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Spring (LI) Modules
The Spring LI program will consist of both in-person and virtual modules:
In-Person Modules Offered: Crisis Communications, Finance, Indigenous Ways of Learning & Leading
Dates: March 31 & April 1
Location: Collingwood School
Virtual Modules Offered: Enrolment Management, Risk Management
Dates: April 18, 19 & 20
Location: Virtual via Zoom
- During each session, modules will be running concurrently. Participants may register for one module at the in-person LI and one module at the virtual LI.
- Attendance in all sessions is required for module credit.
- A minimum of 10 participants is required for each module.
- The Spring LI program is open to faculty and staff from CAIS schools as well as non-CAIS schools.
- In-person modules are priced at $485 for CAIS schools and $610 for non-CAIS schools, and include two breakfasts and two lunches.
- Virtual modules are priced at $400 for CAIS schools and $525 for non-CAIS schools.
- Participants in the in-person modules are responsible for making their own travel and accommodation arrangements.
For further information see CAIS Leadership Institute FAQ’s or contact Catherine McCauley, Director of Professional Learning, at cmccauley@cais.ca.
Note: If the module you would like to take is full, you can register to join the waitlist. Your credit card will not be charged.
New to the Leadership Institute (LI)?
Participants committed to completing the full Diploma Program are required to take the Foundations for School Leadership Program. Since Foundations is not offered until the Summer 2023 LI, you may register for modules at the Spring LI before taking Foundations and they will count toward your Diploma.
Dates & Times
In-Person Modules
Friday, March 31 - 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM PT
Saturday, April 1 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM PT
Virtual Modules
Tuesday, April 18 - 12:00 - 3:30 PM ET, optional networking 3:30 - 4:00 PM ET
Wednesday, April 19 - 4:00 - 7:00 PM ET
Thursday, April 20 - 12:00 - 3:30 PM ET, optional networking 3:30 - 4:00 PM ET
IN-PErson Module Descriptions & Facilitators
Crisis Communications
- Explore what defines a crisis.
- Consider the potential impacts of a crisis from the different perspectives of a school (strategic, reputational, operational, etc.).
- Look at what we have learned throughout the pandemic. Real examples and case studies to explore what worked well and lessons learned.
- Understand where crisis communications fits into broader strategic planning. Explore how to prepare your school - and your school community - for a crisis.
- Review early warning systems. What should you have in place?
- Discuss the crisis response workflow and look at unique considerations for different school environments, including who to involve, and when to bring in additional support.
- Spokespeople
- Process
- Questions to Ask
- The Role of a School Leader during (and before and after) a crisis
- Examine what recovery looks like and explore specific strategies that can aid school communities in recovering from a crisis.
- Make connections to the CAIS National Standards including Standard Two- School Leadership and Standard Nine- Recruitment and Community Engagement
Finance
- 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.
Indigenous Ways of Learning & Leading
- Does the school have a comprehensive plan and strategy as to how to include Indigenous Education? Let's create it together, support one another, this is Indigenous Education.
- Does your school have an indigenous person supporting teachers, staff, faculty in bringing the Indigenous perspective into the school?
- In what way is Indigenous history and ways of learning and leading, a priority for your school and what are the possibilities?
- How can your school embed indigenous knowledge, teachings and content throughout the curricular and co-curricular programs?
- How can your school provide opportunities for staff, faculty and students to learn about the intersections between economic, social, political and struggles of Indigenous people in Canada.
- What strategies can your school commit to in order to ensure sustainability in all aspects of Indigenous Education (i.e., creating a budget to honor Indigenous Education, to bring in artists in residence, hire Indigenous staff and for recruiting).
- What can you add to an existing Indigenous program or subject?
VIRTUAL Module Descriptions & Facilitators
Enrolment Management
- Develop an understanding of The Admission Funnel (taking a family through inquiry to applicant, to candidate to decision, offer and enrolment) , Marketing, Student Assessment, Consensus Building and Financial Assistance
- Understand the concept of our CAIS schools as co-operative competitors
- Understand ethics in the Admission process
- Explore the mindset of Families of the 21st century: Wooing the millennium generation
Alignment will be made with the CAIS 2021 National Standards: Nine: Recruitment and Community Engagement
Facilitator Biography
Bruce Mutch joined Ashbury College as Director of Admissions in 2012 and moved into his current role as Director of Enrollment and Advancement in 2017. Originally from Prince Edward Island, Bruce has spent his entire career in the independent school industry, working for some of North America’s most recognized day and boarding institutions. Prior to joining the Ashbury College family, Bruce worked as the Director of Enrollment at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School in Calgary, AB. Previously, Bruce spent 6 years at Ridley College as Assistant Director of Admissions and Assistant Housemaster, and two years at Hillside School in Marlborough, Massachusetts as French Teacher and Assistant Head of House.
Bruce is an independent school graduate of Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois, where he balanced academics with a love for hockey, captaining the Varsity team his Junior and Senior years. He later moved on to coaching roles in hockey, lacrosse, rugby and volleyball at Hillside School, Ridley College and Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School.
Bruce enjoys having the opportunity to explain the value of an Ashbury College experience to prospective, current and past students and alumni, along with their families. Bruce is an active member of various organizations including the Ashbury College Foundation, CAIS (Canadian Accredited Independent Schools) and EMA (Enrollment Management Association). Outside of school, Bruce enjoys golf, running, reading and spending time with friends and family.
Risk Management - FULL - register to join waitlist
- What school leaders need to know and understand about risk management in governance, compliance, educational programming, school operations, campus/facility development and strategic planning.
- How risk management contributes to the school’s overall strength and resilience.
- How to develop or enhance a risk management framework within independent schools.
- How investing in risk management can lead to the development of strategy, effective management and mitigation of future risks
- About best practices in risk management through concrete examples
Facilitator Biographies:
Andrew Shirkoff is the Director of Risk Management at St. George’s School in Vancouver, British Columbia. With over a decade of experience in Risk Management in independent schools, he has worked with faculty and staff, school leadership and boards to implement Enterprise and Strategic Risk Management practices.
A member of the Senior Leadership team, Andrew oversees the insurance portfolio, Critical Incident and Emergency Response planning, Privacy and Data Protection, disaster recovery, crisis communications and business continuity development. During the pandemic, he was seconded to the Federation of Independent Schools Associations as a member of the Independent School Rapid Response team, working with local health officials to support schools efforts to address challenges posed by COVID-19.
Andrew has presented to school leaders and was a member of the CAIS National Standards Refresh sub-committee that contributed to and reviewed the indicators of effective risk management practice.
In his spare time, Andrew can be found hiking or hurling himself down trails on his mountain bike.
Simon Parker is originally from British Columbia, where he worked his way through four years at the University of Victoria, earning a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy. While in Victoria he was enrolled as a member of the Canadian Forces infantry reserves with the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s). Finding little employment with an arts degree, he transferred to the Regular Force and was subsequently posted to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment in Petawawa, Ontario for his sins.
Simon spent 26 years with the Canadian Armed Forces, serving in a variety of command roles at the Platoon, Company and Battalion levels. His time in the Forces took him across Canada and around the world, exposing him to many cultures and peoples, enhancing his understanding of the world we live in. He has deployed on military operations overseas to the Middle East, the Balkans and to the Asia-Pacific region.
While in the military, Simon completed two post-graduate degrees, a Masters of Diplomacy (cum laude) at Norwich University and a Masters of Defense Studies at the Royal Military College of Canada.
In 2018, Simon left the Regular Force and transferred back to the Primary Reserves where he took on the role of Commanding Officer with The Brockville Rifles. Simon finally retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2021. Concurrently, while serving in the Reserves, Simon was employed by Ashbury College in Ottawa as their Senior Risk Officer, developing and advancing a culture of risk management throughout the College.
In 2022 Simon departed Ashbury College and launched his risk management consulting firm, Accensi Solutions, offering risk management consulting services to the education and non-profit sectors. Through Accensi Solutions, Simon offers a wide array of risk management consulting services to include governance mentoring, risk management policy development, emergency response planning, cyber security awareness, off-site trip leader development, as well as many other services.