Strategic Design and Operational Excellence
With over four decades of leadership at ISM, Roxanne Higgins brings unmatched expertise in helping schools align their time, space, and staffing to support mission-driven learning. A sought-after strategist and trusted partner to hundreds of schools worldwide, Roxanne empowers school leaders to design schedules that elevate both student experience and faculty effectiveness.
Areas of Focus
- Academic scheduling and schedule design
- Space utilization and optimization
- Faculty staffing and personnel planning
- Operational leadership and organizational strategy
- Long-term planning and strategic goal-setting
A Visionary Leader With Deep Roots in School Strategy
Roxanne began her ISM career in 1984, following early experiences in international banking and middle school teaching. Over the years, she has held many roles at ISM — from insurance account manager to Director of Management Institutes to Vice President — before becoming President in 1990. Her long-standing leadership has shaped the organization’s direction and deepened its commitment to advancing independent school excellence.
As a Senior Executive Consultant, Roxanne has worked onsite with more than 400 schools across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. She specializes in optimizing schedules, space, and staffing across all types and sizes of schools, ensuring that every structure serves the school’s mission and the needs of its students.
In addition to consulting and leading workshops, Roxanne provides strategic leadership for all ISM operations, guiding long-term growth and ensuring alignment with ISM’s mission to advance school leadership and enhance the student experience.
Roxanne holds an MBA from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from Denison University.
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ISM is one of those few places that actually is completely research-based. So when we get a chance to look at the research and talk about it with other Heads, it’s meaningful. You go back to your school and you have something to say—it’s not anecdotal." Deborah Hof, Head of School |
