Cal-ISBOA News

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.

May 28, 2025

The 2025 Cal-ISBOA Annual Conference began with our Welcome Reception where members mingled and enjoyed a drink together. Guests were then treated to an amazing dinner served by The Claremont Resort & Club.

Outgoing Cal-ISBOA Board President Manuel Pardo opened our evening together by welcoming us all to another year’s annual gathering of our diverse and engaging community (see left). Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi echoed this welcome, expressed gratitude to the many devoted members who contributed to Cal-ISBOA’s 2025 signature spring events, and led us all in a toast to the bridges we’ve already built and the new ones we will build together, honoring our conference theme: Bridge to the Future. From there, our evening unfurled in a progression of tasty courses and engaging conversations among our 150 guests.

Each year, this extended time of breaking bread together offers an unbeatable opportunity for attendees to reconnect with their friends, get to know the sponsors who support our events, and build community within the field of independent schools Business, HR, Facilities, and Operations Officers in California.

We hope you will join us next year for the 2026 Cal-ISBOA Welcome Reception and Kick-off Dinner in Southern California! Cal-ISBOA members can purchase tickets as part of registration for our spring events. Keep an eye out for details next February!

Please enjoy a selection of photos of our 2025 Welcome Reception and Kick-off Dinner below.

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May 21, 2025

Renowned Human Resources authority Paul Falcone keynoted both the Cal-ISBOA HR Workshop and Facilities Workshop on May 4, 2025. Paul is an expert on effective hiring, performance management, and leadership development, specializing in helping companies build higher performing leadership teams. Paul is also a bestselling author and dynamic presenter who offers years of HR leadership experience at prestigious organizations from the Fortune 500 to startups, with experience in union, nonprofit, and international environments. He spent three decades in HR executive roles at organizations such as Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, NBCUniversal, Time Warner,and City of Hope Cancer Center Hospital.

Left: Paul Falcone presents his keynote "Leadership Offense and Defense Strategies: Mastering Collaboration, Teambuilding, and Accountability" at the Cal-ISBOA HR Workshop on May 4, 2025 at The Claremont Resort & Club.

Paul led each of our groups through important lessons and strategies for driving higher employee performance in both HR and Facilities spaces. Balancing supportive leadership with expectations of employee accountability, Paul delivered actionable leadership insights, such as:

• Engaging in constructive conversations that build employee self-confidence or that require greater accountability
• Employing the leader-as-coach model to build your leadership bench 
• Building “team emotional intelligence” by creating and sustaining a culture based on trust, respect, and open communication
• Engaging in tough conversations or formal progressive disciplinary interventions

Workshop registrants received an email with links to Paul's presentations and more.

May 19, 2025

World-renowned futurist, game designer, and bestselling author Dr. Jane McGonigal keynoted our 2025 Annual Meeting & Conference on May 5. In her role as Director of Game Research and Development at the Institute for the Future, Dr. McGonigal designs simulations and experiences that help people build mental resilience and rehearse for complex futures.

Dr. McGonigal holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was among the first to study the impact of games on human behavior. Her work has reached millions through her bestselling books Reality is Broken, SuperBetter, and Imaginable, and her TED Talks (viewed over 15 million times) have made her one of the leading voices on the psychology of transformation.

Jane shared insights on how to approach uncertainty with creativity, reframe challenges as opportunities, and strengthen our capacity to lead our schools through change. Jane challenged us to think boldly about what’s ahead and how we prepare for it.

She taught us several unique approaches and strategies to invoke our creativity and led us through some "mental time travel" where we imagined and inhabited specific futures and engaged our mental flexibility.

Jane also created a custom AI tool just for our conference, and registrants received an email with links to this tool and other materials from her presentation to help us continue to envision and build a Bridge to the Future.

Right: Jane McGonigal presents her keynote "Urgent Optimism" at the Cal-ISBOA Annual Conference on May 5, 2025 at The Claremont Resort & Club.

May 13, 2025

We are grateful that so many of you attended our Annual Conference, HR Workshop, and Facilities Workshop last week in the Berkeley Hills! We shared two days of professional learning and networking at The Claremont Resort & Club. Your active participation, insightful discussions, and unwavering support truly made this event memorable.

We hope you had as much fun as we did! Enjoy some photo evidence below. 

We are so grateful to our Annual Conference Committee, chaired by Natalie Morales (Chandler School), HR Subcommittee, chaired by Marya Davis (Head-Royce School), and Facilities Subcommittee, chaired by Matt Riddle (Marlborough School) and Vice-Chaired by Pamela Connor (Campbell Hall). Your tireless and visionary leadership fuels our organization and enables Cal-ISBOA to deliver high-quality professional development and networking opportunities to our unique community.

Special thanks go out to our Annual Corporate Sponsors for providing members with affordable access to these events.

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May 5, 2025

We are thrilled to announce that Lisa Turchan, CFOO at The Buckley School, has received the 2025 MACI Award!

Named after Cal-ISBOA’s founding Executive Director, The Martha Ambros Community Impact (MACI) Award is given to a member of the California independent school community who has distinguished themself through their engagement in professional development activities, their connection with fellow members, and their impact within the Cal-ISBOA community. Consistent with Martha’s leadership, recipients will have transcended their role as an employee of an independent school by furthering the hallmarks of our association: collegiality, connectedness, integrity, and friendship within and across school communities.

Inaugurated in 2024, the Martha Ambros Community Impact Award is presented annually at the Cal-ISBOA annual meeting. Lisa received her award, presented by Cal-ISBOA Board President Manuel Pardo (Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences) and Board Members Rebecca Rowland (Campbell Hall) and Nicole Pennington (Los Encinos School) during the 2025 Annual Meeting in Berkeley.

Left: Cal-ISBOA President Manuel Pardo and Board Members Rebecca Rowland and Nicole Pennington present the 2025 MACI award to Lisa Turchan at the Claremont Resort & Club in the Berkeley Hills.

Lisa Turchan started her Independent School journey as a Chief Financial Officer in 2004 at The Buckley School, and she is still serving at the same school today. Lisa served on the Cal-ISBOA Board from 2012 to 2016, and she continues to serve as a regional liaison and participates in the Cal-ISBOA mentor program. She also currently serves on the NBOA board, representing California on the national level.

Lisa is the embodiment of the spirit of Cal-ISBOA. She believes in the missions of our schools, and she believes in ensuring that the business operations of independent schools remain strong and unimpeachable. Having transitioned into the independent school world from the entertainment industry, Lisa understands the need for mentorship and peer support in our professions. Lisa has been a long-time "connector" within the Cal-ISBOA community for many years. She reaches out to new Business Officers in a quiet and unassuming way, just to let them know that she's available, should they need advice or guidance regarding the unique nature of independent schools. We are so fortunate to have Lisa as a leader in our community!

About winning this year’s MACI Award, Lisa says,

It’s truly an honor to be recognized by my peers for something I love doing. I’ve always believed that as you give to the world, the world gives back to you—and over the past 20 years, I’ve received far more in return through the deep friendships, meaningful connections, and spirit of collegiality within this community.

I was fortunate to have worked closely with Martha Ambros during her leadership at Cal-ISBOA, and I carry forward the high standards she set. Her example is an inspiration and I’m deeply grateful for the long-standing relationships I’ve built within this community. I thank each of you for your collaboration, support, and camaraderie.

Alona Scott, Head of School of The Buckley School, adds her congratulations and says,

We are thrilled that Lisa is being honored by Cal-ISBOA as the recipient of the Martha Ambros Community Impact Award. Lisa has a brilliant mind, and an ever-expanding heart. This award is a tribute to her consistent efforts to welcome, embrace, and connect independent school professionals.

When Lisa arrived at Buckley 20+ years ago, the school was running an annual operating deficit. Working strategically, Lisa has not only led the school to financial health, including the development of a $55M+ endowment, but she has also overseen the successful expansion of the CUP and campus master planning, including the construction of six buildings, the most recent of which will open this summer. In addition, Lisa has shepherded the school through a number of challenging times, ranging from the markets of 2008 to the pandemic to the impact of Hollywood Strikes and, just this year, the fires in Los Angeles.

Working side by side with her has been a gift. All of us in the independent school world are lucky to have her as a colleague and those of us who are really lucky, also get to call her a friend.

Lisa joins the Cal-ISBOA Board of Directors and staff in encouraging our community to start thinking NOW about who you’d like to recognize with the 2026 award! Speaking to why 2026 nominations are important, Lisa says,

The role of the business officer and the business office is often behind the scenes. While our contributions may not always be visible to the broader school community, they are deeply understood by our peers. We cannot do our jobs if it is not for the continual support we get from each other, whether it’s answering a question on the listserv, sharing school data for benchmarking, talking through a complex situation only another business officer would grasp, or simply exchanging a laugh over lunch—we are stronger because of each other.

We know the value of these relationships and the importance of recognizing and thanking each other. This nomination is a sign of gratitude, a thank you for being there, and an acknowledgment of the impact it had on your journey. Most of all, it is a continuation of the tradition of mutual support that defines our community.

Although we will not announce 2026 award nominations until after the first of the year, you may submit nominations for next year’s award at any time through this form:

NOMINATE YOUR COLLEAGUES

To be eligible for this award, individuals must demonstrate active involvement in our community through engagement in the Listserv, conferences, and other programming offered by Cal-ISBOA. Current Board members are not eligible.

In the spirit of celebrating service in our community, the Board invites all Cal-ISBOA members to nominate members worthy of this prestigious recognition.

Our nomination form will collect some basic information to facilitate our award administration as well as a simple statement about why you believe the nominee deserves this recognition based on the award description.

Please send any questions about this award to Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi at scarlett.vanyi@isboa.org.

We are pleased to announce that the 2025 Election of the Cal-ISBOA Board of Directors has been completed. Thanks to our member schools for taking part in this important governance process!

We welcome the following newly elected Board members for their first term, 2025-2028: 

• John Amussen, Chaminade College Preparatory, Chatsworth

• Terry Lee, The Nueva School, Hillsborough

• Jennifer Macias, Sonoma Country Day School, Santa Rosa

• Eleazar Madrid, Redwood Day School, Oakland

The Following Board Members were reelected to continue serving for a second term, 2025-2028: 

• Sheba McCoy, The College Preparatory School, Oakland

• Deepika Nabar, Archbishop Mitty High School, San Jose

• Erik Paxman, Silicon Valley International School, Palo Alto

• Rebecca Rowland, Campbell Hall, North Hollywood

For 2025-2026, our Board Officers will be:

• President: Nicole Pennington, Los Encinos School, Encino

• Vice President: Ken Parr, Carlthorp School, Santa Monica

• Vice President: Erik Paxman, Silicon Valley International School, Palo Alto

• Treasurer: Steve Bajc, Chinese American International School, San Francisco

• Secretary: Jane Davis, The Archer School for Girls, Los Angeles

Congratulations to all new and returning Board members! Thank you for your service to our community.