Kirsten Adams
Kirsten Adams is the Head of School at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia, a position she has held since 2014. With over 25 years in independent school education, she previously served as Associate Head of School and Head of Upper School at McDonogh School in Maryland, and as Upper School Head at The Hockaday School in Dallas. Her early career included roles as Science Department Chair and AP Biology instructor at National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C. Kirsten holds a B.A. in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology from Dartmouth College and a Master’s in Environmental Studies from Yale University.
Tim Fish
Tim Fish is the founder and president of Two Chairs Studio, a consultancy dedicated to transformative work with schools and purpose-driven organizations. Before establishing Two Chairs in 2024, he served as the first Chief Innovation Officer at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). In this role, Tim led internal innovation efforts and was a member of the Strategy Lab team, developing deep partnerships with member schools to co-create tools and frameworks that build capacity for designing and implementing strategy and innovation. Prior to his tenure at NAIS, Tim was the Associate Headmaster at McDonogh School in Maryland. Tim was also the founding president and CEO of the FolioCollaborative, a nonprofit community of more than 175 schools worldwide, focused on working together to build a flexible faculty/staff development process. He holds a bachelor's degree from St. Francis University and a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from George Mason University.
Anne Seltzer
Anne Seltzer is the former Director of Development at Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in advancing the school's fundraising initiatives and strengthening alumni relations. Most notably, Anne was instrumental in securing a transformative $100 million gift from alumnus Walter H. Annenberg in 1993, the largest donation ever to an independent school at the time. This unprecedented gift significantly increased Peddie's endowment, enabling the school to expand financial aid, institute innovative programs, and recruit exceptional faculty. Anne's career in educational advancement is marked by her commitment to fostering philanthropic support and building lasting community partnerships. She began her career at Peddie in 1980 as an English teacher, later serving as Head of the English Department, Dean of Faculty, and Interim Head of School. Anne attended The College of Wooster, where she completed her undergraduate studies, and earned her MA from Northwestern University. She taught Classics at Northwestern before joining the Peddie faculty.
Brad Shelley
Brad Shelley has been the Head of School at Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri, since 2019. Prior to this role, he served as Associate Headmaster at McDonogh School in Maryland, where he oversaw various operational aspects including development and admissions. Brad's extensive fundraising experience in independent schools also includes leadership positions at Holland Hall School and Casady School in Oklahoma, where he helped raise significant gifts. He holds a Master's in Education with a concentration in Educational Studies from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Trinity University.