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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?
Check out Community Corner, a free blog 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.
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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
How to Use the Net Promoter Score (NPS) in Your Private School Marketing
Marketing Communications // July 11, 2021
When 90% of consumers trust the opinions of their friends and family for key buying decisions, private schools can’t afford to leave word-of-mouth marketing to chance. To effectively measure family loyalty to your school, you’ll need to invest resources into establishing a routine customer satisfaction feedback loop for your students, parents, and even your teachers.
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2021 Recommended Summer Reading for Private School Leaders
School Leadership // July 11, 2021
The summer months are a perfect time for reflection, creating new goals, and brushing up on skills. Pick up these books to learn and grow so you’re ready to take on a fresh school year this fall.
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What Private School Business Officers Need to Know About the LIBOR to SOFR Transition
Business and Operations // June 20, 2021
As a private school Business Officer, you need to stay on top of changing regulations and how they can impact your school. If your school currently uses the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR) for your financial contracts (including lines of credit, loans, and interest rate swaps), we have some valuable news to share.
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Beyond the Checkbook: Successful Development Planning for Your School
Fundraising // June 20, 2021
Raising money to deliver the school’s mission with excellence is a primary goal of a private school’s Development Office. But “big asks” aren’t everything. A truly compelling development agenda digs deeper, with long-term goals leading the way.
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How to Analyze Your Website Like a Marketing Pro and Increase Admission Fast
Marketing Communications // June 20, 2021
You may not be a trained marketing expert—and there’s nothing wrong with that! But if you find yourself wearing the marketing hat, you’re not alone. Many administrators must think like marketers—at least when they plan to use their websites to increase admission.
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How to Keep Kids Safe Online
Academic Leadership // June 6, 2021
The days of handing kids a device and telling them to “be safe” are long gone. Online safety has evolved, even in the last year, and, as educators, you must adjust your guidelines, advice, and protection to accommodate even your school’s youngest digital citizens.
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A Year Like No Other Sheds Light on the Year to Come for International Student Recruitment
Enrollment Management // May 23, 2021
As the final term descends toward exams and graduations, there is no better opportunity for an honest look inward to put those lessons to use: what worked, what didn’t, and how can the collective academic community employ best practices for ushering in a thriving international student program.
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5 Must-Know Trends for Raising Major Gifts Post-COVID-19
Fundraising // May 23, 2021
More donors may be willing to engage in annual giving, with just a few others interested in capital gifts. An even smaller number of those donors may plan a transformational gift (possibly as a part of an estate planning process). With these limitations in mind, you can adjust your approach using these five trends to help you engage with donors post-COVID-19.
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9 Reasons ISM’s Summer Institute Is the Only Professional Development You Will Need This Year
School Leadership // May 23, 2021
You need concrete tips, road maps, and specifics on how to recover from and flourish in a post-pandemic education system. Every summer ISM offers 20+ topic-focused online workshops as a part of our Summer Institute. Here’s why this real-life, expert, and data-led professional development will be the only one you need all year.
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Website First Impressions—Much Like Job Interviews,You Only Get One
Marketing Communications // May 16, 2021
Websites come in all shapes and sizes. Whether a large budget was allocated or costs were reduced by in-house development, a website is often the first interaction a consumer has with a business or organization. As the proverbial first impression, there is little room for error—second first impressions simply don’t exist. Many private schools consider their website to be a marketing tool. After all, the product—the school itself—is the main focus. In business, websites are indeed the star of the marketing plan. A persuasive retail site attracts visitors with flash and discounts, and increased traffic typically results in a boost in sales.
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