Pathways to Headship
Mar 25, 2025 2:00PM—5:00PM
Location
Virtual
Cost Early Bird Pricing for Members (available until March 4) $325 members; $275 group-rate 3+; $525 non-members
Categories Intensive, Leadership, Online, School Leaders
ABOUT THIS VIRTUAL INTENSIVE
This session is for administrators interested in headship. Numerous schools in California and throughout the country are seeking new leaders. In this interactive virtual session, three experienced heads of school will share data, stories, and strategies about the path to headship. Participants will have a glimpse into some of the challenges and some of the rewards at the heart of this job and will walk away with concrete steps on how best to put themselves on a headship track.
Participants will:
- Build community with current heads and those aspiring to or curious about the headship journey
- Gain insights about pursuing headship through quantitative and qualitative data
- Leave with tools to create a personal action plan toward headship
AUDIENCE
This program is designed for administrators interested in headship.
Do you work at an independent school outside of California? Click here for a discount on our non-member registration!
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
Dr. Melinda Bihn returned to her home state of California to lead French American and International in 2014. She has worked in both international schools in Europe and independent schools in the United States, and speaks French and German in addition to English. Melinda has a B.A. in English with a minor in French, a master's in comparative literature, a master's in the teaching and administration of English as a second language, and a doctorate in educational leadership. Her doctoral dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania focused on international students in independent schools. Melinda has been an independent school trustee and has served on the boards of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), the California Teacher Development Collaborative (CATDC), and the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE). In 2019, she was a Fellow at the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership of Teachers College, Columbia University, and she was recently named to the faculties of the New and Aspiring Heads program of the Academy for International School Heads (AISH) and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads.
Nisa Frank is the Head of School at Prospect Sierra after serving as the Head of Lower School at The Hamlin School in San Francisco. Prior to her tenure at The Hamlin School, Nisa was the Assistant Head of Preschool and Lower School at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Nisa taught 2nd grade for seven years at The Town School in New York, NY, where she also served on the Board of Trustees before becoming the Director of Admission at Waterside School in Stamford, Connecticut. Nisa also serves on the board of the College Preparatory School, a high school in Oakland. Nisa holds a BS in child and adolescent development from San Francisco State University, an M.S. Ed. in early childhood education from Bank Street College of Education, and a M.S. Ed. in private school leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University (Klingenstein Center).
Phil Gutierrez is the Head of School at Marin Primary & Middle School in Larkspur, CA. Before MP&MS, he was the Head of School at Mid-Peninsula High School in Menlo Park, CA. Prior to headship, Phil worked at The Branson School in Ross, CA for 22 years, first as an English teacher and then in a variety of administrative roles, including class dean, Director of Admission, and Assistant Head of School for Advancement and External Affairs. Phil currently serves on the boards of CATDC and Live Oak School, and he previously served on the CAIS and Mark Day School boards. He is also on the faculty of the NAIS School Leadership Institute in Washington DC. Phil holds his B.A. in English, with a minor in Spanish, from U.C. Berkeley and his M.A. from Stanford. His wife, Robbie, works at Chinese American International School. They have an adult daughter and a son in college. Phil loves to play the guitar, read, and entertain the family's black Labrador retriever.
Cancellation Policy
Life happens. We understand that there will be times when you cannot attend a workshop that you have registered and paid for. We strive to be as helpful and flexible as possible when things out of your control happen. Please visit our FAQ page for detailed information about our cancellation policy and answers to frequently asked questions about enrollment and membership.