Thanks to smartphones, the Internet, and social media, the news cycle is now 24-7-365. Being prepared to communicate and respond during a crisis is more critical than ever. While most schools have adopted a Crisis Management Plan, far fewer have taken their preparedness to the next level—creating a Crisis Communication Plan. Although having both plans may seem redundant or unnecessary, there is an important difference between the two.
How to Manage Expectations When You’re Out of the Office
There are certain times when your duties as School Head will cause you to be out of the office or otherwise interfere with your regular routine. You may be hard at work cultivating donors for an upcoming major gifts campaign or creating a new strategic plan with your Business Office and Board.
Use This Summer Program Checklist to Protect Your Students and School
As April arrives and you prepare for your school's summer program, ensure you’re following a risk management protocol to protect your students and your school. Give this risk-management checklist to your Summer Program Director to help you maintain the safety of your campus and your students.
The ISM Stability Markers: The Fifth Iteration
The fourth iteration of the ISM Stability Markers® comprised 18 variables, each of which, according to ISM’s internal reviews, correlated with private-independent schools’ ability to sustain excellence over time. In the fifth iteration shown following, our revised perspectives have resulted in 15 Stability Markers. Benchmarks, weighting, points of reference, and methods of calculation have been updated to conform to ISM’s current position on each marker.
Sexual Orientation and Harassment: Policies to Establish a Safe Environment
Every private-independent school must recognize that some students—and faculty, staff, parents, and other constituents—may be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). Many students question their sexual orientation as they struggle to find their identity. This brings pressures to schools to examine their policies and practices. Be prepared to respond to harassment incidents within your community—regardless of whether these incidents involve children or adults.
The 'Best Practices' Trap
The phrase “best practices” has been in widespread use for some time. In private-independent schools, the phrase at times means that Trustees or senior administrators intend to turn to a meaningful and pertinent data array—such as those compiled and maintained by the best accreditation associations. School leaders often use that array as a framework, to develop benchmarks against which to measure their school as it moves to first strengthen, mission-delivery excellence and, then, its position in the marketplace.
Communicate End-of-Year Changes Effectively
It’s getting warmer, the days are getting longer and, yes, we are quickly approaching the end of the school year. No doubt spring brings excitement to your hallways, but there’s still much to do before the school year concludes.
As School Head, you must navigate the changes that will take place at the end of the year.
How to Manage a Sudden Enrollment Shift
It can be a worst-case scenario for a School Head. You work with your team to solidify your budget months in advance, and plan for the coming school year accordingly. But, in August, you realize that fewer students enrolled than you had planned, or perhaps an unexpected increase in expenses surfaces.
STOP SV: A Technical Package to Prevent Sexual Violence
This technical package represents a select group of strategies based on the best available evidence to help communities and states sharpen their focus on prevention activities with the greatest potential to reduce sexual violence (SV) and its consequences. These strategies focus on promoting social norms that protect against violence; teaching skills to prevent SV; providing opportunities, both economic and social, to empower and support girls and women; creating protective environments; and supporting victims/survivors to lessen harm. The strategies represented in this package include those with a focus on preventing SV from happening in the first place as well as approaches to lessen the immediate and long-term harms of SV.
Why the Well-Being of the School Head Matters
Research proves that the well-being of the School Head can have a profound impact on the school. ISM recently conducted an investigation into how the well-being of the School Head truly impacts school outcomes, including faculty culture, student enrollment, and the Head’s own long-term success.