Board of Trustees

Ann Rossbach

Treasurer

Ann has worked in education for most of her professional career, teaching at the community college level while opening her educational consulting practice over 17 years ago, joining IECA in 2008; she is also a Certified Educational Planner. In addition to her MA in Teaching from Monmouth University and BA in Political Science and Economics from Fordham University, Ann has completed coursework relevant to her consulting at the UCLA and UC Irvine Extensions and is currently an instructor through UC Irvine. She has served in several board positions within IECA, including as President and continues to present at conferences and volunteer within the Association. 

Ann has always volunteered extensively in her community, including being elected for five consecutive terms to two boards of education, serving as president for 12 years. She has also devoted her time as a trustee at Shore House (an organization for those living with mental illness), the Oceanic Free Public Library, the Boys and Girls Club of Red Bank and the Possibility Project in NYC. Ann lives in NJ with her husband, Doug, and has three adult children. She enjoys travel, gardening, tennis, and is trying hard to play the cello. Most importantly, Ann believes strongly in access for all children and young adults to education and opportunities that lead to successful and rewarding lives.

Antoinette Battiste

Antoinette Battiste is the founder and President of Educational Pathways with Antoinette Battiste, a consulting practice that provides college planning and counseling services to high school students and their parents. With an unwavering passion for equity and access in education, especially for low-income, first-generation and students of color, she also provides workshops and pro bono services in the community.

Operating as a solo entrepreneur, Antoinette has provided individualized college counseling services to nearly 200 students and families. Additionally, she has reached nearly 1,500 students via educational workshops in support of community-based organizations. Prior to launching her practice, Ms. Battiste held senior level program management positions with various technology companies in Silicon Valley for 20+ years.

She received an AB in Psychology and African-American Studies from Stanford University and an MBA in Information Systems from Golden Gate University. She also received a Specialized Certificate in College Counseling from UC San Diego Extension.

Antoinette is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Delta Omega Chapter, where she has served in several leadership roles, most notably co-chair of the chapter’s Black College Awareness Fair for 7 years. As the grant writer for the chapter’s Ivy and Pearls Foundation, she has secured in excess of $80,000 to support community-focused programming. Additionally, Antoinette served as Board Secretary for the Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators (SCCABE) for 12 years.

Ms. Battiste is a Founding Member and Board of Directors Chair of the YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula Donor Advised Fund, established in 2004. The Fund has leveraged the interest derived from its investments to distribute $4.1M via a competitive grant process to 55 organizations whose programs align with the Fund’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women and girls.

Randy Bertin

For the past two decades, Dr. Randy Bertin has been a leader in independent boarding schools. Before joining Cushing Academy as the 13th Head of School on July 1, 2018, he spent twelve years at Besant Hill School of Happy Valley in Ojai, California, serving seven of those years as Head of School, where he was also awarded the honor of Head of School Emeritus.

During his tenure as Besant Hill Head of School, Randy was recognized for his leadership and is one of only two independent school heads to receive the CASE District VII CEO Leadership Award. Before becoming Head of School, Randy served in multiple leadership positions, including Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Director of Advancement, and Assistant Head for Advancement. He also served as the school’s Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, earning California Southern Section Division V Coach of the Year in 2010. Randy previously spent seven years at Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

Randy is an expert in school leadership, international fundraising, and boarding school admissions, and he has presented several times on these topics. Other topics that he has presented and written about have included the Head of School’s Role in the Admissions Process, Financial Health Indicators for Heads of Schools, Integration and Immersion of International Students at Boarding Schools in the United States, and Perceptions of Independent School Leaders in California: Global Issues, and Leading an Independent School through Covid-19. Randy was elected to the Cushing Academy Board of Trustees in 2019 and also serves on the Boards of the IECA Foundation and the International Center for Global Leadership.

Nichol Ernst

Nichol is the Clinical Director, CEO and co-owner of Summit Achievement, a hybrid wilderness therapy and residential treatment program in Maine. He has worked in the field of wilderness therapy and residential treatment since 2003. He received his Bachelor’s degree in U.S. History from Brown University and his Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of New England.

Rosemary Tippett

Rosemary Tippett, M.A., has devoted her talents to adolescent treatment for over 30 years, in both the private and public sectors. Rosemary began her career while still in undergraduate school, working with a local department of juvenile justice, where she found her passion for assisting adolescents struggling with behavioral issues and academic weaknesses.

Rosemary’s passion for working with troubled youth has continued in a variety of professional positions, working directly with adolescent and parents groups, providing individual and family counseling, and conducting staff training and development.

Rosemary served as Program Director at an adolescent treatment facility for 10 years before moving to Atlanta in 1991. Rosemary spent the next 15 years working for a private adolescent treatment company specializing in addressing the needs of adolescents with behavioral, academic and related issues. It was at that time that Rosemary became a founding board member of The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP). She remained on the board member as a volunteer for 8 years before joining the NATSAP staff as Director of Member Services. Following her years at NATSAP, Rosemary served the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) as its Outreach Coordinator. She then spent several years as Ex-Officio board member for NATSAP. Rosemary was later appointed to the Board of Directors for IECA and holds a current seat.

Rosemary has been consulting in private practice as an Educational Consultant working directly with families to help make specific recommendations for placement that will provide the opportunities necessary for adolescents and young adults to succeed.

Rosemary feels her time working directly with adolescent programs and schools, combined with her experience at both NATSAP and IECA, gives her a unique ability to assist families in making decisions regarding the needs of adolescents and young adults.

Rosemary is a professional member of IECA and continues to attend workshops and professional conferences in order to maintain current knowledge of schools and programs. Rosemary visits schools and programs throughout the United States and abroad on a regular basis.

Kelly Webster

Kelly has worked in education for over 20 years in a variety of traditional and therapeutic settings.  She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary and Special Education from Juniata College and went on to pursue master’s coursework in Special Education at Southern Connecticut State University. She was a dorm counselor and teacher before entering into administrative work as the Associate Executive Director of a therapeutic boarding school. She is presently the Director of Admissions at True North Evolution in Waitsfield, Vermont. 

Kelly is a natural connector and uses her warmth and compassion to guide students and families on a path of hope.  She connects with other professionals by serving as an elected board member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) and presenting on topics including nutrition, milieu treatment and parenting strategies at national conferences and at boarding and day schools.  She and her husband have two school-age daughters and Kelly does her best to keep up with them as a swimming official, Girl Scout leader, PTO member and soccer coach.