Cal-ISBOA News

July 3, 2025

Cal-ISBOA member schools are the heart of our organization, and visiting them in person is a true privilege. While in Los Angeles for the Southern California Facilities Workshop, Membership Engagement Manager Peggy Marshall was treated to a tour of The Oaks School from Aaron Fielding, Business Manager. Located on the campus of a renovated historic church, The Oaks School is a lush, green oasis in the urban heart of Los Angeles, where things are remarkably peaceful despite bustling surroundings. And remember this tidbit for your next Trivia Night: the unforgettable school dance scene in Back to the Future was filmed in The Oaks School’s gym!

Thanks again to Aaron and The Oaks School for the tour!

[GALLERY START]

[GALLERY END]

July 1, 2025

Cal-ISBOA staff are grateful any time we can see our incredible member schools in action! Last month, we were graciously hosted by Jeanne Jacobs-Gaffney, Director of Finance and Operations at Children's Day School in San Francisco, where Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi learned about their signature on-campus farm in the middle of the city and met the newest CDS “students.” Children’s Day is located just across the street from the historic Misión San Francisco de Asís, or “Mission Dolores,” and the school’s beautiful campus features unique repurposed structures like the iconic San Francisco three-story rowhouses (full of staff offices now!) and Catholic school buildings.

Thanks again to Jeanne and to Children's Day School for sharing their special school with us!

June 23, 2025

Thank You for helping to make our Southern California Facilities Workshop a success! We shared an invigorating day of professional learning and networking, topped off with a tour of the incomparable Marlborough School in Los Angeles from Matt Riddle. Your active participation, insightful discussions, and unwavering support truly made this event memorable.

Our small but mighty group had a blast together! Please enjoy some photos from the event below.

We are so grateful to our Facilities Subcommittee, chaired by Matt Riddle (Marlborough School) and Vice-Chaired by Pamela Connor (Campbell Hall). Your committed leadership throughout planning and hosting the workshop was essential, enabling Cal-ISBOA to deliver a high-quality experience in support of Facilities Directors, CFOs, and others who handle the unique work of Facilities at their independent schools.

Special thanks go out to our generous Sponsor Building Solutions for supporting the Southern California Facilities Workshop!

[GALLERY START]

[GALLERY END]

June 20, 2025

Collegial support is a defining characteristic of the Cal-ISBOA culture and is one of the many benefits of membership in the Association. The Cal-ISBOA Mentor Program for Business, HR, Facilities, and Operations Professionals, started in 2023 by the Membership Committee, connects professionals at different stages of their career to support each other, be a sounding board for California independent school issues, and offer guidance and advice when it is needed. Mentor Program participants and others interested in joining the program gathered for an informal meetup during the 2025 Annual Meeting in Berkeley, led by the Membership Committee Chair Ken Parr (Carlthorp School).

As our education community knows only too well, learning is a lifelong process. Although the value of hard-won wisdom and experience in the industry cannot be overstated, we believe that the best learning is reciprocal, and professionals early in their journeys have much to contribute as well. The Mentor Program offers California independent schools business officers at every stage an opportunity to continue their learning and growth, while connecting with colleagues in our field.

Cal-ISBOA's Mentor Program is currently seeking members interested in participating in the program. Pairings will be made based on job title, years of experience in your role, and location and size of school where possible. Let us know if you are interested in joining the program by filling out the form below.

Join the Mentor Program

June 16, 2025

The Cal-ISBOA Bylaws identify an Executive Committee that can act in the place of the Board between Board meetings on urgent matters. The committee is composed of five officers and up to two Board members selected by the President and ratified by the Board.

During the June 9, 2025 Board meeting, Incoming President Nicole Pennington (Los Encinos School) asked for the Board’s ratification of two Board members for appointment to the 2025-2026 Executive Committee. In addition to Incoming President Nicole Pennington, Incoming Vice President Ken Parr (Carlthorp School), Incoming Vice President Erik Paxman (Silicon Valley International School), Treasurer Steve Bajc (Chinese American International School), Incoming Secretary Jane Davis (The Archer School for Girls), the committee will include two Board appointees, Rebecca Rowland (Campbell Hall) and Deepika Nabar (Archbishop Mitty High School).

The Board is pleased to confirm the appointment of these esteemed colleagues to the committee!

June 16, 2025

We are pleased to announce that Cal-ISBOA’s Board of Directors has adopted a new Strategic Plan that will guide our organization’s direction over the next three years. This moment is the result of a mammoth collaborative effort over many months, and we thank our entire community from school members to corporate business partners for providing input that informed our work throughout this process. Special thanks to our Board and Committees for their strong commitment to our community and to our work, and to Jim DeLizia of DeLizia Consulting Services for expertly guiding our planning process.

The Cal-ISBOA 2026-2028 Strategic Plan sets an ambitious yet carefully considered direction for our organization to expand and deepen its impact while remaining true to our core principles and goals. Learn more and read the full plan!

June 12, 2025

On Thursday, June 5, members from around the Northern California bay area gathered after work to sip, savor, socialize and soak in the stunning city views at the lovely Shelby's Rooftop Bar & Lounge high atop the Canopy Hotel by Hilton on 4th Street in San Francisco. The distinctive dishes and delightful drinks were only topped by the group's compelling conversations and cohesive camaraderie. What a fantastic way to celebrate the end of another school year together!

Special thanks to Regional Liaison Tony Morgan (Presidio Hill School) for arranging this gathering even while facing the 100 days of May. And big thanks to all who journeyed from points near and far to come together in Cal-ISBOA style.

Right and Below: Cal-ISBOA members come together at Shelby's Rooftop to celebrate another year in the books. Pictured are Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi, Steve Bajc (Chinese American International School), Tony Morgan (Presidio Hill School), Jeanne Jacobs-Gaffney (Children's Day School), Margaret Randazzo (Hillbrook School), Monica DePalmo (Presentation High School), Jerry Mullaney (Head-Royce School), and Erik Paxman (Silicon Valley International School).

Photo credit: Tony Morgan.

June 9, 2025

Cal-ISBOA is all about connection: connection with a vibrant community of independent school business professionals who understand the shared challenges of conducting our unique work in our unique state and who commit to creating shared solutions, strategies, and supports for that work and each other. This commitment to connection and community is the focus all-day, everyday for the Cal-ISBOA Board, committees and staff, and we trust in the resources we deliver to members to strengthen these connections through in-person events, webinars, roundtables, and other virtual activities throughout the year.

Right: Attendees chat during the Facilities Workshop.

The Annual Conference and Workshops are a special moment in our yearly cycle at Cal-ISBOA. It's one of the few times our members can gather together to share in-person learning and face-to-face camaraderie, bringing this ever-present but abstract community network into tangible, visible focus. The relationships that are always with us, but not always active in our day-to-day, come back to life with hugs or handshakes exchanged, serendipitous conversations in the buffet line, and the shared experience of listening to a transformative keynote speaker.

Below: Attendees share a toast.

Each year, as we invite participants to give feedback on Cal-ISBOA’s annual events, we hear many preferences, recommendations, compliments, and new ideas through formal and informal channels. Talking with many of you over the past month, we are struck time and again by how deeply attendees value connecting and being able to gather with fellow California indy school business leaders.

We hope you’ve been hearing (and sharing) these positive reflections too! Not surprisingly, the results of our event evaluations mirror the anecdotal feedback we have received, underlining the central importance of being together: “connection with colleagues” was identified consistently as a single most valuable thing respondents got from their experience, and for two out of three events, this was also the highest occurring answer among respondents.

At our annual in-person events, we step away from our schools, out of our Zoom boxes, and into the unique shared space of our community, to get to know each other better as whole people and become better embedded and enmeshed in our helpful network of industry professionals. We reinforce the sense of community and belonging that fuels reciprocally beneficial relationships and exchange among our members through the year and into the future. Together, we are the infrastructure of that abstract community network that supports us all and our shared professional growth throughout the year when we’re spread across the state serving our more than 280 member schools.

Thank you for connecting with us and with each other throughout the year, and thank you for joining us at the 2025 Signature Spring Events in Berkeley! The magic of Cal-ISBOA lies in its members and in the connections they forge with one another, and we are grateful that YOU are part of that magic.

June 4, 2025

A record-setting number of attendees at Cal-ISBOA’s Signature Spring Events were joining us for the very first time this year. Over one-third of our entire 2025 group was composed of Newcomers!

In anticipation of this fact, our community worked together before and during our events to support and welcome these first-time attendees into the Cal-ISBOA fold. Newcomers received a special email beforehand offering tips and tricks for getting the most out of our events, in addition to the typical information for attendees. Angela Oliver (Sage Hill School), Marya Davis (Head-Royce School), and David Marcus (de Toledo High School) prepared goodie bags to hand out and make the Newcomers feel welcome. Angela, David, and Keith Powell (The Athenian School) each led an informal Newcomers welcome gathering during one of our events. 

At Cal-ISBOA, we learn from and grow with one another, and we are so excited that the size and richness of our community is increasing. Together, we are fostering excellence within independent schools in California. 

Newcomers, we’re glad you’re here!

May 30, 2025

In an innovation that has been well-received by our community, Cal-ISBOA’s signature spring events featured both wellness and educational activities on the program this year. These included a Sunrise Hike to start the day on May 4 and 5, as well as a Historical Property Tour of The Claremont Resort & Club on the afternoon of May 4, all made possible by the generous support of our 2025 Platinum Sponsor IMA.

The Sunrise Hike explored the natural surroundings and gorgeous views of the Bay Area at a leisurely pace, while the Historical Property Tour, a walking tour, featured beloved stories and interesting facts about the hotel’s historical past.

Conferences can be notoriously grueling: multiple days in a row away from home, eating whatever you can find, and pushing yourself to take full advantage of opportunities for learning and professional growth (while sometimes never stepping out of the hotel!). The Sunrise Hike and the Historical Property Tour were designed to encourage attendees to prioritize their health, get outside into the fresh air, and learn about the fascinating history of their surroundings, all while they travel to support their professional development. 

Above: A group of attendees enjoy the Sunrise Hike in the Berkeley Hills during the 2025 Cal-ISBOA Signature Spring Events. Photo by Margaret Randazzo.

We hope you were able to join us for a hike or a tour, in addition to our robust program of professional learning sessions at Cal-ISBOA’s 2025 Signature Spring Events.