Coaching school communities and nonprofits with values-based strategic visioning; designing 21st Century solutions to old and new hurdles to excellence.
Coaching school communities and nonprofits with values-based strategic visioning; designing 21st Century solutions to old and new hurdles to excellence.
"An intuitive executive with high emotional intelligence coaching others to their best selves."
Linda Dennison is currently the Interim Chief Financial Officer at Walnut Hill School for the Arts. She has previously served as the Chief Financial Officer for Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City, MD and as the Director of Finance and Comptroller for Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. Prior to that she served as the Deputy Head of School and Chief Financial Officer for Indian Creek School where she played a critical role in negotiating the sale of one campus, while creating and implementing a flexible tuition model that stabilized enrollment and increased net tuition revenue. She also served Baltimore Lab School as the Director of Finance and Operations where she created stand-alone financial and operational processes that helped the school spin off as an independent entity, as it had been a division of the Lab School of Washington since its founding in 2000. Linda also worked as the Director, Consulting Services for the National Business Officer’s Association where her primary responsibilities included leading consulting assignments specifically focused on leadership and governance, school sustainability, and operational effectiveness; developing and writing best practice standards for school business operations and presenting on various topics at regional and national conferences for independent school professionals.
Linda Dennison is currently the Interim Chief Financial Officer at Walnut Hill School for the Arts. She has previously served as the Chief Financial Officer for Glenelg Country School in Ellicott City, MD and as the Director of Finance and Comptroller for Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. Prior to that she served as the Deputy Head of School and Chief Financial Officer for Indian Creek School where she played a critical role in negotiating the sale of one campus, while creating and implementing a flexible tuition model that stabilized enrollment and increased net tuition revenue. She also served Baltimore Lab School as the Director of Finance and Operations where she created stand-alone financial and operational processes that helped the school spin off as an independent entity, as it had been a division of the Lab School of Washington since its founding in 2000. Linda also worked as the Director, Consulting Services for the National Business Officer’s Association where her primary responsibilities included leading consulting assignments specifically focused on leadership and governance, school sustainability, and operational effectiveness; developing and writing best practice standards for school business operations and presenting on various topics at regional and national conferences for independent school professionals.
Throughout her career, Linda has served on several nonprofit boards in various leadership positions within those Boards. She is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Business Officers Association (NBOA). Her previous appointments include Tabor Academy, Summit Montessori School and the Association of College Counselors of Independent Schools where she has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Summit Montessori School and as Committee Chair for Tabor Academy.
Throughout her career, Linda has served on several nonprofit boards in various leadership positions within those Boards. She is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Business Officers Association (NBOA). Her previous appointments include Tabor Academy, Summit Montessori School and the Association of College Counselors of Independent Schools where she has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Summit Montessori School and as Committee Chair for Tabor Academy.
Linda is a graduate of Tabor Academy, has a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Southern Maine, a M.S. in Education from Johns Hopkins University, a Graduate Certificate in Business Leadership for Independent Schools and a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership for Independent Schools both from Johns Hopkins University, and is a CPA. She has completed several courses with the Mindfulness Coaching School and IDEO University for Design Thinking. Linda is a 2019 recipient of NBOA’s Will J. Hancock Unsung Hero Award.
Linda is a graduate of Tabor Academy, has a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Southern Maine, a M.S. in Education from Johns Hopkins University, a Graduate Certificate in Business Leadership for Independent Schools and a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership for Independent Schools both from Johns Hopkins University, and is a CPA. She has completed several courses with the Mindfulness Coaching School and IDEO University for Design Thinking. Linda is a 2019 recipient of NBOA’s Will J. Hancock Unsung Hero Award.
Recent Clients
Recent Clients
Bridgton Academy, Chatham Hall School, Laurel School, McCarter Theatre Center, Quaker School at Horsham, The Derryfield School, The Hun School of Princeton, and Wellington School.
"Linda was a wonderful asset to our school. Her breadth of experience has equipped her in a unique way to offer insightful and valuable perspectives. Her knowledge of independent school trends, and her ability to analyze data, make her an expert in this field. She is timely in her work and an excellent communicator. I would most certainly work with her again." - Lindsey Smith, Wellington School
"Linda was a wonderful asset to our school. Her breadth of experience has equipped her in a unique way to offer insightful and valuable perspectives. Her knowledge of independent school trends, and her ability to analyze data, make her an expert in this field. She is timely in her work and an excellent communicator. I would most certainly work with her again." - Lindsey Smith, Wellington School
"Linda brings a rare and potent mix of expertise, experience, industry knowledge, and even a sense of humor to her consulting. I highly recommend Linda Dennison for any school looking for consulting or coaching for their finance office." - Alex Brosowsky, Head of School, The Quaker School at Horsham
"Linda brings a rare and potent mix of expertise, experience, industry knowledge, and even a sense of humor to her consulting. I highly recommend Linda Dennison for any school looking for consulting or coaching for their finance office." - Alex Brosowsky, Head of School, The Quaker School at Horsham
"Working with Linda on the analysis and correction of issues in our financials was an outstanding experience. Her high level expertise, deep understanding of nonprofit accounting, warmth and good humor made our project a complete success." - Natalia Armoza, McCarter Theatre Center
"Working with Linda on the analysis and correction of issues in our financials was an outstanding experience. Her high level expertise, deep understanding of nonprofit accounting, warmth and good humor made our project a complete success." - Natalia Armoza, McCarter Theatre Center
Get in touch at linda@compassleaders.org
Get in touch at linda@compassleaders.org