Sandi Pierce

Sandi Pierce

Assistant Head of School

Cate School

Carpinteria, CA

Since 1991, Pierce has served as the chief business officer at Cate Cate School, a boarding and day school for 310 students in grades 9-12 in Carpinteria, California. Pierce served on the NBOA Board of Directors from 2012-2018 and chaired the finance and audit committee 2016-2018. A colleague valued by other business officers nationwide, she served on NBOA’s Business Officer Institute faculty three times and authored the chapter on budgeting and financial reporting in NBOA’s book on business office essentials, “The Business of Independent Schools: A Leader’s Guide.”  Most recently she served on NBOA’s Boarding School Working Group to help NBOA provide optimal support to business leaders at schools with a boarding component. She has also contributed to Net Assets articles and presented at the NBOA NBOA Annual Meeting Meeting and for other independent school organizations.

Online Courses

Past Webinars

  • Blending Respect and Efficiency in the Business Office This item is protected

    February 20, 2026
    Join members of NBOA’s volunteer Human Resources Council for a practical discussion on strategies to safeguard your working hours without compromising collegial relationships —all while saving time.
  • Facing the Aftermath of Disaster: Lessons & Preparedness Strategies This item is protected

    February 6, 2026
    Hear firsthand experience navigating the Palisades Fire and discover practical lessons in evacuation, business continuity, board governance and emergency response planning to help your organization prepare for the unexpected.
  • Business Office & Admissions Partnering on Net Tuition Revenue This item is protected

    January 23, 2026
    It’s essential to manage enrollment and financial aid in a consistent, sustainable and predictable way — but doing so can be complex and challenging. Learn how established sustainable net tuition revenue targets support mission, program and budget.
  • Optimizing the Auxiliary Workforce: Compliance, Culture & Sustainability This item is protected

    January 9, 2026
    This webinar invites school leaders to rethink auxiliary staffing — across summer, afterschool, enrichment and other programs — as a lever for sustainability, compliance and culture-building.
  • The Fine Art of Handling Conflict for Business Officers This item is protected

    December 5, 2025
    This webinar will equip attendees with practical strategies to navigate disputes with clarity and confidence, and offers actionable insights on handling complaints and resolving conflict in ways that foster collaboration and strengthen relationships.

Net Assets Articles