Testimonials

“Drew Casertano, Carolyn Chandler, Rick Melvoin and Vance Wilson are each exceptional educators and leaders. They have had long, successful tenures at four independent schools with strong and distinct missions. They have held numerous leadership positions in national – and even international – educational associations. I have had the honor to watch them serve the independent school world in many capacities and always feel blessed when I am on their “team.”  Even as they ran the day-to-day life at their respective schools, they served as mentors to both new and seasoned Heads of School. They are known for their kindness, wisdom and honesty. Any school leader would benefit from their wise counsel as I have been.”

Marjo Talbott, head of Maret School in Washington DC 
Former President of The Headmasters Association and the Country Day School Heads Association.

“Carolyn Chandler was and still remains one of my leadership role models. I had the incredible fortune of working with her during one of the most turbulent and extraordinarily challenging times of our careers, when she had to bring a school community back after Hurricane Katrina, and I served as a division Head under her. She showed courage, compassion, strength, and optimism in the wake of the disaster. Her resilience, grace, and perseverance steered us away from devastation and towards a better, more vibrant, and inclusive school. Carolyn is one of the best leaders to have worked in independent schools, and I’m thrilled that she’s sharing her talents and wisdom with others at this stage in her professional life.”

Katherine Dinh
Head of School, Marin Country Day School
Immediate Past-Chair, NAIS Board of Trustees

“Drew Casertano is excellence personified. A magnanimous leader, mentor and friend whose success is derived, in part, from his innate ability to remain as focused on the end goal as the journey itself. As Headmaster for more than 30 years, Drew has successfully nurtured a culture of curiosity, creativity, and compassion at Millbrook. As he embarks on a new path, I am confident Drew will continue to excel and continue to inspire us to act with integrity and respect — to do better and be better, not only for ourselves but for the greater good of our communities.”

Dean Dakolias
Millbrook parent ‘22 and trustee, Co-CIO Fortress Investment Group

“As a Trustee and school parent at Deerfield Academy, I can speak from experience in describing Margarita Curtis as a world-class leader who combines extraordinary academic management skills with inspiring warmth and empathy. Over 13 years as Head, those qualities were very much in evidence as she took an already storied institution to new levels of classroom excellence, financial strength, long-range planning and reputational acclaim. Margarita brought exceptional courage and integrity to a range of challenging issues during her tenure, including a sexual abuse crisis and the great financial crisis, demonstrating tremendous judgment, sensitivity and leadership across many different constituencies. Her vision and world-view – she’s a “global teacher” at heart – made her a popular and respected figure on campus and off, with students, faculty, parents, alums, donors, friends and peers in her field. I’m proud to call Margarita a friend and, as a CEO myself, I can’t imagine any leader, in any field, wanting a finer advisor, strategic or otherwise.”

Gregory J. Fleming
President and CEO, Rockefeller Capital Management

“In my work as a consultant, I have known and worked with hundreds of Heads of independent schools. Vance Wilson and Rick Melvoin have been among the very best school leaders I have ever met. They have vast experience in successfully running two complex, powerful schools. Important as experience is, that is not the only strength that they bring to the table. They are both sage, thoughtful, calm men who understand the moral dimensions of leadership, and who have the ability to combine strategic thinking with a deeply felt sense of mission. There isn’t a school leader anywhere who couldn’t benefit from the analytic skills and wisdom of Rick Melvoin and Vance Wilson.”

Dr. Michael Thompson
Bestselling Author & International Speaker

“I have had the privilege of partnering with Strategic School Leadership for the past year. From administering and supporting the Return on Character leadership assessment, to my coaching with Carolyn Chandler, to the team’s facilitation of board and administrative retreats, each service has been exceptional, warm, and thorough – a testament to the character, experience, and reputation of the leaders involved. Overall, their approach is data-driven, using tools that provide a framework for reflection and assessment, and then Carolyn’s coaching relationally builds capacity for strategic next steps. I’ve grown as a person and as a leader, and I’m very grateful.”

Hart Roper
Head of School, Oak Hill School
Nashville, Tennessee

“I have worked closely with both Rick and Vance, and have always appreciated their deep understanding of school culture and the ways that Heads must maintain a school’s traditions while also addressing complex contemporary concerns. They are outstanding mentors and I have relied on them for wisdom about my own role as a Head and also about best practices for working with a board of trustees, leading a faculty, and managing the financial challenges of my school. And they always make me laugh, which is no small thing sometimes!“

Sarah Pelmas
Head of School and O’Donnell Family Chair, Winsor School

“I have never met a Headmaster at any level who has done a better job heading a school in every way. Drew has that rare ability to be a visionary and strategic thinker, but also someone with a remarkable attention to detail. There are many qualities that are required to be a successful Headmaster, and Drew has excelled in all of them. Whether it is development, governance, team building, enrollment management, strategic and campus planning or advancement, Drew is second to none. I can easily envision him sharing his thorough knowledge of all these areas in the next chapter of his life. He is a man who wants to give back and to share his experience and perspective.”

Sean McManus
Millbrook parent ‘18 and trustee, Chairman, CBS Sports

“Margarita delights in the art, service, and complexity of education — and educational organizations. Her track record as a scholar, longtime academic leader at Phillips Academy, and the first female Head of School at Deerfield are impressive; but the spirit, strategy, and impact behind her leadership even more so. At Deerfield, her integrity, ability to listen deeply, and willingness to embrace complexity allowed her to create a compelling vision for the Academy, inspiring all stakeholders to advance the Academy’s mission in a collaborative, measurable way. For the fifteen years I have known her, Margarita has challenged me to ask hard questions, dream bigger, get focused, and think creatively amidst headwinds: something I know she has done for dozens of others as well. One last thing: Margarita is as efficient as she is generous and generative, so be ready to think hard and move fast!”

Liza Garonzik
Founder and CEO of R.E.A.L Discussion

“After Hurricane Katrina ravaged our school, the Executive Committee of the Board of Metairie Park Country Day School (MPCDS) was faced with the daunting task of finding our next Head of School. Following standard procedure was not an option, but our consultant helped us recognize that we had the perfect internal candidate, our Associate Head of School, Carolyn Chandler. We hired Carolyn to lead us in reopening and rebuilding Country Day. It was the single best decision we made in my 12 years on the Board and one of the best decisions I helped make in my 35-year business career. Not only did Carolyn provide leadership, strategic decision-making, an amazing work ethic, and a passion for our kids and our school, she did so with grace, conviction, a strong moral compass, and humor.”

Michael J. Siegel
President, Corporate Realty
New Orleans, Louisiana
MPCDS Board 2002-2014
Board Chair 2012-2014

“Drew’s remarkable way of managing the many constituents of an independent school community is the result of his deep understanding of independent schools and the people affiliated with those institutions. Strategic, personable, and intentional, Drew took a school that was struggling with a deficit to a thriving and financially sound institution. I watched him do this skillfully as he led both the Board and the faculty, using different techniques and approaches to guide all to understand his vision and perform their appropriate tasks. I marveled at his ability to be fully present in the day-to-day life of the school, while also be fully engaged with the Board at a generative level and with alumni and friends of the school off campus. It seemed as if Drew had more than 24 hours in his day. As a Head of school, I still rely on Drew’s advice to navigate challenges at the Board level, as well as with daily operations. His exceptional emotional intelligence and strategic mindset, coupled with decades of experience, make him a valued resource.”

Elizabeth Morrison
Head of School, Antilles School
Head-elect, Morristown-Beard School

“I feel fortunate to know and have worked with Margarita Curtis and to be able to call her a mentor. When I need counsel that is clear, directly useful, and decisive, I turn to her. She fosters confidence, a grounding in clear principles, and an insistent focus on the student experience. She has led through major crises and enormously successful campaigns, so whether I’m looking to address a challenging situation or chart a course towards a future vision, I know I can count on Margarita’s advice to lead me in a direction that serves the future of the school.”

Peter Nilsson
Head of School, King’s Academy, Jordan

“It is hard to express how very much Carolyn Chandler has meant to me as mentor, advisor, and friend in my headship.  Her wisdom, experience, and insight into the fundamentals and nuances of effective leadership, communication, and decision-making have been invaluable for my success. In particular, our work together with the Return on Character instrument has provided a window into my strengths and areas for growth as a leader that has served me more than any other single professional development experience in my career. Any school leader would be fortunate indeed to have Carolyn’s guidance and collaboration.”

The Reverend E. Gary Taylor
Head of School, Trinity Episcopal School
New Orleans, Louisiana

“I could not imagine two more distinguished and accomplished independent school leaders. Both Vance Wilson and Rick Melvoin demonstrated their tremendous leadership skills, their keen strategic thinking, and their deep-seated values through their combined 44 years of service at Heads of two of the nation’s top schools – St. Albans and Belmont Hill – respectively leading each institution through a period of unprecedented success. Having gotten to know both men, I can confidently state that any school leader, board, or administrative team would benefit from their wisdom, guidance, and counsel.”

Robert Musselwhite
Board Chair of St. Albans School
2018-2020

“The team of Rick Melvoin and Vance Wilson represent a wealth of experience and insight in successful leadership of complex educational communities on a variety of levels–academic, intellectual, operational, governance, emotional, spiritual, athletic and cultural. These two individuals that over the years have demonstrated a deep commitment to developing sophisticated and balanced educational programs that encourage the emotional, character and intellectual development of students. As two past presidents of the International Boys’ Schools’ Coalition their experiences and contacts are extensive global and nuanced.  Their experience in the development of boys is unparalleled. The duo provide a versatility in organizational leadership styles and approaches that is ideal for school leaders charged with the responsibility of building a culture of teamwork and cohesion. As a colleague and “unofficial” client over the past twenty years, I cannot image a better team to guide and mentor the leadership team—board and management—of a school community during these challenging times.”

David Armstrong
Former Head of Landon School
Executive Director of the International Boys’ School Coalition

“Margarita Curtis is an exceptional leader. I had the great pleasure of serving on the Deerfield Board of Trustees during ten of her thirteen years as Head of School and saw first hand the transformative impact she had on the school. The years of Margarita’s headship coincided with the advent of the Great Recession and with major disruptions in the broader education sector brought on by technology, geopolitical change and a shift in the tenor of our national conversations. The task that Margarita set for herself was to adapt the school to the swiftly evolving needs of the 21st century while maintaining the school’s core values of character development and commitment to service. Margarita met every challenge with energy, strength, calmness and compassion. She focused on creating opportunities for the professional growth of the faculty, refreshing the curriculum, nurturing a culture of academic and personal collaboration and communication, leading a resoundingly successful capital campaign, creating a positive and respectful diverse community, building local and international service programs, and expanding and enhancing Deerfield’s iconic campus to serve the needs of students. Margarita was innovative and bold, while applying technology to create metrics around innovations to measure and ensure effectiveness. And Margarita never lost sight of the school’s core values and her own; the rich tradition of character development was woven into the tapestry of everything she accomplished. I have been on boards of educational institutions serving students from kindergarten through graduate school and I can say, with enthusiasm, that Margarita is a star.“

Susan S. Wallach
Former Vice President, Deerfield Academy Board of Trustees

“After taking over as an interim head of school at the beginning of COVID and having to navigate the complexities of a divided community, I could not imagine working with a more caring and understanding mentor and coach than Vance Wilson. Knowing there was no playbook for what lay ahead, I relied on Vance’s values and experience to shepherd me and our school community through challenging times. His whimsy and good cheer was always a welcome respite, and his concern for the health and wellness of our faculty and staff was just as important to him as the day-to-day running of the school. Vance was and remains my ballast, and I will forever be indebted to this great leader.”

Evan Moraitis
Assistant Head of School, St. Bernard’s School

“Margarita Curtis spent two days with my Board at our campus in Viterbo, Italy and led both trustees and senior leaders through thorough, interactive and ultimately highly successful visioning sessions.  She has just the right touch and deep insight to work with school decision makers to effect thoughtful change given her own distinguished leadership of a top school.“

Tom Hassan
President, School Year Abroad

“Vance Wilson is an outstanding educator, advisor and counselor. He deals comfortably with faculty, staff, trustees and board chairs. As he began his work with our school and head, he developed a deep understanding of our school’s history, culture and needs. His is not a cookie cutter formula. By combing his knowledge of our school with his own vast experience, he gave advice that was both sagacious and immediately useful. In difficult times, he maintains a clear understanding and focus on what is important and helps advance the school while deflecting the focus from emotion and noise.”

Thomas L. Kempner, Jr.
Chair of the Board of Trustees
St. Bernard’s School, New York City

“After 10 years of headship, I had the opportunity to work with Drew Casertano and Kelly Garramone through the Return on Character Assessment (ROC) and have found it to be the single most valuable professional development experience of my life. The nature of the assessment, from its theoretical underpinnings to its process and format, is thorough and relevant. Even more, the wisdom and personal attention and care that Kelly and Drew brought to each stage of the process helped me access the learnings as fully as I was able. Finally, Drew’s coaching as I focused on my Keystone Habit has been extraordinary in helping me shift to become a more effective leader. I feel energized for my next decade of leadership as a result of working with Drew and Kelly through the ROC.”

Aaron Cooper, Head of School
New Canaan Country School