Early in the COVID pandemic onset, ISM published an I&P article discussing the merits of a school making a marketplace shift—decreasing tuition to be more accessible to a broader socioeconomic population. That article discussed our concerns and recommendations for carrying out a primary market stance shift from high tuition to low tuition.
Managing the Assimilation of a New Division Head
As School Head, you have devoted time, effort, and likely paid a hefty placement fee to a search firm to find the perfect candidate for an open Division Head position. The new person is accomplished, experienced, and confident. However, within a few months—and maybe even weeks—there is apparent friction between the new Division Head and the teachers they are expected to lead
What the School Head Should Target When Interviewing Admission Director Candidates
As School Head, you have selected the best candidates to visit your school for the Admission Director position. They are all qualified. Knowing you must establish a comfortable working relationship with the new Admission Director, you use the interview to choose the applicant with the best “chemistry.” However, having a friendly relationship with the candidate is not everything. Moderate disagreement might help the school sharpen its approaches to marketing and student recruitment. Too much agreement often leads to “group think,” while too much disagreement can prove too discordant.
The Headship: Leadership and the ISM Circle
The number-three ranking ISM Stability Marker—School Head leadership—is measured by the ISM Executive Leadership Survey.3 The first five items of the survey are shown here by example. Your review of these will inform the discussion that follows.
Preparing for the Unforeseeable
Economic downturns, natural disasters, and worldwide pandemics—events not only unforeseeable but sometimes interrelated and feeding off one another—will not be going away. As Board President or School Head, seize the opportunity in times of relative normality to keep these facts of institutional life in mind when your Board assembles for its regularly scheduled strategic planning sessions.
Your Questions Answered: How to Start Next Year Off Right as a New School Head
The start of a new job is an exciting time—enthusiasm and a dose of apprehension often go hand in hand. For a new School Head, the imminent responsibilities and expectations are unique. We recently answered several questions about taking on a new School Head position. We want to share the answers with you here.
Do Schools Need to ‘Catch Kids Up’ After COVID?
As education thought leaders, we have observed with interest recent debates about how to “catch kids up” from their “academic learning loss” after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. We certainly agree students have missed out on powerful and lasting learning from hands-on social activities that have been drastically modified or canceled altogether over the last year.
Leave the Stress Behind to Make Your Next Hire a Success
Hiring the best candidates in any industry can be challenging, especially during a pandemic. The stress and time-consuming nature of finding and hiring the right person for a specific role too often leads to settling for an “adequate” placement—not a “best hire.”