Every School Schedule Tells a Story

Audience: Heads of School, Division Directors, Academic Deans, Directors of Curriculum, faculty leaders involved in scheduling or timetabling; ideal for school leadership teams to attend together
Cost: $480 member, $600 non-member
Presenters: Shannan Schuster, Independent Consultant and Andrew Taylor, 5R’s Partnership

A schedule communicates what a school values, what it prioritizes, and what it believes students need to thrive. Whether intentionally designed or inherited over time, a schedule becomes one of the most powerful expressions of a school’s mission, culture, and educational philosophy.

This two-day workshop helps school leaders evaluate whether their current schedule reflects their aspirations for students. It provides a practical framework for designing schedules that strengthen learning, support well-being, and improve institutional sustainability.

More importantly, participants leave having started the actual work. Sessions are structured so schools can move directly from analysis to design, with a realistic path toward implementing a new schedule in fall 2027.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will leave the workshop with:

• A clear analysis of how their current schedule aligns — or does not align — with their school’s mission and student needs
• A working knowledge of schedule design variables, architectures, and trade-offs
• A draft schedule design or design framework developed during workshop sessions
• A realistic implementation roadmap grounded in change management principles, with stakeholder engagement and communication strategies
• Connections with peer schools navigating similar scheduling challenges

Focus on Two-Day Workshop
Day 1: Understanding Your Schedule
Day 1 builds the analytical foundation. After learning about and considering “best practices” in schedule design, participants examine their current schedule through a structured framework, identify the variables that shape design possibilities, and clarify their school’s priorities before moving into design work on Day 2.

Day 2: Designing Your Schedule
Day 2 moves from analysis to action. The morning focuses on design principles, feasibility, and implementation planning, including change management strategies. The afternoon is hands-on design studio time. Lower School teams and Middle/Upper School teams work in parallel in separate spaces, and every school leaves with a draft design and a clear next-steps plan.

Meet the Presenters:
Shannan Schuster
Dr. Shannan Schuster has spent more than 30 years in education as a teacher, administrator, consultant, and school leader. Her areas of expertise include teaching and learning, master scheduling, strategic planning, and governance. As the parent of two independent school graduates and the Board Chair of a PAIS-accredited school, she brings a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing independent schools today.

Shannan currently serves as the Interim Assistant Head of School at Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Previously, she served as Head of School at The Swain School, Assistant Head of School at Friends' Central School, and Dean of Faculty at Flint Hill School in Virginia. Throughout her career, she has helped schools align their schedules, programs, and resources with their missions, and she understands the critical role that time plays in creating exceptional educational experiences.

Shannan earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Virginia, specializing in educational research. She also holds a master's degree in Private School Leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University. As a consultant, she works with independent schools across the country on scheduling, governance, leadership development, program review, and strategic planning.

Andrew Taylor
Dr. Andrew Taylor brings over three decades of international educational leadership experience to the 5Rs Partnership, which he joined in 2024. His career spans the USA, UK, and Australia, where he has served in pivotal roles including admission director, division head, and head of school. This comprehensive operational experience across multiple educational systems provides him with unique insights into the complexities of institutional leadership.

Prior to joining 5Rs Partnership, Dr. Taylor spent seven years as a consultant with ISM, where he refined his expertise in schedule analysis and strategic thinking. His international perspective, combined with deep knowledge of US independent schools, makes him a sought-after advisor for school leaders and trustees navigating institutional challenges.

Andrew earned a Doctorate in Education from UCLA, a Masters in Educational Administration from California State University, Northridge, and a Bachelor’s degree in human biology and science education in Australia. He has homes in Maine and Scotland.


Schools with 3+ participants will receive a 20% discount that will be reimbursed to the school prior to the program.