Leadership Institute Module: Enrolment Management

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned how to be nimble, creative and innovative. Some of our learning will dissipate, while others are here to stay. Together we will examine what a modern day admissions process and team looks like today. We will also focus on the complexities of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice that have pushed enrolment teams to reconsider how they reach out to a broader candidate pool to build and accommodate a more diverse student population.

This module provides an overview of important topics facing CAIS enrolment offices today, including how to create a better understanding of the role admissions plays at schools. 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:

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.

Leadership Institute Module: Risk Management

Participants will receive a high-level overview of risk management practices and how effective risk management supports operations, long-term strength, and resilience in Canadian Independent Schools. This module will address such topics as the fundamentals of risk management, liability, emergency response as well as highlighting the intersections between risk management and the 2021 CAIS National Standards.

The module will be delivered through a combination of presentations, case studies, group discussions, and individual assignments.

Learning Intentions:

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.

Leadership Institute Module: Faculty and Staff Culture

The Faculty and Staff Culture module is designed to provide participants with information concerning the complexities of creating, managing, and leading a vibrant, effective faculty culture within an educational setting. Participants will review basic management theory, discuss the difference between leadership and management, begin the process of developing their own management philosophy and will be given an exposure to the controversies and issues facing a current educational manager/leader. All of this will apply directly to the overall concept of Faculty and Staff Culture.

Connections to the CAIS 2021 National Standards will be made.

Learning Intentions:

• Understand the meaning and complexities of faculty and staff culture.
• Start thinking about one’s own management/leadership style.
• Expose participants to a wide variety of management theories and styles.
• Clearly define faculty and staff culture and understand its relevance in an independent school environment.

Facilitator Biography

Jason Rogers is currently the Head of School of Rundle College Society (Rundle) in Calgary, Alberta. Rundle is a preK-12 coeducational day school system that boasts over 1150 students and 200 staff and faculty. Rundle is recognized as one of the top private schools in Alberta and is unique as it has one specialized campus named Rundle Academy which is solely for students with learning disabilities. In 2021, Rundle opened Canada’s first virtual school for students with learning disabilities, Rundle Studio. The Studio supports students in Alberta and around the world.

Prior to taking on the headship at Rundle, Jason has served as classroom teacher, head of admissions, assistant principal and principal within the Rundle College community. He has also chaired Rundle’s steering committees for technology and professional development. Jason has a Masters and Doctoral degrees in educational leadership from the University of Calgary and has received his Diploma in Independent School Leadership from CAIS.

Outside of school, Jason has a love of family, travel, writing and the outdoors. Jason has published articles and a book on topics such as leadership principles, universal design for learning, creative study skills and the art of public speaking. Jason has had the opportunity to present to teachers, administration and parents in most Canadian provinces. Finally, in spite of growing up in Saskatchewan and cheering for the Roughriders his whole life, Jason and his wife now have made Calgary home.

You can read Jason's blog at www.drjbrogers.com and you can follow him on Twitter (X) @jasonbrogers.