People

Patrick Schuermann, Ed.D.

Founder and CEO

Strategic Compensation and Coaching Partners

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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Online Courses

Budget Meets Mission: School Finance for Non-Business Leaders

Understand the independent school business model, learn to be a good steward of your school's financial resources and work more collaboratively around financial issues.
Building Sustainable Hiring Systems

Discover school-specific strategies that will attract and retain faculty and staff who galvanize your school’s mission.
Engaging in Difficult Conversations with Employees

Learn to engage with employees in an empathetic manner while still clearly conveying important information and safeguarding your school from liability.
Enterprise Risk Management for Independent Schools

This course will provide the frameworks, tools, and strategies needed to identify, prioritize, and mitigate risks while strengthening decision-making, resilience, and mission-focused leadership.
Human Resources Fundamentals for Independent Schools

Learn how to address day-to-day human resources challenges such as evaluation and termination, FMLA, the ADA and employee classification.
Measuring Financial Health with the Composite Financial Index

Calculate your school's Composite Financial Index (CFI) score — a tool trusted in higher education for decades — and learn how you can use the score and its 4 underlying ratios to think strategically about your school's financial strengths and weaknesses.
Nonprofit Accounting Fundamentals for Independent Schools

Learn the fundamentals of nonprofit accounting and reporting by exploring governance structures, internal control strategies, financial statements and compliance essentials.
Payroll Fundamentals

Learn about best practices related to payroll including employee classification and overtime pay, deductions and taxability and the complexity of calculating a faculty member’s final paycheck when they leave mid-year.
Stewarding Donor Dollars: Financial Principles for Contributions

Learn best practices related to gift reporting, compliance and donor stewardship, as well as how to develop a successful and strategic partnership between the financial and development functions at your school.
The Business and Art of Financial Aid

Learn tactical best practices related to the financial aid process to enhance the strategic partnership between the business and admissions offices and ensure long-term success.

Past Webinars

AI in Independent Schools: Navigating Legal Risks While Embracing Innovation This item is protected

October 22, 2026

Artificial intelligence is reshaping independent schools. Explore key legal and risk considerations, including privacy, intellectual property, cybersecurity, discrimination, vendor contracts, and regulation, with practical guidance for policy development.
Culture and Compensation: How to Empower Your Faculty This item is protected

October 9, 2026

Discover how a school transformed faculty compensation from a traditional salary scale to an innovative banded system. Learn how they secured buy-in, sustained momentum over 9 years, and created a model that supports faculty growth, agency, and feedback.
2026’s Back-to-School Legal & Regulatory Update This item is protected

September 30, 2026

Join independent school legal experts as they review recent changes to the law and answer your questions about how they may impact your school.
Grants Management for Independent Schools This item is protected

May 26, 2026

Designed for business officers who manage or oversee grants, this webinar provides actionable tools and templates to strengthen financial stewardship and enhance mission impact through effective grants administration.
Enrollment Forecasting as a Strategic Financial Tool This item is protected

May 8, 2026

This webinar presents a strategic approach to enrollment forecasting that blends the enrollment team’s relational insights with financial analysis and data modeling. Learn how to strengthen projections using internal data alongside external signals.

Net Assets Articles

Before the Strategic Plan, Take the School’s Vital Signs This item is protected

October 30, 2026

Grounding discussions in shared facts will help the school truly move forward.
How To Lead Smarter in a Multigenerational Workplace

October 27, 2026

Generational differences don’t have to divide your faculty and staff — they can be harnessed to build stronger, more connected teams.
Leading Sustainability from the Business Office in Three Steps This item is protected

October 26, 2026

From renewable energy investments to strategic budgeting, Moses Brown School shares lessons on aligning environmental and financial objectives.
The Heat Is On! Navigating a New Era of Environmental Regulations: The Path to Net Zero This item is protected

October 23, 2026

As states set new standards for environmental stewardship, this is how independent schools are keeping up.
The Heat Is On! Navigating a New Era of Environmental Regulations: The Legal Landscape This item is protected

October 20, 2026

As states set new standards for environmental stewardship, this is how independent schools are keeping up.

FEATURED

Benchmark Against National KPIs with the Latest Financial State of the Industry Report

A research report analyzing trends across 18 key financial and operational indicators over five years. Use this report to benchmark performance, stress-test assumptions and make informed decisions, as external forces continue to challenge long-term financial sustainability.

RECENT DISCUSSIONS

NBOA CAREERS

Chief Financial Officer

St. Matthew's Parish School
Interim Chief Financial Officer

Christ Episcopal School
Director of Finance

Meyer Jewish Preparatory School

VISIT CAREERS

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Patrick Schuermann, Ed.D.

Online Courses

Budget Meets Mission: School Finance for Non-Business Leaders

Building Sustainable Hiring Systems

Engaging in Difficult Conversations with Employees

Enterprise Risk Management for Independent Schools

Human Resources Fundamentals for Independent Schools

Measuring Financial Health with the Composite Financial Index

Nonprofit Accounting Fundamentals for Independent Schools

Payroll Fundamentals

Stewarding Donor Dollars: Financial Principles for Contributions

The Business and Art of Financial Aid

Past Webinars

AI in Independent Schools: Navigating Legal Risks While Embracing Innovation This item is protected

Culture and Compensation: How to Empower Your Faculty This item is protected

2026’s Back-to-School Legal & Regulatory Update This item is protected

Grants Management for Independent Schools This item is protected

Enrollment Forecasting as a Strategic Financial Tool This item is protected

Net Assets Articles

Before the Strategic Plan, Take the School’s Vital Signs This item is protected

How To Lead Smarter in a Multigenerational Workplace

Leading Sustainability from the Business Office in Three Steps This item is protected

The Heat Is On! Navigating a New Era of Environmental Regulations: The Path to Net Zero This item is protected

The Heat Is On! Navigating a New Era of Environmental Regulations: The Legal Landscape This item is protected

FEATURED

Benchmark Against National KPIs with the Latest Financial State of the Industry Report

RECENT DISCUSSIONS

NBOA CAREERS

Chief Financial Officer

Interim Chief Financial Officer

Director of Finance

Become an NBOA Member