A School Head’s job is never done—even if students and teachers have abandoned their classrooms to frolic in the summer sun. Still, there’s surely some time to revitalize old strategies and develop new ones! So kick back, relax, and read one of these books we’ve collected specifically for School Heads. And—once you’re done—download one of our prerecorded Webinars for some professional development in the comfort of your office.

Q: What are the benefits of having an Employee Handbook? Of course, our school has one; however, it’s one of those things I think all organizations have but no one ever reads. I’ve been tasked with reviewing and potentially updating ours this summer, and am looking for some motivation.

After your Board has its summer retreat and you begin preparations for the next school year, streamline and enhance your Board’s functionality by compiling selected strategic documents. Store them in a specific container (e.g., a large binder or a hanging-file storage box) that is easily accessible for reference by Trustees as needed for committee work or during regular sessions. Of course, many of the documents can be stored and distributed digitally.

Schools dream about attracting Board members with deep pockets. “If we could just get a few rich Trustees, our problems would be solved!” In reality, the way you structure your Board membership must be designed to support your school’s mission, as expressed through the strategic financial plan. That means creating a “Board profile”—a list of the resources and expertise you need to meet those strategic goals.

Saying thank you is one of the simplest ways to show your appreciation when a donor gives to your school—and one of the best ways to encourage repeated generosity. Most schools opt to do so in a letter, note, or phone call. This year, why not buck tradition and make a thank-you video? To get you started, we’ve collected some of the best private-independent school video thank-yous from around the web. Ranging from technically masterful and scripted to the spontaneous and genuine, all epitomize the sincere and heartfelt appreciation your own end-of-year thanks should embody.

With your end of the year push to reach your funding goals and the mountains of thank-you notes waiting to be signed, sealed, and delivered, a chance to escape from the stress might feel impossible. Still, there’s no reason you can’t steal away from the hectic office on occasion with a good book—especially when it’ll help you improve your school’s development efforts. We’ve coupled each book with a webinar from our e-Learning archive, so when you make it back to your desk, you can spend an hour or two learning something new.

Summer is a slow(er) time for the Admission Office, though tours are still scheduled and family meet-and-greets are still planned. The brief respite before the beginning of the next recruitment season means you can relax with a good book. Here are a few we think are worthy of taking a starred place on your summer reading list, paired with relevant ISM webinars.

Not too long ago on our Admission Directors e-List, one director related an awful bind in which she’d found herself during a tour with a young child and his mother. During the tour, there were several “red flags” that the child was not developmentally ready for her school’s program and would probably be denied if the family applied for admission. Her question for the e-List: Should she deny the student before even receiving the application, or let the family pay the fee and go through “due process”? To answer this question, we need to introduce the idea of "emotional banking."

More and more, technology plays a bigger role in the classroom. We use it to create, explore, communicate, and store important pieces of a puzzle that, when assembled, help create part of your students’ overall educational experience. With increased use, however, comes an increased need for technical support and expertise. Cue your IT department! Whether that department is one dedicated professional or a team caring for all your private-independent school’s devices and software licenses, these people work hard to keep your school safe and moving forward into the 21st Century. But sometimes it can feel like your priorities and theirs aren’t on the same page. Here, then, are some tips on how to work well with your IT department.

School gardens certainly gain popularity this time of year, when the day lengthens and the air grows warm. While it’s a nice, “feel good” sort of activity, there are other advantages to having an agricultural bent to your curriculum, like chicken therapy. (No, really! “Bird therapy” has helped at least one student’s attention span.) Continue reading for four more interesting facts about garden and horticultural programs schools are using to engage students and community alike.