Extend Your National Conference Learning Through Pre-Conference Workshops

You can begin honing your auxiliary professional skills even before the curtain officially rises on the 2024 SPARC National Conference!

Make the most of your journey to Scottsdale, Arizona by registering for one of three pre-conference workshops led by SPARC Senior Advisors. Each of these deep dive, three-hour sessions is expertly designed to elevate your leadership skills and enhance the value you bring to your programs and schools. You can find more information here. 

Each workshop requires a separate registration and fee from the conference itself and has limited enrollment, so make sure to secure your spot ASAP. They run simultaneously on Sunday, October 6, from 1:00-4:00pm. The fee is $150 for SPARC members and $200 for non-members. Choose from one of the following:

Earn Your SPARC MBA: Master the Business of Auxiliary

Join Bob Rojee's session to delve into the business side of auxiliary: review basic financial understanding, build a budget using a SPARC take-home financial template, and explore strategies and processes to maximize your bottom-line growth. Learn how effective budgeting processes, lean initiatives, and strong entrepreneurial practices support the foundation for long-term financial success. 

"Heads of Schools, CFOs, and school leaders are working hard to develop financial models to create a sustainability plan for the next 10+ years. Many schools are turning to their auxiliary programs to generate non-tuition revenue to balance their operating budgets. To support this effort, auxiliary leaders need a solid business acumen, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a strong financial understanding. This workshop is a great place to start!"

--Bob Rojee, Workshop Leader and SPARC Senior Advisor

---Register Here to Earn Your SPARC MBA---

Enhanced Leadership: To Auxiliary and Beyond!

David Sullivan will discuss how auxiliary and summer directors have a unique and complex leadership role in schools and are gaining greater recognition as key players to help advance strategic priorities and deliver on the mission. Unlike other roles in a school, auxiliary and summer must be both entrepreneurial and budget-conscious—earning the money that they spend—which creates both challenges and opportunities in leading programs. This workshop will demonstrate the use of conceptual frameworks for thinking about leadership, understanding your style of leadership, creating functional teams, assessing performance, and planning strategically.

"Schools are looking for auxiliary leaders who are energetic entrepreneurs, have a proven track record of success, and possess keen business acumen. Oh, they also have to be experts in child development and education. Don't forget about managing teams, supervising people, and becoming experts in marketing and communication. And they have to get along with all departments and influence their school with little formal authority. This workshop will enhance your leadership repertoire to support you in this demanding role."

--David Sullivan, Workshop Leader and SPARC Senior Advisor

---Register Here to Lead In, Lead Up, and Lead the Way!---

Unlocking the Essentials: Intentional and Strategic Auxiliary Administration

Karen McCann McClelland and Kristi Jacobi explore how with limited time—and often limited personnel and resources—maximizing efficiency and effectiveness is a challenge faced by both veterans and newcomers to the Auxiliary Programs field. Framed by the scope of a yearlong auxiliary cycle, this working session will explore the tasks and responsibilities associated with an auxiliary programs workload, including: financial management, marketing, human resources, program planning and implementation, enrollment and registration management, risk management, and how to manage the “everything else” that often comes our way. You'll learn how to use the SPARC Compass to support your specific role and responsibilities. 

"As busy auxiliary leaders, it is imperative that we take time to make time. By carving out the time to attend this session, you will gain transformative skills and strategies for management of your seasons, projects, direct reports, and your valuable time--resulting in more time for YOU."

--Kristi Jacobi, Workshop Co-Leader and Associate Director of Auxiliary Programs, St. Mark's School

---Register Here to Build Your Own Auxiliary Compass---

Read more about our pre-conference workshops here, and don't forget to register for the 2024 SPARC National Conference!

SPARC members receive discounts on the annual National Conference, pre-conference workshops, and other events. Take advantage of discounts as well as access to a wealth of professional development tools, videos, community support, and more by joining SPARC today.