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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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Perspectives from the HR Blogosphere
Business and Operations // October 20, 2011
Blogs, forums, chat rooms, listservs—the list goes on and on. These are valuable resources to find alternative opinions and information about almost anything. From HR concerns to just needing a quick laugh to fuel the rest of your day, blogs can help remind you you're not alone in the all to often chaotic world of private-independent education.
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Ask Michael
Business and Operations // October 18, 2011
Q: We offer faculty 10-month contracts (August 15–June 14). As a practical matter, though, we often ask faculty to stay a few days after the end of the contract in June to wrap things up after students have left for the summer, as well as having them come in for a few days over the summer for various reasons. I’ve heard a few faculty grumble about “not getting paid for this.” How can we address this?
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Rethinking Faculty Performance Evaluations
Business and Operations // October 18, 2011
School has been in session for almost two months now—leaves are changing colors; faculty, staff, and students have settled into the routines of the academic year; and you’re feeling that you can take a breather for a moment or two before budget season gets into full gear. You lean back and think … "now is the perfect time to rethink our faculty evaluation process.”
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Learn To Relax Now To Avoid Future Long-Term Disability
Business and Operations // October 11, 2011
Stress, even mild stress, can have an impact on your health, and if the title of this article caused you to swallow hard, you’re already at your limit. A study published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health tracked more than 17,000 working adults up to the age of 64 in Sweden for about six years. During the monitoring period, 649 people started receiving disability benefits—203 for a mental health issue, and the remainder for physical health concerns. They concluded that those with higher levels of stress were up to 70% more likely to be rewarded long-term benefits.
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Green Corner
Business and Operations // October 11, 2011
Green Your Back to School Routine This article was originally published on theenvironmentalblog.org With all the craze involved in getting back to school…be it elementary school, middle school, high school, or college, it never hurts to take a different approach with the new school year. Greening your back to school routine is simple and can save you some money, too. Let’s go over some tips that will help benefit the environment and your wallet:
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Reducing Student Risk With Up-To-Date Medical Records
Business and Operations // October 11, 2011
Having updated student medical records is one of the easiest ways to protect your students. Counselors, teachers, and administrators should be aware of a student's health condition in case of an emergency or sudden illness.
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Thinking Grant Writing for Foundation Support? Think Again.
Advancement // October 10, 2011
A question came up on the ISM Advancement listserv about foundation support as a source to secure funding for a school. There’s money out there that corporations and foundations just want to give away, right? Well, not so much.
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21st Century Development: It’s All About Engagement
Advancement // October 10, 2011
Steve Denning, author of The Leader’s Guide to Radical Management, writes in his blog that 20th century management focuses “achieving a finite goal of delivering goods and services, to make money.” In the 21st century, the focus of management is “the infinite goal of delighting customers” and by meeting that goal, the company will make money. Making money is not the goal, but it is the result of meeting the goal.
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Build Your Resource Library With Recommendations From Our Heads
School Heads // October 4, 2011
Plumstead Christian School (PA) Head Patrick Fitzpatrick posted on the ISM Just for Heads listserv that he was building a resource library to encourage faculty development and asked for recommendations. “In your opinion, what are must-have books that will directly benefit my faculty with an increased ‘teaching toolbox,’ ideas that will inspire, stories to encourage, etc.”
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Healthier School Lunches
Private School News // September 30, 2011
Three years ago, Jamie Oliver shocked America when his TV show Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution revealed the truth behind a typical school lunch in West Virginia.
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