Released January 2012.
Structure the Schedule Change Committee for Success
As a school explores a schedule change, leadership often appoints a committee to oversee the process. ISM’s research found 63% of schools formed a “schedule change committee” before revising their schedule, whether they used ISM to design their schedule or not. They do this for at least one of three reasons: to gather data, to cultivate ideas and perspectives, and to facilitate teacher “buy-in.” A committee or its members might collect survey data, visit other schools to observe an “innovative schedule” in action, attend an ISM scheduling workshop, and run discussion groups. It may also be charged with developing and modifying prototypes, and then recommending a design to the leadership.
Compensation Fairness: Emerging Realities
You, the School Head, employ a 10th-grade female English teacher. She earns $65,000 and has 15 years of experience. You also have an 11th-grade male science teacher. He also has 15 years of experience, but because science teachers are difficult to find and retain, you pay him $80,000 per year. Is this fair?
Support Your Teachers With a Better System for Growth and Evaluation
Many teachers feel evaluations are less about supporting effective teaching and more about fixing what is perceived to be wrong. These evaluations erode trust between administrators and teachers, because teachers often don’t feel supported—they feel judged.
2019 Recommended Summer Reading for Academic Leaders
The summer months are a perfect time for self reflection, level setting, and creating new goals. We have a few summer reading picks that are perfect for academic leaders. Read on for our 2019 recommendations for summer reads and resources.
Be Aware! Disruptive Change Might Come Sooner Than You Think
Dramatic change happens slowly in education. The last major innovation, one that changed the nature of schooling, was the invention of the Carnegie unit in 1906. It was adopted so long ago, and has become so ingrained in the way education is done, educators are astounded that 120 hours of instruction is still the unit of measurement for determining students’ progress for the next level. While many people thought the technology revolution would create disruptive innovation for schools, the personal computer and the internet have not impacted the education industry in the way they have in the working world. Online, blended, and computer-adaptive learning have remained largely a supplementary experience, and have not reduced faculty or even the need for brick-and-mortar schools as some had thought. The school experience is still one teacher, in front of a group of students, in a room, delivering a largely standardized curriculum.
Four Tips to Guide Your Growth as an Academic Leader
Academic leaders act as an essential bridge within the school. Here are four tips to grow your personal and professional leadership skills so you can continue to support your direct reports, students, and school.
How to Create an Effective Teacher Induction Program
You know how critical it is to select the right teachers for your school, and give them the proper tools and experiences to excel in your environment. There are a host of things that a new teacher needs to understand. This is where an induction program can help.
The Top 15 Actions Sure to Derail Your Schedule Change Initiative
As independent schools jockey for a position in a competitive marketplace, there are at least three strong forces pushing them to change:
Department Chairs: Private School Leaders, Coaches, and Mentors
The Department Chair must balance the roles of leader and colleague. When it comes to academics, they should be part of creating and implementing the school’s strategic academic plan.