Program
The New Enrollment Era: How to Adapt or Fall Behind W09
Enrollment today is no longer just about advertising, open houses, or seasonal recruitment campaigns. Parent expectations have changed, communication behaviors have evolved, and competition for student enrollment continues to intensify. Schools still relying on yesterday’s enrollment strategies are increasingly finding it harder to grow, retain students, and maintain long-term stability. Join a group of experienced school leaders for a forward-looking discussion on how modern schools are adapting to the new enrollment landscape through stronger communication systems, operational responsiveness, parent engagement strategies, and enrollment workflows designed for today’s families. As California continues to experience declining birth rates and increased competition for enrollment, schools must begin viewing enrollment as more than just marketing. Modern enrollment now impacts retention, ADA protection, staffing, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term organizational sustainability. This interactive session will explore how schools are modernizing enrollment through strategic communication, faster responsiveness, data-informed decision-making, and retention-focused engagement strategies that support both growth and stability. Participants will gain practical, real-world insights into the tools, systems, and operational strategies schools are using to remain competitive in today’s evolving enrollment environment. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to modernize enrollment processes, strengthen family communication, improve retention, and build scalable enrollment systems designed for long-term success in the modern era of school enrollment.
Presented by
Joanne Fountain CEO Delta Managed Solutions, Inc.
Ms. Fountain, CEO of Delta Managed Solutions, Inc., is a former charter school Executive Director with 8 years of experience from a Montessori Charter School and previous educator with over 20 years of experience in California and Nevada. She provides the first-hand knowledge necessary to successfully bridge the gap between finance and education as she leads the DMS team to fully serve all clients.
Stephen Nutter co-owner Enrollment Professor West
Stephen is a veteran marketing and enrollment strategist with more than 40 years of experience helping organizations grow, including the past 15 years focused on charter school enrollment and retention. A former Dean of Students and Executive Director of Enrollment for a leading charter management organization, he specializes in building sustainable enrollment systems and strengthening school communication strategies. Stephen holds an MBA in Marketing and has worked with major brands including Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, along with charter schools throughout California. Known as “The Enrollment Professor,” he partners with school leaders to improve enrollment, retention, operational responsiveness, and long-term organizational sustainability.
Angela Phillips TEAM Charter
Nadia Shaiq ISANA
Nadia Shaiq is the Chief Executive Officer of ISANA, a non-profit charter management organization that runs a network of public charter schools in Los Angeles. As CEO, she advocates for transformative education in traditionally underserved areas, focusing on empowering students to reach their highest potential by valuing and making space for their backgrounds, cultures, and languages as assets to learning. Under her leadership, ISANA has emphasized a “whole child, whole family” approach, receiving awards both for being California Distinguished Schools and for educational equity. Nadia began her career as a first-grade teacher and advanced through various roles, including Curriculum Specialist, Principal and Chief Academic Officer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Cognitive Science, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master’s degree in Education. She continues to champion educational equity, striving to create learning environments where every student is seen, supported, belongs, and is empowered to make the world a better place. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and four kids, who are the lights of her life. She and her husband are also foster parents and are heavily involved in their community.
Jillian Tonkin JCS
