Stay current with the latest private-independent school news.
What are the latest trends impacting private-independent school enrollment? How can you be the most effective in your role as an administrator? How can you help your school meet its mission and best serve your students?
Sign up to receive Community Corner, a free newsletter from ISM.
We cover such topics as how to communicate with your constituencies, work with your fellow school leaders, leverage new technology trends, utilize recommended reading and resources, implement new strategies—all to better serve your school's mission.
Join more than 30,000 private-independent school administrators and have Community Corner delivered right to your inbox.
Search
See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
Avatars—Making Their Way to the Classroom?
Academic Leadership // May 25, 2011
As a Division Head, focusing your faculty on the students and their learning is one of the most important roles you have. New ways of teaching can be auditioned, but how to know if they will work?
Read More
Identifying and Controlling Water Activities Risk
Business and Operations // May 24, 2011
Memorial Day is right around the corner. I&Ps less than a week away! Besides having an extra day away from the office, Memorial Day also marks the opening of most community pools, and the start of most summer league swim teams. Anytime there is more than an inch of water involved in an activity, there are risks to be aware of.
Read More
Crisis Leadership Lessons From “Blue Bloods” (Editorial)
Business and Operations // May 24, 2011
I’ve become a big fan of the TV series Blue Bloods. Starring Tom Selleck as Frank Regan, a fictional New York City Police Commissioner, the beautifully written and acted show chronicles the intersecting public and private lives of the widowed commissioner’s close-knit Irish-Catholic family, who are all in the “family business” of law enforcement (retired cop, streetwise detective, sharp assistant district attorney, and idealistic rookie cop). It struck me while watching the dramatic season finale last week that the episode offered some excellent lessons in crisis leadership.
Read More
It’s Not What You Think—It’s What You Know
Advancement // May 19, 2011
As the Development Director, you need to cultivate your donors and prospects, and give them reasons to get excited about supporting your school. You need to understand who these individuals are, what their passions are, and how they connect to the mission of your school. The more you listen and learn, the better able you will be to make an effective appeal.
Read More
Ask Michael
Business and Operations // May 18, 2011
Q: We don’t provide faculty members (or any other employees) with written performance evaluations. Is this a problem?
Read More
Human Resources Isn’t Social Work (or Paperwork)
Business and Operations // May 18, 2011
With human resources professionals slowly gaining more acceptance as a necessary part of the administrative team in many private schools, this month we wanted to take a broad look at two types of HR professionals. Consider the following conversation.
Read More
The Head as the Face of Your School’s Advancement
School Heads // May 9, 2011
The fact is that there are fewer new donors out there giving to fewer institutions, but these donors are giving bigger gifts to the institutions they are supporting. It is more important than ever that the School Head play an active role in qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and recognizing your donors.
Read More
Combating Spring Allergies
Advancement // May 9, 2011
What to do when the allergies arrive with the great weather and render you sneezy? And what to do when these eye-watering, itchy, congested, sniffling symptoms carry over into the summer months, along with pollen, heat, summer air pollution, stinging bugs, and more weeds. It almost doesn’t pay to go outside after breathing indoor air all winter, but no way are you staying inside! You deserve some outdoor relaxation.
Read More
According to a New Study Teachers Ill-Prepared to Teach Cybersafety
School Heads // May 9, 2011
“Kids and teens have embraced the digital world with great intensity, spending as many as a eight hours a day online by some estimates,” comments Michael Kaiser, Executive Director of the National Cyber Safety Alliance, StaySafeOnline.org. “Yet, America’s schools have not caught up with the realities of the modern economy. Teachers are not getting adequate training in online safety topics, and schools have yet to adopt a comprehensive approach to online safety, security, and ethics as part of a primary education. In the 21st century, these topics are as important as reading, writing, and math.”
Read More
Saying Goodbye to the Seniors: Students and Graduation
Advancement // May 9, 2011
Graduation day is almost upon you—another group of young adults is about to take the education that they have learned at your institution and apply it to the outside world.
Read More