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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
How to Create Unskippable Videos
Advancement // June 7, 2017
Video is a strong medium to incorporate into your school’s advertising mix. After all, what better way to communicate your school’s story than by showing a day in the life of your students? Therefore, the question isn’t if you should focus on video marketing. You absolutely should! Instead, ask yourself: How do we create videos that capture and hold viewers’ attention, generating buzz and interest in our school?
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How to Counsel Out the Ineffective Trustee
Board of Trustees // June 6, 2017
Although it is unfortunate, Board leaders often find themselves dealing with one or more Trustees who have become ineffective in their Board roles. While various issues can lead to this ineffectiveness—burnout, disinterest, overextension, etc.—any Trustee who is not meeting expectations poses a threat to the Board’s morale as well as overall success.
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Indicators of School Crime and Safety
Board of Trustees // June 6, 2017
Creating a “safe haven” for the students at your school is a major Board concern, and making sure all necessary protocols and policies for school safety are in place is a must. With this in mind, consider the report, Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2015, released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics in May 2016.
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Keep Your Professional Development Initiatives Fresh This Summer
Private School News // June 2, 2017
Professional development should be an ongoing focus for every private-independent school. It’s a core ISM philosophy that quality, career-long professional development for faculty and staff directly correlates to higher levels of student engagement, satisfaction, and performance. There are always new things to learn, different methods to try, and gains to be made from personal reflection.
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3 Ways to Ensure Responsible Drone Usage
Private School News // June 2, 2017
Every new technological development comes with potential risks, and recent advances in drone science are no exception. While drones certainly have the ability to enrich the classroom experience, there are safety risks and etiquette steps to keep in mind at your school.
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What Benefits Employees REALLY Want
Private School News // June 2, 2017
Attracting and retaining the brightest, mission-appropriate talent at your private-independent school is no simple task. As a School Head or administrator, you know all too well that, when the conversation turns to employee benefits, negotiations can heat up a notch. More than competitive salaries, today’s educators look for work/life balance benefits—flexibility, paid leave, and enriching professional development opportunities. For some schools, this means a complete benefits overhaul that transforms dated employee handbooks and benefit packages to meet the needs of today’s workers.
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Retaining Millennials
School Heads // May 17, 2017
Millennials are now the largest generation in the U.S. workforce, superseding Gen Xers and the rapidly retiring Boomers. The Internet has been trying to prepare us for this moment for years, publishing article after article about adapting the workplace for Millennials. It was hard to know what to listen to and what to shrug off. After all, this was a generation still in high school and college, how could they know what they want in a workplace—they hadn’t experienced it yet. However, the moment has arrive—now we must listen to this generation’s differing needs or we will find ourselves with extremely low employee retention.
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Reducing Risk When Hiring Vendors and Contractors
Business and Operations // May 17, 2017
Summer is rapidly approaching, which usually offers a slightly slower pace around campus. With students enjoying their summer break, most schools take advantage of the opportunity to renovate, expand facilities, and make changes to the campus that during the school year would be more difficult to schedule. Renovations usually entail the use of vendors and contractors—exposing your school to risks associated with contractual workers.
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Three Basic Questions Head Candidates Should Ask About the Planning Document
School Heads // May 17, 2017
Most School Head candidates familiarize themselves with a prospective school’s history and general prospects. They typically review various advancement and marketing materials, the website, and social media efforts. They may even seek constituencies’ viewpoints on issues, goals, and opportunities that may impact the next headship.
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Designing and Maintaining Safe Playgrounds
Business and Operations // May 17, 2017
When considering playground equipment and layout, you should keep in mind three different age groups—infants and toddlers under two, two- to five-year-olds (preschoolers), and five- to 12-year-olds (school-age kids). Different-age children will use different playground equipment, and you will need to design your outdoor play area with all of their developmental needs in mind
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