Enrollment & Marketing Summit

Families don’t just want to know what your school costs, they want to know why it’s worth it. This workshop will help you pair tuition numbers with a clear value proposition and proof of impact, gaining trust and confidence from both prospective and current families. 

We’ll explore how to explain tuition increases in transparent, mission-driven language, position tuition assistance as a value-first and stigma-free option, and use consistent messaging across all channels including your school’s website, admissions materials, staff conversations, and parent communications. You’ll see examples from schools that weave together value statements, testimonials, data points, and program highlights to address sticker shock and connect the investment directly to student outcomes. 

Through interactive exercises, you’ll audit your own affordability messaging, develop a mini message bank for staff, and identify quick wins to make your communications more compelling, consistent, and family-focused.

AI can be a powerful tool for school marketers—but it’s not a substitute for clarity, strategy, or authenticity. In this workshop, we’ll explore how a well-defined School Story serves as the foundation for effective AI-generated content.

You’ll leave with a framework to align your school’s narrative with AI outputs, ensuring your communications are consistent, compelling, and true to your values.

Leading a small school means doing everything. One minute you’re writing a board report, the next you’re sending admission emails, updating the website, or analyzing enrollment trends. But what if AI could function like a full-time team member in the areas where you don’t have one? That’s no longer a futuristic dream. It’s already happening in schools just like yours. 

In this must-attend session, you’ll learn from a powerhouse trio: a veteran small-school admissions leader who’s been in your shoes, a nationally recognized AI strategist known for helping independent schools innovate on a budget, and a live AI assistant working in real time to show what’s possible. You’ll see exactly how small schools are using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to handle everything from content creation to data analysis to parent communications.

This isn’t theory. It’s a hands-on, real-world walkthrough of how AI can give your team superpowers when hiring more staff just isn’t an option. You’ll get honest insights, live demos, and concrete examples tailored to the realities of small-shop leadership. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll walk away rethinking what’s possible for your school.  

You’ll leave with:         

• A clear understanding of what today’s AI tools can do for small schools               
• Real use cases showing how AI fills staffing gaps in admissions, advancement, and beyond           
• A smart framework for matching AI tools to the roles your school needs most         
• Tips to get started with confidence and avoid the common time-wasters         
• The playbook you need to lead AI adoption in your school, even if it’s just you

This is not another hype session about the future. This is a practical masterclass on what’s working right now in schools your size, led by people who live and breathe it. Don’t miss it.

BIO:

Laurie is a master storyteller and strategist, excelling at creating and implementing campaigns that compel people to act. She brings to the table a data-driven mindset combined with multi-channel marketing strategy and planning, content creation, cross-team collaboration, corporate communications, and digital media expertise.

She loves sharing her passion for marketing with others. Laurie is an eight-time judge for the annual InspiredSM Brilliance Awards, participates on multiple marketing and communications lay committees, and her speaking resume includes the Niche K12 Enrollment Summit, the Enrollment Management Association Annual Conference, AISAP Annual Institute, Finalsite University user conference, multiple masterclasses, and others. 

Laurie holds a M.B.A. in Management + Corporate Communication from Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business in New York City and a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Maryland, College Park. She and her husband live in the D.C. ‘burbs with their two boys who have boundless energy and are begging for a dog.

CONTACT:

laurie@thrivehive.group  

www.thrivehive.group

www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebehrlich

BIO:

The owner of Cursive Content, Emily Cretella is a strategic storyteller and content marketer who helps schools tell powerful stories that attract dream families, increase inquiries and enrollment, strengthen communities, and grow school influence. 

Emily has partnered with more than 60 schools in 20 states and four countries to create and share stories their audiences love. Prior to founding Cursive in 2012, Emily was the director of strategy at a Connecticut marketing agency, where she managed the execution of large-scale traditional and online marketing campaigns for clients ranging from schools and nonprofits to Fortune 500s. She now works solely with private schools, colleges, universities, and educational organizations. 

Emily would love to hear YOUR school story. Are you ready to tell it? Get in touch at www.cursivecontent.com.

CONTACT:

emily@cursivecontent.com 

cursivecontent.com

www.linkedin.com/in/emilycretella

BIO:

Voted as a Top 100 Marketing & Advertising Leader, Andrew boasts a dynamic career beginning in the Themed Entertainment Industry. His extensive travels to over 50 countries have equipped him with a global perspective, enabling him to tackle projects with a comprehensive and insightful approach. Andrew's entrepreneurial spirit is perhaps most evident in his founding of Kingdom Analytics. This pioneering firm has made a significant mark on the global stage, impacting over 600 organizations by bridging the gap between them and their communities, student families, donors, and customers. Through the strategic application of advanced demographic research, Kingdom Analytics not only provides invaluable insights but also empowers these organizations to forge stronger, more meaningful connections. Andrew’s approach combines cutting-edge AI technology with a deep understanding of behavioral preferences, enabling his clients to achieve unparalleled engagement and effectiveness in their missions. 

As the Co-City Lead for Phoenix's FaithTech Chapter, Andrew blends faith with technology to foster innovative solutions. Currently, as the Director of Philanthropy & Investments for The Caritas Foundation—a Christian charitable foundation he co-founded with his wife—his commitment to philanthropy is evident. Driven by a passion for helping others, Andrew serves on the board of numerous non-profits and excels in harnessing data and creativity to design unforgettable experiences that have an impact.

CONTACT:

andrew@kingdomanalytics.com 

kingdomanalytics.com

www.linkedin.com/in/esparzaace

BIO:

Andrew Weller is the Dean of Admissions at the Birch Wathen Lenox School in NYC. 

Previously, Weller was Dean of Enrollment & Strategic Marketing for St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School, Director of Admissions for Avenues: The World School, Executive Director of Advancement at Ridley College (Canada) and Director of Admissions at Chestnut Hill Academy. He currently serves as a CASE Commissioner for Marketing and Communications.

Weller was a board member of the East Bay School for Boys, served on the inaugural Admissions Leadership Council, served four years on the planning committee of the TABS/NAIS Global Symposium, and now serves as the faculty chair for the Admission Directors Institute of the Enrollment Management Association.

He has a B.S. from Alfred University, M.S. from Marymount University, and an Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

CONTACT:

andrew@kingdomanalytics.com  

andrew.weller@gbwl.org

kingdomanalytics.com

Yes! Live attendance is completely free for both the Leadership Summit (May 7, 2026) and the Enrollment & Marketing Summit (May 14, 2026).

No problem. Recordings will be available for purchase for $97 after the Summit. You can attend live for free or access the sessions on your own schedule.

Enrollment & Marketing Summit:

This Summit is ideal for Directors of Admission, enrollment teams, marketing and communications professionals, Heads of School, and anyone involved in enrollment or marketing strategy at a small school.

Each Summit is a one-day virtual event with multiple sessions spread throughout the day. A full schedule will be shared closer to the event date.

Yes. The Spring Summits are a virtual extension of the Small School Leaders Conference (February 3–6, 2026), designed to keep learning and conversation going throughout the year. Conference attendees receive the Summit recordings as part of their conference ticket.

No. The Summits are open to everyone, whether or not you attended the February Conference. Conference attendees receive the Summit recordings as part of their conference ticket.

Professional development credit varies by school. While we don’t issue formal PD certificates, many schools count Summit attendance toward internal PD requirements.

Both Summits are fully virtual and will be hosted live via Zoom Webinar. Registered attendees will receive login details prior to the event.

Yes. Many sessions will include live Q&A or discussion time, allowing attendees to engage directly with presenters.

The full session schedule and speaker lineup will be shared in March 2026.

The Summits are hosted by Easy School Marketing as part of the Small School Leaders learning series.

Contact Aubrey Bursch through the Contact Form, and the Easy School Marketing Team will be in touch.