Is your school’s schedule advancing your mission or draining your resources?
Roxanne Higgins, ISM President and Senior Executive Consultant
Every year, it happens.
- A student shows up in your office, frustrated: “I can’t take the elective I signed up for because it overlaps with English.”
- A teacher quietly admits they’re burning out: “I’ve got three preps, lunch duty, and no real planning time. I’m drowning.”
- Your academic dean (maybe that’s you!) is sacrificing precious summer hours poring over the schedule — hunched over spreadsheets, moving sections, swapping teachers, adjusting room assignments — trying to make everything fit.
Even with all that effort, you’re still fielding parent phone calls, managing frustrated faculty, and counseling disappointed students.
Do these scenarios ring any bells?
Why Does the Schedule Matter?
Your schedule isn’t just a way to organize the day — it’s a reflection of your school’s priorities. It shapes the daily experiences of students and faculty and determines how (and whether or not) your programs come to life.
When your schedule isn’t working, it shows up in all kinds of ways:
- Students miss out on the courses or services they need.
- Faculty feel stretched thin or unevenly assigned.
- Advisory, enrichment, or support programs get squeezed to the edges.
- Room usage is inefficient or creates logistical headaches.
- You’re focused on “what fits” instead of your mission and the experiences that define it.
Conversely, when approached with intention, a strong schedule can:
- Prioritize the parts of the program that truly deliver your mission.
- Protect planning and collaboration for teachers.
- Promote balance and access for students.
- Reduce conflict and last-minute stress for administrators.
- Create space for innovation, equity, and deeper learning.
Time for a Smart Scheduling Solution
Your school doesn’t need a campus expansion or even a more complex spreadsheet! You need better visibility, flexibility, and strategy. That’s why ISM offers scheduling tools and expert guidance that help leaders:
- Start earlier, plan with confidence, and complete the scheduling process in half the time.
- Analyze course requests and staffing in real time.
- Identify conflicts before they become roadblocks.
- Build schedules that reflect both values and reality.
Whether you're trying to integrate new programming, streamline faculty workloads, or reduce the time your team spends manually troubleshooting, the right tools and approach can make all the difference.
It’s time to stop letting your schedule dictate your decisions, and start using it to drive your mission.
Are you ready to transform your scheduling process?
- Explore ScheduLogic from ISM
- Talk to one of our Scheduling Consultants
About the Author
Roxanne Higgins is one of the industry's leading experts in school scheduling, helping independent schools turn time, space, and personnel into powerful tools for delivering their mission. She has worked onsite with more than 400 schools across North America, South America, Asia, and Europe — often returning multiple times to help them refine and perfect their schedules.
As President of ISM since 1990, Roxanne leads a team of consultants serving schools worldwide. Her career at ISM spans roles in insurance, professional development, and consulting coordination, giving her a rare, 360-degree perspective on the operational challenges school leaders face.
Roxanne holds an MBA from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from Denison University.
