Community Corner

Community Corner
Community Corner

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?

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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.

Are Student-Led Conferences Right for Your School?

Academic Leadership // June 12, 2018

Parent-teacher conferences are often a cornerstone of schools’ parent communication strategies. Parents and teachers come together to discuss each student’s progress, identity areas that may need attention, and help families feel that their children are getting the best education possible. But there is another format for conferences that your school might consider. Student-led conferences are growing in popularity.

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When the Board President Should (and Shouldn’t) Vote

Board of Trustees // June 12, 2018

The Board President is the person responsible for conducting Board meetings. Often, however, the President is torn between the desire to express personal views on an issue and the need to generate and moderate discussion in an unbiased manner.

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Four Tips for New Division Heads

Academic Leadership // June 12, 2018

May is probably a busy time in your school as end-of-year activities ramp up, students prepare for summer break, and the academic leaders work together to solidify plans and processes for the following school year. Part of those plans may mean hiring new Division Heads or other academic leaders to join your team. It’s then up to you and your fellow administrators to help these new faces transition into your culture, learn and uphold your school’s mission, and become part of your community.

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Three Places to Evaluate Your School’s HR Practices

Business and Operations // June 11, 2018

Human resources practices that aren’t compliant with the law can be a source of risk for many private-independent schools. When it comes to managing new hires and current employees, these risks are often related to different forms of discrimination.

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Questions You Must Ask When It Comes to Your Insurance Policy

Business and Operations // June 11, 2018

Risk management must be an intentional process for the Business Office. It must be as much a part of your workflow as managing finances or facilities. A primary way to protect your school from risk is through insurance policies. As the office primarily responsible for selecting and buying insurance, how can you confirm that your policy truly transfers risk and provides the protection you’ve paid for?

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Five Ways to Help Your Faculty Adopt New Technology

School Heads // June 5, 2018

Despite how pervasive technology has become, you probably have more than a few faculty members who are reluctant to incorporate new technology into the classroom. This can be problematic for many reasons. It’s the responsibility of educators and administrators to best prepare students for a quickly changing job market, starting with the intersection of technology and education.

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The Impact of Smartphones on Concentration and Cognitive Abilities

Private School News // May 31, 2018

Smartphones have become an integral part of most people’s everyday routines. Researchers say that Americans check their phones every 12 minutes on average, totaling 80 times per day. With the proliferation of smartphones infiltrating every aspect of our lives, researchers wanted to know—how does even the presence of a smartphone impact one’s ability to concentrate and use cognitive abilities?

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A Checklist to Consider If You Use Drones at Your School

Private School News // May 31, 2018

Drones are becoming more commonplace in schools across the nation. We provided three tips for responsible drone use last year, and are following up with a few more guidelines that your school could incorporate into your official protocol if you use drones on campus.

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