Small School Leaders Conference
February 7–9 2024
An affordable, comprehensive virtual conference tailored to small private and independent schools!
Tired of attending independent school conferences that deliver one-size-fits-all content?
Do you walk away feeling overwhelmed because the strategies require a bigger budget, a larger team, and more time than you have?
That’s why we’re passionate about starting a movement to support small independent schools and offer school leaders a conference that meets their needs and challenges.
Hear From Aubrey Bursch, Conference Organizer & CEO of Easy School Marketing
The value of this conference was... well, INVALUABLE!
With such a variety of speakers and topics covered, there was always something to listen to and learn about.
~ Maggie Ramey, Conference Attendee
Who Should Attend the Conference?
✅ Marketing, Development, or Admissions Directors: If you're aiming to advance your strategies and achieve your goals, this conference provides tailored insights to drive your initiatives forward.
✅ Heads of School: Stay ahead of the curve by understanding the latest trends and discovering where to invest your time and energy for the best Return on Investment (ROI) in education.
✅ Board Members: Invested in your school's success? Join us to help your institution overcome challenges and embrace innovation, contributing to its growth and development.
✅ School Leaders with Multiple Roles: If you wear many hats and find yourself juggling various responsibilities, attend to gain clarity on the most effective use of your time and resources.
✅ Educational Professionals Eager to Understand Current Challenges: Get valuable insights into the challenges faced by independent schools today, fostering a deeper understanding of the industry landscape.
✅ Professionals Seeking Diverse Perspectives: Broaden your horizons by engaging with experts in marketing, development, and enrollment. Explore fresh ideas and innovative approaches in these vital areas.
✅ Teams Seeking Cost-Effective Learning Solutions: If you and your team are looking for a budget-friendly learning event, this conference offers valuable discussions on key ROI strategies without breaking the bank.
✅ Frustrated Attendees of Conventional Conferences: Tired of generic content aimed at larger, well-funded schools? Our conference focuses on practical, implementable strategies, ensuring you leave with actionable insights tailored to your institution's needs.
I thought the offerings were such a great value for the price.
I love that everything can be accessed later for sessions I wasn't able to attend. The speakers were incredibly knowledgeable about their subjects!
~ Emily Scillieri, Development Director
What will you learn?
✅ Unlocking Success — Tailored Sessions for Small Schools: Discover a wealth of knowledge in sessions crafted exclusively for small school leaders. Gain insights into strategies perfectly suited for your unique challenges, providing the tools you need to propel your school forward.
✅ Practical Solutions for Limited Resources — Making Every Dollar Count: Unlike other conferences, our event focuses on actionable strategies designed for schools with limited resources. Learn techniques that your small or understaffed team can readily implement, maximizing your impact without breaking the bank.
✅ Tackling Today's Challenges — Relevant Topics for Small School Leaders: Explore a diverse range of topics, from cutting-edge AI and LinkedIn Ads to essential skills like Delegation and Tuition Page strategies. Each session addresses the pressing issues faced by small schools, ensuring you stay ahead in the ever-changing educational landscape.
✅ Holistic Approach — Nurturing Every Aspect of School Advancement: Recognizing the interconnected nature of school development, our conference covers vital areas such as marketing, development, enrollment, and leadership. Delve into discussions tailored for key team members, including Directors of Marketing, Development, Admissions, as well as Heads of School.
✅ Expert Insights — Learn from Industry Leaders and Experienced School Professionals: Engage with over 27 distinguished speakers, including industry experts and seasoned school leaders. Benefit from their expertise as they share tried-and-tested strategies and the latest trends, empowering you to navigate the challenges of the independent school industry with confidence.
The speakers at this conference were very down to earth and relayed their ideas and expertise in a digestible and conversational way.
~ Lynne Minchello, 2023 Conference Attendee
4 Ticket Options Available
Early Bird/Priority Enrollment Pricing: Use code 'LEADER' at checkout for 20% off AND access to our Bonus Workshops on February 15
Individual Ticket
$57
✅ One registration
✅ Access to all live sessions
✅ Post-event access to recordings, slide decks, and other resources provided by speakers
✅ Bonus Day Access if Register by January 11 (more invaluable speaker sessions on February 15!)
✅ Pre-Conference Workshop Access
Team Ticket
$127
✅ Unlimited Attendees from Your School
✅ Access to all live sessions
✅ Post-event access to recordings, slide decks, and other resources provided by speakers
✅ Bonus Day Access if Register by January 11 (more invaluable speaker sessions on February 15!)
✅ Pre-Conference Workshop Access
Association Ticket
$697
✅ Unlimited Attendees from Every School in Your Association
✅ Access to all live sessions
✅ Post-event access to recordings, slide decks, and other resources provided by speakers
✅ Bonus Day Access if Register by January 11 (more invaluable speaker sessions on February 15!)
✅ Pre-Conference Workshop Access
NEW! VIP Ticket
$375
✅ Unlimited Conference Attendees from Your School
✅ Access to all live sessions
✅ Post-event access to recordings, slide decks, and other resources provided by speakers
✅ Bonus Day Access if Register by January 11 (more invaluable speaker sessions on February 15!)
✅ Pre-Conference Workshop Access
✅ One-Year Access to Small School Solutions Professional Development Membership
✅ 12 Monthly Live Guest Expert Trainings on Marketing, Enrollment, Development & Leadership Topics
✅ 12 Monthly Training & Coaching Sessions with Aubrey Bursch
✅ 12 Monthly Community Q&A Sessions with like-minded school leaders and Aubrey Bursch
✅ Access to Exclusive Offers and Experiences
Is Early Bird Pricing Available?
YES! We are thrilled to announce our Early Bird Priority Enrollment, available until December 6, 2023. Take advantage of a 20% discount on Individual, Team, VIP, and Association Tickets. Our aim is to make this conference accessible to everyone. Make sure to reserve your spot early and enjoy the savings!
Use the code LEADER at checkout to secure your savings.
CEO, Aubrey Bursch and her team at Easy School Marketing went above and beyond to make this conference a success.
Daily reminders were sent about the conferences with detailed information on what we will cover and who was speaking which made me feel as though we were all in the room together. The speakers and the community were very upbeat and eager to learn. The knowledge I took away from these three days has been very impactful and I can't wait to sign up for next year!
~ Katelyn Payne, Conference Attendee
Unable to attend every session? No problem!
Within one week after the conference, you'll receive session recordings and resources directly in your online portal. These valuable materials will remain accessible for up to a year following the event!
Added Bonus: VIP registrants will have the exclusive opportunity to participate in Guest Expert trainings and group coaching sessions led by Aubrey Bursch and select presenters over the next 12 months.
Register for VIP Tickets Now8:00 am: "You Can’t Do It All By Yourself: Delegating With Confidence" with Rebecca Malotke-Meslin, Leadership Coach & Consultant
9:00 am: "Leveraging Partnerships to Build a Blockbuster Fundraising Event" with Chris Pryor of Lead Team Partners & Samantha Flemming of Oakwood School
10:00 am: "You Don't Know, What You Don't Know: 10 Marketing Ideas To Drive Inquiries" with Brendan Schneider of SchneiderB Media Inc.
11:00 am: "Extreme Makeover: Tuition Page Edition" with Dale Seabury, Owner and Founder, Seabury Consulting
12:00 pm: "YIKES! What have I gotten myself into? (A guide for new and aspiring administrators)" with Peggy Campbell-Rush
1:00 pm: "Using Data to Drive Targeted Recruitment Efforts" with Dana Nelson-Isaacs, Founder and President of DNI Consulting
2:00 pm: "The Shifting Workforce" with Shannan Schuster, ISM Consultant
3:00 pm: "The Small Schools Dashboard and Game Plan" with Larry Goodman & Paul Baly of the Gowan Group
4:00 pm: "Putting the 'Macro' Touch on 'Micro' Schooling" with Alyson LeMaster, Dean of Enrollment & Innovation
Thursday, February 8, 2024: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
Speaker Bios8:00 am: "Helping small schools create a big experience" with Dr David Willows & Suzette Parlevliet co-founders at [YELLOW CAR]
9:00 am: "Setting priorities and establishing boundaries as a leader" with Susanne Carpenter, Principal and Founder of Carpenter Leadership Consulting
10:00 am: "Growth Campaigns for Schools" with Karl Boehm, Chief Growth Officer
11:00 am: "RESULTS-DRIVEN STORYTELLING, Crafting content that converts" with Emily Cretella, Owner & School Storyteller
12:00 pm: "Data-Driven Decisions: Identifying Mathematics Deficiencies Through Admissions Placement Tests" with Jennifer Schoolfield, Head of School at Hanger Hall School
1:00 pm: "School Website SEO 101: The Basics You Need To Know To Help Your School Website Come Up In Google Searches" with Tara Claeys, Owner of Design TLC
2:00 pm: "Don't Fear the Robots: Using AI to Make Your Job Easier" with Angela Brown, Manager, B2B Brand Strategy
3:00 pm: "How to execute a results driven video marketing strategy" with Joe Monzo, Owner/Creative Director
Friday, February 9, 2024: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
Speaker Bios8:00 am: "Meaningful DEI work on limited funds" with Jen Cort, Consultant
9:00 am: "The Strong Community: Re-thinking Parent and Alumni Engagement" with Jill Goodman, Founder of Jill Goodman Consulting
10:00 am: “Easy Ways to Increase Social Media Engagement” with Andrea Gribble, Founder & CEO of #SocialSchool4EDU
11:00 am: “LinkedIn for Enrollment” with Angie Ward, Founder of Enroll Media Group
12:00 pm: Round Table for Marketing, Admissions, and Development
1:00 pm: “Building a Culture of Retention” with Miriam Stein, Founder & Chief Strategist, Saddlerock Strategies & Laurie Ehrlich, Founder, Elevate Marketing Strategy
2:00 pm: “Living your mission: Connecting with your local Refugee Community & Building a Refugee Scholarship Program” with Matt Thornton, Director of Admissions
3:00 pm: “Strategic Small School Governance for a New Era” with Brooke Carroll Principal Consultant and Coach
4:00 pm: “Structure and Independence: Finding Balance with your team and your students” with Tanya Sheckley, Founder, UP Academy
BONUS DAY WORKSHOPS
Thursday, February 15, 10 am – 4 pm
Register by January 11 to Receive Access to the Bonus Day Sessions!
10 am Creating an Exciting & Successful Giving Day with Shannon Prohaszka
11 am Shaping Your School's Identity for Success with Madison Carr
12 pm Marketing, Development and Admissions Roundtables
1 pm: Don't Forget About Your Website! With Laurie Ehrlich
2 pm: Building a Burnout Free Team with Miriam Stein
3 pm: Master Mindsets & Moves with Lisa Parry
I attended every session because even the ones that didn't relate specifically to my role provided tips to make me more efficient.
They also provided great insight into processes that could help our overall strategy. It was a fantastic conference and I was able to take away insight, great ideas, resources, and implementation ideas from every speaker.
~ Lanita Nickerson, Conference Attendee

Paul Baly, Placement Director at Gowan Group

Karl Boehm , Chief Growth Officer

Angela Brown, Manager, B2B Brand Strategy

Aubrey Bursch — Founder & CEO Easy School Marketing

Peggy Campbell-Rush, Education Specialist

Susanne Carpenter, Principal and Founder of Carpenter Leadership Consulting

Madison Carr, Strategist & Designer at High Marks Studio

Brooke Carroll, Principal Consultant and Coach

Tara Claeys, Owner of Design TLC

Jen Cort, Consultant

Emily Cretella, Owner & School Storyteller

Laurie Ehrlich, Founder, Elevate Marketing Strategy

Samantha Fleming, Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives

Jill Goodman, Founder of Jill Goodman Consulting

Larry Goodman, Managing Director at Gowan Group

Andrea Gribble, Founder & CEO of SocialSchool4EDU

Alyson LeMaster, Dean of Enrollment & Innovation

Rebecca Malotke-Meslin, Leadership Coach & Consultant

Joe Monzo, Owner/Creative Director

Dana Nelson-Isaacs, Founder and President of DNI Consulting

Suzette Parlevliet, Co-founder and Experience Director at [YELLOW CAR]

Lisa Parry, PK-12 Principal, Curriculum Director, AP Lang & Comp Teacher

Shannon Prohaszka, Chief Development Officer at Wooster School

Chris Pryor, Founder and Principal, LeadTeam Partners

Jennifer Schoolfield, Head of School

Brendan Schneider, Founder and CEO of SchneiderB Media Inc.

Shannan Schuster, ISM Consultant

Dale Seabury, Owner and Founder, Seabury Consulting

Tanya Sheckley, Founder, UP Academy

Miriam Stein, Founder & Chief Strategist, Saddlerock Strategies

Matt Thornton, Director of Admissions

Angie Ward, Founder of Enroll Media Group

Dr David Willows, Co-founder and Strategic Director at [YELLOW CAR]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Early Bird Pricing Available?
There are four ticket options. Which ticket option is best for my school?
How can my colleagues utilize the Team Ticket and VIP Ticket options?
How do schools access the Association Ticket?
What if I can’t make a session or conference day?
Is there a refund policy?
I can’t pay with credit card. Do you offer alternative payment methods?
Where can I find the schedule and speaker information?
Thank You To Our Sponsors
The Small School Leaders Conference is made possible by the support of the following sponsors.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor email [email protected]