As the School Head or Business Manager, you know how much the school spends to provide employee benefits. It’s frustrating when faculty, staff, and administrators do not take advantage of these programs to the fullest, don’t value them, or, worse yet, don’t even know they exist. This tends to be a reality in most organizations—not just schools. In our fast-paced society, unless people perceive that the information directly pertains to them, it may sometimes be hard to gain their attention.
Reinvent Your Whole-Faculty Meetings
Whole-faculty meetings—the phrase alone makes eyes glaze over. Administrators often view these sessions as a necessary evil. Teachers routinely consider them one of the least productive uses of their time.
Is Tuition Remission a Legitimate Employee Recruitment and Retention Strategy?
Many school leaders view tuition remission as a teacher and staff recruitment and retention tool, and a means of keeping competitive with other private-independent schools. However, tuition remission often turns the employee-school relationship into a business transaction. School Heads and Boards often claim that they have to offer this perk—otherwise good candidates will be lured to other schools. And it’s not just teachers and staff. This benefit is often an intrinsic part of the contract for the Head and other administrators as well.
How to Provide Predictability and Support to the Division Head
Predictable and supportive environments are the bedrock on which all great schools are built. We have observed schools suffering from poor leadership and precarious finances—but the culture often keeps a school going steady. Schools that once had strong financial stability began to erode when the predictable and supportive culture was overtaken by toxic elements.
How Teachers’ Stress Impacts Student Outcomes
Everyone experiences stress related to their jobs. But a recent study highlighted how stressed-out teachers can negatively impact student outcomes—and your school as a whole.
Four Tips for Navigating a Meeting with Unhappy Parents or Guardians
It’s inevitable that you’ll be called into meetings with unhappy parents or guardians from time to time. Since parents pay tuition for their child to attend your school, some can feel that they can make demands on teachers, administrators, and the curriculum itself. If they don’t feel they’re getting their way, they may call for a meeting with you.
Attracting and Retaining the Best Faculty
Every independent school must hire, develop, and retain the best faculty to deliver upon its mission and the Portrait of the Graduate. You need qualified teachers who are committed to your mission, can connect with your students, and contribute positively to the faculty culture. You hold tight to those pied piper teachers that embody the school’s Characteristics of Professional Excellence. How do you attract and retain such teachers?
Four Tips for New Division Heads
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.
Are Student-Led Conferences Right for Your School?
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.
The Importance of Positive Parent-Teacher Relationships
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.