New Hampshire Boarding Schools Collaborate at IECA: The Granite 5
This May, Brewster will come together with leaders from four other respected New Hampshire boarding schools at the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) Annual Conference in Baltimore to share a powerful story of collaboration. Known as the Granite 5, the group of schools includes Holderness School, New Hampton School, Brewster Academy, Kimball Union Academy, and Proctor Academy. While each school has a distinct mission and culture, the group is united by a shared commitment to transparency and professional learning.
These five schools, all located in New Hampshire’s Lakes region, partnered during COVID to create shared programming and immersive campus experiences for independent educational consultants (IECs). Now, more than five years later, the Granite 5 has welcomed over 100 IECs to their campuses, broadening professional understanding of the region and highlighting the depth and diversity of a prep school in New Hampshire.
“Families don’t experience schools in isolation, and neither should the professionals who guide them,” says Dr. Bryan Gross, Brewster’s Dean of Enrollment and Marketing. “The Granite 5 allows IECs to see both what makes each school distinct and what connects New Hampshire boarding schools as a region.”
Highlighting the Value of a Prep School in New Hampshire
Through shared campus visits and open dialogue, the Granite 5 has helped IECs gain a more complete picture of what students experience at a prep school in New Hampshire, from academic rigor and residential life to outdoor education and community culture.
“Collaboration strengthens trust and understanding,” Gross adds. “By working together, we’re helping families make more informed choices and showcasing the extraordinary opportunities students find at New Hampshire boarding schools.”
Leaders from New Hampshire’s Granite 5 schools will present at the upcoming national Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) conference in Baltimore, MD in a session titled “Value of Consortia: Granite 5 Schools in New Hampshire.”
Presenters will share how the Granite 5 collaboration has broadened awareness of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region among education professionals while providing meaningful opportunities for consultants to deepen their understanding of each school’s mission, culture, and student experience.
The panel features David Flynn of Holderness School, Michelle Cote of New Hampton School, Bryan Gross of Brewster Academy, Joshua Labove of Kimball Union Academy, and Christin Lathrop of Proctor Academy. Together, they will discuss lessons learned from their partnership and offer practical strategies for schools seeking to build collaborative initiatives that strengthen relationships with IECs and help families identify the right educational fit.
Dr. Bryan Gross, Dean of Enrollment Management & Marketing at Brewster Academy, will also participate in a featured session at the upcoming IECA conference titled “Enrollment, Retention and Trusted IEC Partnerships.”
The session brings together school leaders and independent educational consultants to explore how transparent, mission-aligned partnerships help families make better school choices while strengthening enrollment and retention outcomes. Through real case studies and practical strategies, the panel will examine how schools and consultants can work collaboratively to ensure students find communities where they will thrive.
Gross joins a panel of experienced IECs and school leaders to discuss how institutions can clearly articulate culture, values, and affordability in ways that build trust with consultants and families alike. The conversation will highlight how thoughtful collaboration between schools and IECs improves student–school fit and supports long-term success.
Collaboration at the Heart of New Hampshire Prep Schools
On Monday, May 18, the Granite 5 schools will also host an evening reception for approximately sixty invited independent educational consultants on the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. The event will provide an opportunity for school leaders and counselors to connect, exchange insights, and collaborate on how best to support and guide students and families through the independent school search process.
The Granite 5’s work with IECs extends beyond the conference in Baltimore. In the fall, the consortium will host its annual consultant tour from October 4–7, 2026, welcoming independent counselors to experience the schools and the Lakes Region firsthand.
Brewster’s participation reflects the Academy’s continued commitment to leadership in enrollment strategy and collaboration across the independent school community.
