Leadership Institute for
Student Support

 Leading Systemic Change in Independent School Mental Health

Our Vision

Empowering school leaders with the tools to foster resilience and mental well-being in their communities.

Leading with Purpose

a group of diverse individuals sitting and collaboratively learning

Collaborative Learning

Assess your existing mental health frameworks
with peers and experts.

a chess piece, representing practical strategies of support

Practical Strategies

Use evidence-based tools to refine or build a multi-tiered framework of Supports

a group of individuals atop a mountain, growing together

Leadership Growth

Enhance your capacity as a school leader
to drive systemic change

a grassy forest trail, leading the way to sustainable outcomes

Sustainable Outcomes

Develop actionable roadmaps tailored
to your school’s unique needs

The Leadership Institute for Student Support (LI-SS) is a dynamic community where school leaders connect, collaborate, and navigate the immense challenges facing schools today. Whether your school has an established framework for student well-being or is in the early stages of development, LI-SS will help you refine and strengthen its effectiveness—ensuring it becomes a foundation for excellence across all areas of school life.

Many schools recognize the importance of student support services but struggle to build and sustain robust systems. Taking the time to evaluate your approach alongside expert facilitators and like-minded colleagues will provide you with the strategies, tools, and renewed energy to lead your school more effectively.

By participating at LI-SS, you will:

✔ Evaluate and refine your own school’s multi-tiered framework of support
✔ Understand how to integrate mental health into school culture.
✔ Learn how to better engage faculty in their critical role to promote community well-being.

When schools lead with well-being, everyone thrives.

LI-SS Program

LI-SS 2025 Information

waynflete school
a man leading a conference with a room full of people learning

Summer Institute

Waynflete School
360 Spring St
Portland, ME 04102

June 23 - 27, 2025

The rising mental health challenges among students have reshaped the demands of school-based support, calling for a comprehensive approach that integrates counseling, teacher training, family engagement, and student resilience-building. Too often, the focus on symptoms and behavior overshadows the need for sustainable systems.

This professional development empowers student support leaders to assess practices, identify strengths, and design a multi-tiered framework to support students' academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health needs, nurturing student and faculty well-being through collaborative responses.

Who can sign up?

  • School Administrators, Division Heads

  • Directors of Wellness & Support Services

  • School Counselors & Mental Health Providers

  • Faculty Leaders & Learning Specialists

This workshop offers 25 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for mental health providers. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion, which may be used to fulfill professional development requirements.

What you will gain

  • A comprehensive, actionable roadmap to enhance your school’s mental health framework.

  • Evidence-based strategies to foster collaboration, transparency, and resilience.

  • Tools to effectively train faculty and address growing student needs.

  • Sustainable practices to promote staff well-being and combat burnout.

LI-SS Core Faculty

  • Michele Grethel, PhD, LCSW, Leadership Institute for Student Support Director and Facilitator

    Michele Grethel, PhD, LCSW

    Director & Facilitator

  • Lydia Maier, LCSW, MBA, Leadership Institute for Student Support Facilitator

    Lydia Maier, LCSW, MBA

    Facilitator

  • Miguel Marshall, EdD, SAPM, CIP, Leadership Institute for Student Support Facilitator

    Miguel Marshall, EdD, SAPM, CIP

    Facilitator

Our Collective Expertise

  • With over 20+ years of clinical and leadership experience, we have designed and implemented transformative mental health programs that foster resilience, inclusivity, and psychological safety in school communities.

  • Drawing from expertise in data-driven strategies, ethnographic audits, and collaborative engagement, we provide actionable solutions tailored to the unique culture of each school.

  • Our work integrates experiential learning, mindfulness, and dialogue-based approaches to create vibrant, inclusive school environments where students and educators thrive.