic program has on the various stakeholder groups. (students, parents, faculty and staff, board members, alumni, community, etc.)
• Understand how a school’s academic program should be closely integrated to all aspects of an independent school program – admission, advancement, information technology, etc.
• Acquire “hands-on” experience in leading and managing a school’s academic program.
• Reflect upon one’s own leadership style in order to successfully manage the academic program.

Course Content:

• Introduction, Overview and Objectives
• The Importance of the Academic Program
• Building an Effective Resource Program at a CAIS School
• Performance Appraisal Protocol
• 5) Professional Development and the Professional Growth Portfolio
• Mentorship
• Managing Academic Leaders
• Academic Integrity
• Supporting the University Counseling Department
• Transition Between Schools Within School

Coming soon.

All aspects of a fully functioning Advancement Office will be reviewed during this module. There will be a combination of lecture, individual & group case assignments, Q&A, and in-depth discussions of topics that are of particular interest to the participants.

Learning Intentions:

• A review of best practices, and real examples – a working knowledge of Advancement
• Gain an appreciation of the many positive impacts that Advancement activities can have upon a school

John has been an Advancement professional for more than 30 years. Following his graduation from Queen’s University (B.A. (Hon.), B.Ed., M.Ed.), he spent 13 years in increasingly responsible Advancement positions at his alma mater. John participated in three major fund raising campaigns at Queen’s and established the University’s first Major Gifts Office. He left Queen’s in 1994 as Associate Director of Development and Alumni Relations.

John spent two years as Executive Director of The Wellesley Hospital Foundation in Toronto, completing the $30 million Renewal Campaign, prior to moving to the University of Toronto’s $1 billion Great Minds Campaign in 1996. At UofT John was Associate Campaign Director and Executive Director of Development for the University’s largest faculty, Arts & Science, securing more than $40 million in new commitments during his tenure.

John was recruited to the independent school sector in 1999 as Vice-Principal Advancement & Chief Development Officer at Upper Canada College. Following the transformational fundraising successes at UCC, the term Advancement became established at many leading Canadian independent schools that followed UCC’s example by investing in more professional and robust Advancement Offices.

In 2006 John moved to Crescent School as Chief Advancement Officer. He recruited and mentored a new and enhanced Advancement team, and the School launched a comprehensive $30 million Great Boys Campaign in 2010, completing it in 2015 with more than $34 million pledged in new commitments.

In 2014 John was named Executive Director of External Relations, an office combining Advancement, Enrolment, and Marketing & Communications.

The Finance module is designed to provide participants with information and experience in receiving and interpreting financial data within the school environment. We will explore the ethics and law around financial decision making, benchmarking of independent schools, financial sustainability and governance, internal financial reporting and reviewing financial statements. A budget exercise that participants undertake in small groups is a tool used to understand the major drivers of a school's finances. The module is participatory and aimed at the non-financial manager.

Learning Intentions:

• Gain an awareness of the financial documents used by independent schools
• Develop an understanding of the major drivers of a school budget
• Examine issues of financial sustainability and risks associated with enrolment fluctuations
• Develop an understanding of the "business" of running a school - insurance, planning, revenues and expenses.

Coming soon.

This module provides an overview of important topics facing CAIS admission and marketing offices today, including how to manage faculty professional development. It has been designed to introduce non-admission faculty and staff to the challenging, creative, high-pressure, and exciting world of the Admission Office.

Learning Intentions:

• Develop an understanding of The Admission Funnel, Marketing, Student Assessment, Consensus Building and Financial Assistance
• Understand the concept of our CAIS schools as co-operative competitors
• Explore the mindset of Families of the 21st century: Wooing the millennium generation

Chad Holtum, B.Comm, B.Ed, M. Ed

Chad Holtum is in his fifth year as Deputy Head of Glenlyon Norfolk School in Victoria, BC.

As the head of the Advancement Office, Chad oversees the school’s Admissions, Fundraising, Alumni Relations, International Program, Communications and Marketing operations. Since his arrival, he has played an instrumental role in diversifying GNS’ enrolment by adding a Family Boarding Program that has allowed more than eighty students from around the world to attend the school, with each living with a current GNS parent or staff member. Chad has also helped build the school’s culture of philanthropy, allowing GNS’ 2016/17 Annual Appeal to surpass $400,000 and near triple parent participation. He has also played a principal role in securing over a $1,000,000 in capital gifts in the last twelve months and has recently secured three seven-figure gifts as part of the silent phase for the schools upcoming campaign.All of this in a school that has had little to no culture of giving prior to his arrival.

Chad has extensive experience in Canadian independent schools. Prior to his current position he served as Director of Enrolment and Marketing at Shawnigan Lake School, as well as Deputy Head of Queen Margaret’s School.

Chad holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Guelph, and Bachelor’s of Education and Master’s of Education (Administration and Leadership) degrees from the University of British Columbia. He resides in Victoria with his wife, Erica and their two young sons.

Kimberly Carter is the Director of Enrolment Management for Branksome Hall – Toronto’s only all-girls, all-years IB World School. Prior to this position, Kimberly was Director of Admissions from 2012-2015 and Associate Director of Admissions from 2009-2012. As a former Branksome Hall student, residential life don, classroom teacher and middle & senior school advisor, Kimberly brings a wealth of knowledge to the recruitment and admission of prospective students. Kimberly is a trained International Baccalaureate (IB) teacher, who prior to her work in admissions, taught Grades 1, 3, 6 and 7. Kimberly travels domestically and internationally to promote Branksome Hall and is also currently a Grade 9 Advisor.

Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT) and an honours bachelor of arts from Queen’s University, specializing in Sociology and French. She also earned the three-part Reading Specialist additional qualification. Kimberly was invited to join the Enrollment Management Association’s Admissions Leadership Council in 2015 and acts as a mentor to new directors of admissions.

Kimberly participated in the CAIS Leadership Institute from 2006 to 2008 and became Branksome Hall’s first LI graduate. In the first summer’s institute, Kimberly was inspired by the Admissions Module which became the catalyst for her career journey. She looks forward to discussing all aspects of admissions and enrolment management including the initiatives that promote, recruit, assess, admit and retain students in schools today.

The Role of Human Resources as a Strategic Partner: A review of the Human resources functions within an organization, and its role as a strategic partner. A look at the tactical framework model of the various areas of discipline in HR, including recruitment, retention, performance management, employee relations, compensation and policy management and how to ensure they are aligned and are contributing positively towards the goals, mission and vision of the organization. Taking a look at current practices within an organization and ensuring they reflect best practice in human resources management and reviewing how to implement or make change if they are not.

Learning Intentions:

• Examine some of the current trends we see today in human resources management
• Understanding the challenges in ensuring there are effective HR practices in smaller organizations
• How to implement best practices in human resources management

President & CEO, Teal & Co. Inc.

An innovative Leader passionate about Talent Strategy, Val has extensive Operations and Human Resources Experience, with a strategic focus on supporting the achievements of enterprise-wide initiatives. With over 25 years of experience in talent and operational strategy, Val has worked with organizations ranging from 100 to over 10,000 employees across Canada with expertise in aligning talent management processes to ensure the success of the organization.

Val’s work in coaching leaders and the teams they are a part of, to instill accountability and helping drive collaboration. Her extensive experience in Talent Management in the areas of Employee Engagement initiatives, Change Leadership, Organizational Design, People Program and Policy Development, Training/Facilitation, Mediation and Workplace Conflict Resolution focuses on ensuring that all business needs are effectively supported through a strategic process.

Immediately prior to launching Teal & Co. Inc. in 2017, Val spent more than 14 years at Appleby College, where she developed and led the Talent Strategy and HR Department, Governance Relations and the operations side of the school as Chief Operations Officer. During her time at Appleby, she successfully developed and implemented various people programs school wide, including rolling out the first formal EOS and managing and overseeing all employee engagement improvement programs. She developed a faculty performance management program, a 360-feedback program, mentorship program and mutual respect program that contributed to the recognition as a Top 100 Employer in Canada in 2007 and 2008. She began her career in the financial services and retail banking sector, where she managed and supported business units and operational issues in Human Resources. She has also managed her own practice as a consultant, working with clients in a wide range of industries and sectors, including manufacturing, government and small independent businesses, colleges & universities.

Val has enjoyed sharing her passion by teaching in the Human Resources Management Certificate program at Sheridan College and has led a variety of workshops within the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS). Her CHRP designation was achieved at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. A member of the HRPA, Val is certified in Employee Opinion Surveys through Gallup, Thomas DISC Assessments, the Birkman method, SDI Behaviour and 360 Assessment tools.

In September 1972 Canada and the Soviet Union played an 8-game exhibition hockey series that would change the game of hockey in Canada and around the world forever. The series pitted Canadian ‘NHL professionals’ believed at the time to be the best players in the world against a Russian national squad that had dominated international competition. This heroic battle came down to the final minute of the final game. In a matter of seconds Team Canada emerged victorious.The story of 1972 Summit Series Team Canada—which pulled off perhaps the greatest comeback in hockey history—has become a touchstone in Canadian history and popular culture and was only made possible by The Power of Teamwork.

This is the opportunity for LI participants to hear how Canada’s Team of the Century rose to weather a surprisingly strong opposition, overcome doubt and a nation’s disbelief to come together, to believe, to trust in each other, and to achieve. It was not an easy journey, it was truly an epic one.Team Canada 72’s story is built around 27 days in September.While Canadians warm heartedly remember the final 34 seconds, the message the Team wishes to share is that it was the building of the team over those 8 incredible games that it is the true success story that forms the Team’s real legacy.This session will draw upon the amazing insights from the inaugural Team Canada to focus on how to build, this September, your own championship classroom or school team.

Barry Wright is an Associate Professor and the past Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Program in the Faculty of Business at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. Prior to joining Brock University, he worked as an Assistant Professor at St. Francis Xavier University, taught at the International Study Centre in Herstmonceux, UK and at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He has also worked as an administrator with the City of Red Deer. During his career as an educator, Barry has been nominated several times for teaching awards and has been recognized as a Macleans Magazine “Popular Professor”.

At home in the classroom, Barry is also comfortable in the boardroom. He has provided a variety of training and research consultations to Canadian organizations. These include: the Bank of Montreal, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Queen's Executive Program, Ontario Basketball Association, Royal Oak Mines, the MacLeod Group, Centre for Innovative Management at Athabasca University, Football Canada, Human Resource Department at Brock University, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Constellation Software and Sobeys Canada Inc. Barry also provides one-on-one “coaching” sessions for senior executives who have expressed a desire for outside counsel.

He received his MA (Sport Psychology) and Ph.D. (Management) degrees from Queen’s University. His academic research focuses on understanding and solving leadership challenges; change and its influence on organizational members; and creating effective work environments.

To contact Barry Wright please call: (905) 688-5550 X5034 office or e-mail:barry.wright@brocku.ca