Susan’s Vitae…

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION

• A results-oriented, values-based leader in independent, residential school education
• Adept at creating strategic plans and fundraising; driving organizational development and cultural transformation; facilitating leadership development.
• Proven ability to create collaborative and productive work environments, where faculty, staff and students thrive, while being challenged and encouraged to maximize their potential.

 COLLINGWOOD SCHOOL

Executive Director of Advancement                                                   2005 – PRESENT

• Oversee and provide vision and leadership for all fundraising, PR (communications & marketing), admissions, parent, volunteer, and alumni relations
• Led a successful $4 Million capital campaign for a new school wing;  increased annual giving campaign five fold over five years
• Develop and implement a strategic fundraising plan to achieve short-term and long-range financial goals and mission. Provide guidance to the Board of Governors at regular meetings and retreats
• Guide and support Foundation initiatives, focusing on promotion and cultivation of major and planned gifts to ensure endowment growth
• Lead the Advancement Department, growing a team from 1.5 FTEs to 6.5 FTEs over six years
• Guide and participate in the identification, cultivation and solicitation of major gifts
• Oversee School branding and new marketing and fundraising materials,  including use of social media
• Ensure the strategic utilization of volunteers and School staff in relationship building and fundraising

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

Executive Director                     2002 – 2005

• Promoted and advanced CAIS and member schools nationally and internationally. Acted as media spokesperson and liaison for CAIS. Grew the association membership by 11%
• Provided support and direction to Heads of Schools and senior administrators, through professional development conferences, newsletters, interactive website, and current research and resources
• Managed CAIS finances, including annual audit preparation, annual budget, financial reports, conference budgets, sponsorship, and running the Leadership Institute
• Researched and prepared reports on statistics, current and future trends in education, sample policies and procedures, and best practices
• Oversaw special projects, including the CAIS Benchmarking Project, the CAIS Directory, the CAIS Group Purchasing Program
• As a Professional Learning Program (PLP) Provider, wrote and submitted courses to Ontario’s College of Teachers for credit. Oversaw the submission of credits for teachers. Managed accurate and secure records of PLP credits for teachers
• Managed all aspects of the CAIS Diploma in Independent School Leadership, including the Summer Institute each year. Broadening the number of courses and increased enrollment each year.
• Collaborated with companies for sponsorship of CAIS conferences and group purchasing arrangements for member schools
• Established strong relationships and collaborated with numerous associations, such as TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools)

LAKEFIELD COLLEGE SCHOOL

Assistant Head, School Life      

Director of Admissions, 1997 – 1999;

Housemaster 1993 – 1996;

Teacher, French & Spanish 1993 – 1999                                                                                       

• Managed all aspects of School Life, including standards of discipline and support services by working in a procedural, consensus building manner with faculty and students
• Served as a member of the Senior Management Team and ran the school in the Head’s absence.
• Chaired the Financial Aid Committee and determined the distribution of scholarships/bursaries to students, working in concert with the Director of Development and the Director of Finance
• Chaired the Facilities Committee, working with the Director of Physical Plant to maintain appropriate appearances for the school campus, and served on Capital Projects Committee, proposed and reviewed  projects to advance and enhance the school’s facilities
• Chaired the Admissions Committee, working with faculty to review applicants and discuss retention issues
• Served on Board Committees, including Long Range Planning, Staff Empowerment, Admissions Board, Personnel and Education, Master Campus Planning, Strategic Planning, Budget, and Leadership Committees
• Worked with the Faculty Association and the Support Staff Advisory Committee to discuss budgets, human resource/personnel policies and procedures
• Attended annual Board meeting. Presented an assessment of the extent to which school life objectives were met and outlined future objectives
• Ensured students had meaningful input into administration and policy setting. Established a first-of-kind leadership engagement program; giving every final year student a significant leadership portfolio.
• Provided strong support and direction to Heads of Houses and Residential Dons.  Oversaw hiring, professional development and evaluation of all residential faculty and health center personnel
• Pioneered a highly successful Residential Don program, improving life balance issues for Heads of Houses and providing superior care and residential life programming while enriching the school’s talent pool

THE BISHOP STRACHAN SCHOOL

Dean of Residence/French and Spanish Teacher/Admissions Officer                                     1988 – 1993

• Served on senior administrative team, Marketing, Long Range Planning and Social Service Committees.
• Evaluated, revitalized and modernized residence routines, systems and policies.
• Provided innovative leadership programs for students in residence.  Improved communications with parents, the Board, other schools and organizations. Built a high performing residential staff team.
• Represented B.S.S. on promotional tours in Canada and abroad.  Interviewed potential students and parents.  Helped to establish alumni networks/branches.

RIDLEY COLLEGE

Teacher/Housemaster/Admissions Officer/Coach                                                                              1984 – 1988

Teacher/Coach/Assistant Housemaster                                                                                              1979 – 1981

• Appointed first female Housemaster for a boys’ residence.  Increased morale and reduced academic and discipline problems through in-depth student/parent/staff counseling.
• Interviewed, evaluated and recommended prospective students.  Represented Ridley in Mexico and Quebec.  Interviewed all Spanish and French speaking candidates; translated and evaluated all entrance-related correspondence.  Assisted with alumni meetings.
• Taught French and Spanish.  Wrote curricula for OAC French, Grade 11 Spanish and Grade 9 French (enriched).  Coordinated French Enrichment Program.
• Coached debating and swim teams, elevating debating and producing provincial, national and international champions
• Organized and ran Fulford Cup Debating Tournament

CENTENNIAL PUBLIC SCHOOL/WATERLOO COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD     

Teacher                                                                                                                                               1982 – 1984

• Taught Grades 5 and 6 English Program; developed and delivered Grades 5 /6 French Immersion

 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACTIVITIES

CASE (COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT & SUPPORT OF EDUCATION)                                               2005 – Present

Member; attend annual CASE/NAIS Conference and workshops

AFP (ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS)                                    2005 – Present

Member; attend workshops and annual international conference

TABS (The ASSOCIATION OF BOARDING SCHOOLS)                                         2003 – 2005

 

Board member

TABS/CAIS Residential Life Workshop Leader – Brentwood College School, 2004

 DURANGO INSTITUTE       Workshop Co-Leader –Residential Life Workshop, Durango, CO                                                   1999

ISGP (INDEPENDENT SCHOOL GENDER PROJECT)                                                 1997 – 2005

Founding Member; gender project involves independent schools from across North America;

collecting and analyzing data, writing reports, annual meetings

Panel Presenter at NAIS Conference 2002, San Francisco, CA; TABS Conference 2002, Washington DC;

and TABS Conference 2003, Boston MA.

 

ISM (INDEPENDENT SCHOOL MANAGEMENT) Wilmington, Delaware                                                        1995 – Present

Workshop Co-Leader, ‘Dean of Students Workshop’ and ‘Women Administrators Workshop’

CESI (CANADIAN EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE)                                                                    1986 – 2008

Writer, helped evaluate and prepare the Collingwood School Report, 2008

Member, Visiting Evaluation Team, Rothesay Netherwood School, 2004

Writer, helped evaluate and prepare the Lakefield College School Report, 2000

Member, Visiting Evaluation Team, Lakefield College School, 1992

Writer, prepared The Bishop Strachan School Residence Report, 1989

Member, Visiting Evaluation Team, Trafalgar Castle School, l988

 

NAIS (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS)           1989 – 2005

NAIS Member Association Meetings 2002-2005

Participant, Global Summit Workshop, 2003 and 2004

Participant, Admissions Summer Workshop, 1990

Guest Speaker, Annual National Conference’s panel for

“Women Administrators – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, 1989

CIS (CONFERENCE OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS) Ontario                         1997 – 2004

Chair, CIS Residential Life Workshops

Keynote Speaker, Ridley College, August 2004

Speaker, CIS Residential Life Workshops; CIS IT Workshop

Member, Steering Committee for Collaborative Marketing

Participant, Long Range and Strategic Planning Workshop

 ROUND SQUARE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE,

Lakefield College School’s Head’s representative for, Nairobi, Kenya    1998

Lakefield College School’s Head’s representative for Louisenlund School, Germany   2000

INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PUBLIC SPEAKING TOURNAMENT                                       1985 – 1993

President, 1988-1993; Secretary/Treasurer, 1985-1988

COMMUNITY/VOLUNTEER WORK

 RAFIKI SOCIETY, Vancouver BC                                               2006 – Present

Founding Board Member

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB SKI RESORT                                        2007 – Present

Volunteer, Mountain Safety

YWCA (PETERBOROUGH)                                 2001 – 2003

Board Member

PETERBOROUGH GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB                          2001 – 2005

Executive Committee Member, Business Women’s Golf Program

LAKEFIELD DISTRICT MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION                 1993 – 1996

Team Manager, Novice and Atom Teams

 RIDLEY COLLEGE                     1988 – 1992

Facilitator, Strategic Planning Weekend, 1992

Member, Fundraising Campaign Committee – Gala Dinner/Auction Night, 1988-89

 GREY GABLES SCHOOL           1987-1988

Member, Fund-raising Committee

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITE DE LAVAL, Quebec City,  Quebec                          1979

Summer Immersion Program & French Immersion Certificate

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY, Kingston, Ontario                          1978 – 1979

Bachelor of Education, French and Elementary

MOUNT ALLISON UNIVERSITY, Sackville, New Brunswick                   1974 – 1978

Bachelor of Arts, First Class Honours, French Studies and Spanish

 

SCHOLARSHIPS/AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS

PETERBOROUGH GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Scored a hole in one!                                2002

LAKEFIELD COLLEGE SCHOOL

Women’s Low Net Award, Andy Harris Golf Tournament           2000 – 2001

ONDAATJE EXPEDITION, to KARNALI RIVER, NEPAL

Selected as Expedition Leader                           2000

 MOUNT ALLISON UNIVERSITY                                1975 – 1977

French Government Medal – Most outstanding achievement in French in senior year, 1977

Rhodes Scholar Nominee, 1977; Dean’s List & Scholarship, 1975 – 1977;

House President, Palmer Hall, 1976 – 1977

Life Officer, Vice-President Class of ’77

Most Improved Rookie, Varsity Swim Team, 1975

OLYMPIC GAMES, Montreal, Quebec – Hostess                      1976

GIRL GUIDES of CANADA – Gold Cord                                   1970