Krissy Naspo receives the Small Boarding School Association 2026 Gorman Award
Congratulations to The Bertram Group’s Krissy Naspo for receiving the Gorman Award at the Small Boarding School Association 2026 Conference. The Gorman Award is conferred upon a member who has made outstanding contribution for the benefit and advancement of small boarding schools.
During the award ceremony, Phil Cocchiola and Audrey Ludemann both gave remarks. In describing Krissy’s work, Audrey said, “Advising both traditional and alternative families, Krissy understands the deep value that a small school offers, one of knowing its students well, celebrating successes in a more individualized manner, and giving students both the structure and the space to bloom in the most profound of ways.”
We see firsthand the heart and dedication Krissy pours into her work every day, and we couldn’t be prouder to see her recognized for it. Well deserved, Krissy!
Full remarks from the award ceremony are featured below:
Lisa Zanella Pelrine, Director of Enrollment Management at Landmark School, SBSA President
Awarded for the first time in 2017, the SBSA Gorman Award is named in honor of educational consultant Michele Gorman, a founding member of the SBSA and a steadfast supporter of small boarding schools. The Gorman SBSA Award, presented annually at the March Conference, is conferred upon a memebr who has made an outstanding contribution for the benefit and advancement of small boarding schools. The award certificate and pin, as well as a contribution to the recipient’s charity of choice, are presented at the annual SBSA conference.
Phil Cocchiola, Head of School at The Oxford Academy
Good afternoon everyone. It’s a pleasure to saw a few words about the spirit of the SBSA Gorman Award and the kind of person it recognizes within our community. I had the privilege of receiving this award in 2023, and what struck me most about it is that it honors something that can be difficult to measure, but easy to recognize when you see it. Dedicated people who strengthen the fabric of our schools and our profession through integrity, generosity, and a genuine commitment to students and families.
The Gorman Award has always been about individuals who quietly make our community better. They build relationships. They advocate for students. They help families navigate important decisions. And they do so in ways that reflect the values that make small boarding schools special and celebrate their uniqueness.
For many families, the journey into the independent school world begins with a guide. Soemone who helps them understand not just the available options, but also the importance of finding the right fit for a child.
The very best people in that role don’t simply connect families with schools. They listen carefully. They ask thoughtful questions. They advocate with honesty and care. And they understand the missions and cultures of schools in a way that allows them to help students truly find a place where they will grow and thrive.
Before becoming an educational consultant, today’s honoree spent years working within independent schools, including serving in a senior admissions leadership roles. That experience provided a deep understanding of both sides of the admission process and understanding the hopes of families and the values that schools work so hard to uphold.
In their current work, they have continued to be a trusted voice for families while also serving as a thoughtful and respected partner to schools across the country, my school lucky enough to be one of them.
Beyond their professional work, they have also given generously of their time to the broader community, including serving on several boards in leadership roles, helping strengthen access and partnership within our field.
The SBSA Gorman Award recognizes people who reflect the very best of our shared work. People who care deeply about students, about schools,, and about the relationships that connect them.
To share more about this year’s incredibly talented recipient, someone I’m proud to call a longtime friend and peer, it is my pleasure to introduce another longtime colleague and friend, Audrey.
Audrey Ludemann, The Bertram Group Partner Emerita
I am honored and grateful to have the opportunity to stand here in front of you and talk about this recipient, and I am also kind of surprised it’s me up here because, knowing this crowd, there are so many of you who know this person well, and what I have to say probably echoes what many of you might say.
And that’s because this person is knowable - she is exactly who she is with all of us. Generous of spirit. Honest. Integritous. Whip smart with a great sense of humor. Self-deprecating. Kind. Highly collaborative. This person does not toot her own horn so it’s particularly lovely for me to be able to talk about the ways in which this person enriches our field, our collective field of consultants and schools and admission colleagues and families. All of us.
A total extravert, this year’s recipient is a talker! When we think about relationship building in this work, she’s a natural, a connector. The number of families and schools and programs she talks with on any given day is impressive. And those conversations are substantive. They’re substantive because, in addition to her excllent EQ, she is curious and an excellent listener. Additionally, this is a person with an enviable memory. She forgets nothing (very convenient for those of us who need something remembered for us!) That translates well for everyone. She will never forget what she learns about your schools, your families, your successes, your kindnesses/generosities, and upon occasion, how to find your admission office!
Because this recipient has been on both sides of the desk - she worked in a number of boarding schools and now is on the consultant side - she has a deep understanding of and respect for both. And it shows. She is trusted and well-liked. She will always give you a straightforward response and opinion. It will always be thoughtful and honest.
This constellation of both work and personal characteristics means this person is sought after. She sits on boards. She visits campuses and advises schools on any number of metrics. She is busy, but never too busy to make time for you. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard from her, and you probably have too, ‘How can I help?’ and ‘What can I do for you?’ Rising to a challenge is something she does well and although I expect she has her limits, I haven’t seen it often.
How does all of this benefit small boarding schools and bring us to the Gorman Award? This recipient works closely with many small boarding schools in her work as a consultant. Advising both traditional and alternative families, she understands the deep value that a small school offeres, one of knowing its students well, celebrating successes in a more individualized manner, and giving students both the structure and the space to bloom in the most profound of ways. She is a natural advocate and ambassador of the small boarding school experience. I couldn’t be more honored and thrilled to have this chance to celebrate her and recognize her contributions. This year’s recipient of the Gorman Award is Krissy Naspo.