Empowered Educators: Women Leading the Charge in School Finance & Governance

8:00-8:45 AM Registration, Breakfast and Networking

8:45-9:15 AM Welcome from ADVIS, THN, and The Hill School

9:15-10:30 AM Session 1: Key Financial Concepts
presented by Pam Clarke, former Head of School, founder of Pam Clarke Consulting

10:30-10:45 AM Break

10:45 AM-12:00 PM Session 2: Budget Simulation and Case Studies
presented by Pam Clarke, former Head of School, founder of Pam Clarke Consulting

12:00-12:45 PM Lunch

12:50-1:40 PM Workshop 1
Mastering the Art of Fundraising
presented by Sally Keidel, Head of School, The Agnes Irwin School

1:45-2:35 PM Workshop 2
Building Your Dream Team: Administrative Team Assembly for New Heads of School
presented by Laura Hotchkiss, Head of School, Academy of Notre Dame de Namur

2:40-3:30 PM Workshop 3
Who Takes the Lead? 
The Grand Waltz of Leadership: Navigating the Dance Between Heads and Boards
presented by Ayanna Hill-Gill, President, ADVIS

12:50-1:40 PM Workshop 1: Fundraising

Mastering the Art of Fundraising
presented by Sally Keidel, Head of School, The Agnes Irwin School

Fundraising is a pivotal aspect of sustaining and growing independent schools. This workshop is designed specifically for aspiring women leaders eager to learn the art of fundraising. Participants will explore the nuances of generating financial support and learn how to effectively engage with donors and stakeholders. 

Objectives:

• Understand the critical role of fundraising in the financial health and strategic growth of independent schools.

• Learn key strategies for identifying, engaging, and retaining donors.

• Discover innovative fundraising techniques that cater to diverse donor bases.

• Gain insights into planning and executing successful fundraising campaigns.

1:45-2:35 PM Workshop 2: Administrative Team

Building Your Dream Team: Administrative Team Assembly for New Heads of School
presented by Dr. Laura Hotchkiss, Head of School, Academy of Notre Dame de Namur

As a new head of the school, you're tasked with the pivotal role of shaping an administrative team that not only shares, but enhances, the school's values and goals. This workshop will provide you with concise, actionable strategies to both harness the potential of current staff and thoughtfully integrate new members when necessary.

Objectives:

• Master techniques to assess and utilize the strengths of existing team members and seamlessly incorporate new talent.

• Develop a collaborative and positive school culture that aligns with your leadership style.

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2:40 PM  - 3:30 PM Workshop 3: Governance

Who Takes the Lead?
The Grand Waltz of Leadership: Navigating the Dance
Between Heads and Boards
presented by Ayanna Hill-Gill, President, ADVIS 

Step into the intricate dance of school leadership in this unique workshop designed for aspiring female heads of schools. "The Grand Waltz of Leadership" explores the delicate balance of leading and following, where the roles of the board and the head of school often intertwine and shift. Participants will learn strategic moves to maintain harmony and direction, even when the lead in the dance seems unclear. Through interactive scenarios and expert-led discussions, this session provides the tools to gracefully navigate the complexities of governance, influence, and partnership essential for effective leadership. Discover how to choreograph a leadership style that aligns with the rhythm of your board, ensuring a performance that advances your school's mission and vision.

Objectives:

 Pamela Clarke

Former Head of School
Founder of Pam Clarke Consulting

Pam attended eight different schools before earning a high school diploma from The Shipley School.  She has a BA from Vassar and Master’s degrees from Yale (Classics) and Harvard (Counseling and Consulting Psychology.) After a teaching career at Rosemary Hall, Independent Day School and Groton School–where she was the first woman hired at the then boys’ school–she served as Head of School at The Masters School for 10 years. Pam then went on to lead St. Paul Academy and Summit School, Trevor Day School and Doane Stuart School. Since retiring from long term headships, she has been the Interim Head at Kimball Union Academy and the Helios School. She has been consulting with independent schools and their families since 2023 with the goal of using her experience to improve and often repair a school by helping Boards of Trustees do their best work. In her summer vacations, Pam enjoys sculling, swimming, flyfishing and playing golf.

Ayanna Hill-Gill

President, ADVIS

national and local boards, including the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools, The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), and the Emory University Visiting Board of Trustees. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum and an active member of Kiwanis International.

Dr. Laura M. Hotchkiss

Head of School,
Academy of Notre Dame de Namur

Sally Keidel

Head of School, The Agnes Irwin School

Sally Keidel is The Agnes Irwin School’s 14th Head of School. A strategic and creative leader, she has served independent schools in a variety of roles for more than 30 years. She has a strong background in enrollment management, financial aid, fundraising, school finance, and collaborating with and leading teams.

Prior to becoming Agnes Irwin’s Head of School in July 2020, Sally was Head of School at the Montgomery School, a pre-K through Grade 8 independent school in Chester Springs, Pa., where she was responsible for all academic, financial, and operational aspects of the school. During her six-year tenure at the helm of Montgomery, Sally significantly increased the annual fund, created a new faculty evaluation system, developed the school’s Centennial Anniversary program, and oversaw an audit and enhancement of curriculum. She also raised funds for, and implemented, an innovative initiative called “Excellence Within Reach,” which lowered the school’s tuition by 30 percent while increasing its enrollment by 34 percent in just under two years. 

Before assuming the Head of School job at Montgomery, Sally spent seven years at Agnes Irwin as the Director of Admission and Financial Aid. The final two years of that stint (2012-2014), she also served as the Assistant Head of School for Enrollment and External Relations. Known and respected by parents, faculty, and students alike, she had a stellar record of achieving goals and, under her leadership, Agnes Irwin had a record enrollment of 702 students.

Independent schools run deep in Sally. She is a graduate of Tower Hill School in Wilmington, Del., and she has dedicated her entire professional career to the missions of independent schools. In addition to her work at Agnes Irwin and Montgomery, she has been the Director of Admission and Enrollment Management at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., the Associate Director of Admission and the Assistant Director of Residential Life at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., and the Assistant Director of Admission and a French teacher at Chatham Hall in Chatham, Va.

Sally has served as a trustee of the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS) since 2008, and she is currently Chair of its Board of Trustees. Sally also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Heads Network, a national organization focused on women’s leadership in independent schoolsShe also serves on the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools’ Commission for Accreditation. In 2020, Sally was selected for, and participated in, a fully funded two-week Head of Schools fellowship through the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College.

Sally is a graduate of Dickinson College, where she received a B.A. in French. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.