Governance Compendium: Practical Topics for Boards and Heads with Cliff Kling, Mission & Data 

Understanding Parent Perspectives on Value and Affordability and the Implications for Financial Sustainability by Ari Betof, Mission & Data, and Christina Dotchin, EMA 

Marketing Magic with Limited Resources: AI Tools & Tactics for School Enrollment with Brendan Schneider, SchneiderB Media 

Strategic Disaster Response: Ensuring School & Board Readiness for Disaster Events with Clay Cunha, ServiceMaster

Board Ethics: A Case Study of Immoral Behavior with Scott Barron, School Growth, and Ramona Harr, Ashley Academy 

Maintaining a Mindset of Improvement in a World of Compromise by Dr. Chris Price, Director of MSAISnet, Mid-South Association of Independent Schools

Optimizing Organizational Capacity: A Culminating Cross-Functional Workshop for Team Strategy and Personalization with Mission & Data

...and More!

National Perspectives. Personalized Support.

Cliff Kling, J.D.

Senior Executive Compensation and Leadership Strategist, Mission & Data

Cliff Kling, J.D. is Mission & Data’s Senior Executive Compensation and Leadership Strategist. Cliff brings a unique background and skill set to his work having practiced public accounting with KPMG as a CPA, practiced law with a large law firm, served 13 years as Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel of Jackson Academy (MS), and served 11 years as President of two independent schools, first at JA and then at the fifth largest NAIS school, Gulliver Prep in Miami, FL with an enrollment of 2,230 students. Cliff has also served on numerous boards, including the search, finance, and compensation committees of those boards. Given his broad experience, he understands school operations and governance from many perspectives: legal, accounting and tax, school budget constraints, the board’s fiduciary and stewardship responsibilities, and from knowing well the demands and challenges of sitting in the head’s seat. Cliff graduated from Georgetown University where he majored in accounting, and he earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Dr. Ari Betof is the co-founder and partner of Mission & Data and a nationally recognized expert in nonprofit organizational stewardship and sustainability. With over 15 years of leadership experience, Ari brings deep expertise in governance, strategic planning, and mission-aligned revenue growth to his work with independent schools and educational nonprofits. He has held senior roles including Head of School, Chief Advancement Officer, and Director of Enrollment Management, and understands the complexities of institutions across a wide range of sizes, models, and geographies. Ari has taught at Penn and Harvard, served on multiple boards, and advised more than 100 schools and organizations. His work is grounded in trust-building, group facilitation, and creating scalable systems for lasting impact. Ari holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Cornell University, where he continues to mentor future leaders.

VP, Member Relations, Enrollment Management Association

As VP, Member Relations, Christina oversees the Enrollment Management Association's business development, professional development, and member success programs for over 1,300 independent schools and more than 20,000 members. Before joining EMA in 2016, Christina served as the director of admission and financial aid at Proctor Academy (New Hampshire). During her 11 years at Proctor Academy, she also served as girls’ varsity ice hockey head coach, student advisor, and dorm parent. Christina was the president of the New England Prep School Girls’ Ice Hockey Association and served as the New England Tournament Director. Christina holds a B.A. in English, with a minor in education, from Colby College, as well as a Masters of Public Administration from the University of New Hampshire.

 

Founder and CEO, SchneiderB Media

Brendan Schneider is among the most sought-after voices in K-12 school marketing today. As the founder of SchneiderB Media, he has helped hundreds of independent and private schools elevate their marketing efforts, drive enrollment, and navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape.

A recognized leader in digital marketing, Brendan is the creator of the MarCom Society, a membership community for K-12 marketing and communications professionals, and the developer of School Marketing CRM, a platform designed to help schools manage and streamline their marketing and admissions processes.

Brendan is also the author of School Marketing The Right Way, a must-read for school leaders looking to build a strategic, data-driven approach to enrollment marketing. Known for his engaging and down-to-earth style, he speaks nationally on topics ranging from AI’s impact on school marketing to the latest trends in inbound marketing, SEO, and digital advertising.

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