Assistant Head of School Carl Coombs described the NAIS Leadership Institute, also known as the School Leadership Institute, as a defining and inspiring experience in his leadership journey—one that shaped him into the thoughtful, driven leader he is today for the school community.

This summer, Coombs learned that he will return to to SLI not as a participant but as one of four faculty members selected from more than 100 applicants to guide independent school leaders through the same process that shaped his own growth.

The NAIS Leadership Institute is a flagship initiative of the membership association, which supports and advocates for independent schools nationwide. It is designed to support faculty in leadership roles within independent schools as they advance their leadership practice.

“I cannot think of a better educator to help lead this important program for inspiring leaders,” Head of School Judith Guild said. “This will be a remarkable experience for Mr. Coombs as well as for all those who experience his leadership as an educator.”

Participants examine five key aspects of effective leadership, engaging in close study of each competency while identifying both their strengths and areas for growth.

“It was such a transformational experience for me, and I wanted to be a part of it as a faculty member to get to pay it forward to other leaders,” Coombs said.

One element of SLI that Coombs found especially impactful was the 360-degree  review process, which is an opportunity to receive candid feedback from colleagues across the school.

“I asked teachers who report to me,  members of the administrative team, and Mrs. Guild, who is my direct supervisor,  to complete surveys evaluating my leadership,” Coombs said. “They were asked to evaluate my leadership  competencies, and then I ranked myself in the same areas.

Coombs called the process “transformative,” saying it helped his compare his self-perception with others’ experiences and identify areas for growth.

“You get to see where you see yourself in an area, where your colleagues and boss see you, and if your view of yourself is in alignment with how others see you,” Coombs said. Is it out of alignment? What can you do to adjust? It was a really transformative experience for me to get to reflect on myself as an educator and a leader in that way.”

For Coombs, who also serves as Head of Lower School and previously served as Middle School Head for ten years, the 360-degree review provided a clearer understanding of how others experienced and interpreted his leadership. He saw the feedback as an opportunity to better align his leadership intentions with their impact and to identify meaningful direction for continued growth.

Coombs chose to pursue a faculty role in SLI because he believed leadership must remain reflective and grounded in values. His career-long commitment to integrity, service, and community guided that decision, and he found that SLI offered an ideal space to step away from daily responsibilities and focus on intentional leadership growth rooted in those principles.

“Having participated in SLI myself, I know firsthand how meaningful it is to step away from the day-to-day to examine one’s leadership identity, learn from peers across schools, and reengage with both courage and clarity,” Coombs said. “I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to join the SLI faculty and work with independent school leaders from across the nation.”

Coombs’ leadership perspective has taken shape through his work here, where he observes students’ development across all grade levels.

“When you’ve worked at a school as long as I have and serve in a leadership role, you have the opportunity to shape students’ lives over many years,” Coombs said. “You get to witness their full growth—from their earliest days through graduation—and having even a small role in that journey is an incredible privilege. That continuity is one of the most special aspects of leading in a Pre-K–12 school.”

Now, as a member of the NAIS School Leadership Institute faculty, Coombs will have a hand in extending that impact much further than this school’s campus.

By mentoring and supporting fellow school leaders through the same process he found incredibly transformational, he hopes to inspire more thoughtful and student-centered leadership in independent schools throughout the country.

Editors’ note: This story was updated Friday, March 6, to include insight from Head of School Judith Guild.