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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
How Will You Recognize the Qualified Interim Head?
Board of Trustees // April 24, 2018
Your School Head of 20 years is about to retire and your Search Committee has been unable to find a new Head who “fits” your school’s current strategic goals. You’ve decided to select an Interim Head, a temporary position for the upcoming school year, until a new Head can be found for the following year.
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Nine ‘Icebergs’ That Can Sink Your Ship
Board of Trustees // April 24, 2018
As an experiment, ISM suggests that your Board list the top strategies or actions you would take if you wanted your school to fail utterly. Then put systems and processes into place to avoid these scenarios. The following nine ‘icebergs’ are likely to sink your ship, resulting in insolvency, weakened organizational stability, and increased bureaucracy.
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The Importance of Positive Parent-Teacher Relationships
Academic Leadership // April 17, 2018
Teachers and parents provide a vital support system to help students flourish. Both groups are important. But, when parents and teachers communicate and work together effectively, it can significantly impact each student’s long-term success.
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Four Strategies to Strengthen Your School’s Student Council
Academic Leadership // April 17, 2018
If your school’s mission includes an emphasis on leadership and community involvement, a student council is often a great way to help students learn and share these skills. A student council can be a key driver in cultivating leadership skills for students in the middle and upper levels
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Preparing Your School for an Active Shooter
Business and Operations // April 9, 2018
There have been 306 shootings on school campuses in the U.S. since the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, according to Everytown For Gun Safety. As horrible as it may be to think of an active shooter at your school, it can happen. This type of event is usually random and can occur with little or no warning (or where warning signs were missed).
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What Should Vendor Contracts Include?
Business and Operations // April 9, 2018
Your school probably uses vendors in some capacity to help support your operations. This could include transportation, food service, contractors or builders, coaches, outside facilities management, medical professionals, office suppliers, and more. While most schools engage with vendors, many do not use best-in-class contracts or agreements to solidify their working relationships. This can expose the school to significant risk and potential financial loss.
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How to Manage Expectations When You’re Out of the Office
School Heads // April 3, 2018
There are certain times when your duties as School Head will cause you to be out of the office or otherwise interfere with your regular routine. You may be hard at work cultivating donors for an upcoming major gifts campaign or creating a new strategic plan with your Business Office and Board.
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Use This Summer Program Checklist to Protect Your Students and School
School Heads // April 3, 2018
As April arrives and you prepare for your school's summer program, ensure you’re following a risk management protocol to protect your students and your school. Give this risk-management checklist to your Summer Program Director to help you maintain the safety of your campus and your students.
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International Travel Tips to Keep in Mind This Spring
Private School News // March 28, 2018
Spring can be a busy travel season for many people. Whether you’re planning a spring break trip or a summer getaway for yourself or your family, or chaperoning a school-sponsored outing, there are certain suggestions we recommend everyone know before they go abroad. We’ve compiled a list of tips that U.S. travelers should keep in mind when leaving the country. Perform your due diligence and share these tips with other travelers to ensure your trip is a seamless and easy experience.
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Four Recommendations for Surveying Your Parent Body
Private School News // March 28, 2018
It can be easy to assume that your entire parent body “wants a new technology center” or “won’t pay more in tuition” from anecdotes or a small, highly vocal group. But the only way to truly understand what your parents want is through a well-designed survey. This tool enables you to gather the honest opinions of your entire parent body, not just those whose voices rise above the rest.
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