Blogging can be one of the easiest and most reliable ways to get your private school’s message onto the Web and into the community. However, worries about the time commitment or whether you have anything of interest to say can stop your school from publishing that first post. To inspire you for next year, here are four private-independent school administrators who are doing a marvelous job blogging their school’s mission to cyberspace—and whose example you can follow in your own blog.
Dane Peters’s “Dane’s Education Blog”
Peters served as the School Head of the Brooklyn Heights Montessori School for 11 years, leaving behind a legacy of professional development so strong that the school has a fund dedicated to continuous education for faculty in his honor. Today, his blog aggregates fantastic TED talks, books, interviews, and articles of interest for parents, teachers, and private school administrators alike.
While no longer directly promoting his former school, Peters’s blog nonetheless demonstrates the priorities and philosophy of his school. Using a similar format as a “content aggregator” to illustrate your school’s dedication to mission could be a simple and (relatively) quick way to get the word out on the Web.
Noteworthy posts:
- “It Was the Children,” featuring an NPR interview with a Mormon bishop who stood as a homeless man outside his church
- “A Conference Call in Real Life,” featuring a TED talk and a hilarious re-enactment of common meeting failures
- “The Triple Package of Success,” featuring Peter’s own article “Is Good Best,” as well as a TED talk and a NY Times article on the same topic
Michael Ehrhardt’s “Thoughts Between Class”
Ehrhardt is the Head of Cary Academy, a 6–12 private-independent school in Cary, North Carolina. The blog is a friendly mix of original content in the form of school news, as well as other content from sites like edublog. Most notably, Ehrhardt uses the blog as a great way to demonstrate his school’s mission of “discovery, innovation, collaboration, and excellence” by using these touchstones as themes for posts.
By combining personal anecdotes with the school’s mission, Ehrhardt allows for a deeper and more intimate connection with a seemingly abstract philosophical goal.
Noteworthy posts:
- “Luck,” featuring a discussion of the school’s debate team and the nature of chance on competitions. (It’s listed under the “Discovery” category.)
- “Makers,” featuring a story about duct-tape wallets and the need to preserve teamwork and innovation throughout a child’s educational years. (It’s listed under the “Collaboration” and “Innovation” categories.)
- “Sleep,” featuring a TED talk and study on the importance of sleep and its impact on performance, particularly the brain’s “processing” capabilities and “memory consolidation.” (It’s listed under the “Excellence” category.)
Steven Tobolsky’s “Head of School Blog”
As Head of the Chestnut Hill School in Newton, Massachusetts, Tobolsky’s school blog focuses less on presenting interesting outside sources than using those sources as a launching point for his own take on an issue. In light of all the legislative changes and cultural backlash surrounding private-independent education in the U.S. and abroad, Tobolsky takes a proactive approach. Rather than waiting for the media to put words in his mouth, he speaks first.
Noteworthy posts:
- “The Either-Or Fallacy,” featuring a discussion on the public sphere’s tendency to focus on one subject to the detriment of others, rather than a more Renaissance-style education
- “Girl Power,” featuring a great video on girl empowerment and reminding us of the changes Title IX has brought to all schools
- “Facts and Values,” featuring a list of recent educational paradigms and the difference between learning facts and absorbing values.
Mike Davis’s “Head of School’s Blog”
Davis has served as Colorado Academy’s School Head since 2007. In his blog, Davis becomes the “one stop shop” for the small, weekly anecdotes within school walls that wouldn’t make it to a newsletter or website snippet. Like Tobolsky, Davis uses these stories as a touchstone to share his school’s own views and mission. No event is too small—and no topic too grand—for Davis’s Head of School blog.
Noteworthy posts:
- “Doing Something Good,” featuring a Colorado Academy seventh grader’s presentation of a book she cowrote with a professional photographer on life in Haiti and “demonstrating the tenacity [they] love at CA”
- “Little Things Make Big Things Happen,” featuring a plethora of small news items like a collaborative art & music project by the second graders and a reenactment of the Second Battle of Bull Run by the fourth graders—all illustrating that small efforts collectively comprise an excellent education
- “Remarkably Sage Advice,” featuring wise words from CA kindergarteners for graduating seniors—gems include “Don’t randomly go into the wrong bathroom at a restaurant” and “Always be fancy at parties”
Additional ISM resources:
Private School News Vol. 12 No. 7 Five More Top Educator Blogs
ISM Monthly Update for Division Heads Vol. 11 No. 7 Four #EdTech Blogs to Bookmark
Private School News Vol. 12 No. 2 Education Blogs You Should Be Reading
Additional ISM resources for Gold Consortium members:
I&P Vol. 37 No. 4 Look Beyond Your Traditional Marketing Allies
I&P Vol. 27 No. 11 Cyber News: Designing Your Online Newsletter
I&P Vol. 35 No. 3 The Growing Importance of Technology in Parent Communications
