After a contentious Board meeting, the following may be a discussion between two Trustees in the school parking lot.
“Why does the School Head keep bringing Leadership Team members to our meetings? It sure throws a wrench into our sessions. It just says to me the Head doesn’t know what’s going on in the school. Without other administrators’ input, they can’t answer our questions.”
School headship has always been challenging, but the proliferation of failed headships in private-independent schools during the past five years has illuminated the profound significance of the “match” between School Heads and schools (and their primary constituencies). One key Stability Marker (Stability Marker No. 3) for school success relates to leadership quality and the Head’s well-being. So, how do mismatches happen?
Taking over an upper school division this summer? Whether you were internally promoted or are new to the school community, the first 100 days are a critical time to set the tone of your leadership and establish a culture of trust, open communication, and student-centeredness.
In this webinar, Rebecca Zug (Head of Upper School at Wilmington Friends School, DE; a member of ISM’s Summer Institute faculty) will discuss strategies for planning your initial months and building strong relationships.
One of the primary components of successful independent school headship is building an effective Leadership Team.
In this webinar, Scott Wilson—ISM Consultant, Platinum Executive Coach, and long-time School Head—will explore the importance, the realities (challenges), and the nuances of developing a strong Leadership Team. Regardless of school size, mission, and profile, leaders must nurture and inspire the members of their administrative staff, both as individual professionals and as a cohesive and aligned team.
Only School Heads truly understand the burden of the school calendar and the hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly requirements of their role as leaders of their institutions. The job’s demands and the Head’s sense of responsibility to the school can be overwhelming and can force School Heads to lead a “work addiction” existence. Such a life is unhealthy for all parties: the Head, the Head’s family and friends, and the school itself.
Collaboration between your Board, your School Head, and your Advancement Team (Marketing Communication Professionals, Development Directors, Admission Directors, and enrollment managers) is essential to successfully achieve your enrollment and fundraising goals.
As you look ahead to the 2023–24 school year, how can you think strategically about this collective approach?
Bring your questions to our Q+A style webinar! The following panelists will share their experiences and provide expert insight:
In this webinar, Scott Wilson—ISM Executive Leadership Department Head and Platinum Executive Coach—will explore the importance of school culture and why school leaders must consider it closely now. He’ll also discuss how school culture relates to student and parent satisfaction, as well as faculty and staff recruitment and retention.
The hiring process is a time-consuming endeavor, especially when it comes to interviews and assessments. How do you ensure your evaluation methods capture the most information about a candidate in the limited time available?
Performance assessments are an excellent way to determine if a candidate possesses the values and mission-specific qualities you seek. In this webinar, Shannan Schuster—ISM Consultant and Platinum Executive Coach—explores how incorporating performance assessments can provide more comprehensive information than other methods.
Recruit Trustees confidently to develop an efficient Board that sustains your school’s strategic plan.
Assembling a great Board starts with understanding ideal Board structure and developing a rich Board profile that will guide member selection. Join our webinar to learn how easy it is to build Board excellence to support your mission.
Once you have your Board profile, the real work begins!