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Patrick Schuermann, Ed.D.

Chief Strategy and Impact Officer

Optima Independent

Nashville, TN

Patrick Schuermann is one of the nation’s leading experts in educator compensation. He currently serves as chief strategy and impact officer for Optima Independent, which develops immersive teaching and learning experiences for educators and students leveraging VR & spatial computing platforms. In previous roles at Vanderbilt University, Schuermann founded the Professional Leadership Institutes at the Peabody College for Education and Human Development, and he developed, and for 8 years directed, the Independent School Leadership Master’s Program there. In 2022, Schuermann served as the lead researcher for NBOA’s Mission-Anchored Compensation Strategies initiative, the most comprehensive assessment of compensation and benefits practices used in our independent school community to date.

 


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Past Webinars

  • 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.

  • Tuition, Trends, Trouble: What College Closures Signal for Independent Schools This item is protected

    November 21, 2025
    Explore financial sustainability for independent schools by analyzing college closures. Learn strategies to navigate risks and build resilience based on what may be gleaned from higher ed’s warning signs.

  • Small School, Big Solutions: Navigating Mission, Money and Innovation This item is protected

    November 7, 2025
    The financial reality of a school can deeply inform its mission. Discover how a small school's inherent need for innovation sparks powerful, scalable solutions for schools of all sizes to be nimble when resources are limited.

  • Durable Campus Planning: Aligning Vision with Strategic Purpose This item is protected

    October 24, 2025
    Learn how The Governor’s Academy aligned educational priorities with campus development in a new campus planning process that engaged the school community. The resulting plan now guides the adaptive reuse of facilities and enhanced academic programs.

  • Cyber Breach Breakdown: Risk Mitigation Tactics for Independent K-12 Schools This item is protected

    September 26, 2025
    82% of K-12 schools have experienced a cyber incident. This webinar equips business and technology leaders with practical tactics for cyber threat detection, response, and prevention, safeguarding their schools' financial and reputational integrity.

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