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Do You Have the Right Department Chairs?
Business and Operations // November 30, 2011
For some time now, ISM has been writing and speaking about the need for the “department chair” role to change from an “honorary” or “figurehead” role to that of an active manager, coach, and mentor. (For lower schools, this includes “coordinators” or similarly named quasi-administrator roles). This perspective will take on more relevance as we introduce our new evaluation and growth cycle model in the coming months. If you agree with this assertion, the question becomes, “Are your current department chairs well-equipped for taking on new “management” duties?
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Managing Risk by Understanding Your Insurance Policy
Business and Operations // November 30, 2011
One way to manage risk is to transfer the risk to someone else. The most common form of this approach is the purchase of insurance. For a fee (premium) you transfer the responsibility to pay for a loss (less any deductible), to an insurance company.
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Ask Michael
Business and Operations // November 30, 2011
Q: We see that you keep writing about “Characteristics of Professional Excellence.” What would we use this for? Is it just another meaningless list that we’ll put a lot of time and effort into and then put it on a shelf to collect dust?
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Performance Perspectives From the Blogosphere
Business and Operations // November 30, 2011
Blogs, forums, chat rooms, listservs—the list goes on and on. These are valuable resources to find alternative opinions and information about almost anything. From HR concerns to just needing a quick laugh to fuel the rest of your day, blogs can help remind you you're not alone in the all to often chaotic world of private-independent education.
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Cyberbaiting: Get Your Social Media Policy in Place
Academic Leadership // November 30, 2011
Cyberbaiting is a real problem. According to the Norton Online Family Report—which tracks online habits of youth—one in five teachers has experienced cyberbaiting.
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Lessons From the Penn State Scandal
Business and Operations // November 30, 2011
During the past few weeks, college football fans—and the nation at large—have witnessed a scandal engulf an esteemed university (Penn State) and its legendary football coach (Joe Paterno). For private school leaders, the question is: What can we learn from the scandal so that our schools avoid such a fate?
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Virtual Bookstores
Business and Operations // November 29, 2011
Technology has certainly helped streamline the book buying and selling back process. Now, parents, faculty, and students can buy, rent, and sell textbooks online without much hassle at all. It seems the largest bother nowadays is deciding on what bookstore vendor to use for your school.
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Trapped Under An Elevator
Business and Operations // November 29, 2011
Even in the safest school environments, student curiosity can become a risk. A recent story published by the Huffington Post describes how student exploration can go wrong.
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Green Corner
Business and Operations // November 29, 2011
Ten Eco-Tips for the Holidays Originally published on care2.com by Kelly Magill. The holidays are here! Along with the holiday spirit, a few extra pounds, and a happy but hectic hustle, this time of the year can be very wasteful. This year, however, you don’t need to feel guilty for going all out in your celebrations. We’ve come across an article that’s packed with tips on how to minimize your holiday footprint.
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The Homework Debate
Academic Leadership // November 29, 2011
In “At Elite Schools, Easing Up a Bit on Homework,” the New York Times reports that a group of elite New York City private schools has decided to give over-programmed students a breather. Dalton School will stagger tests and papers, as well as push midterms back so students can actually relax during the holiday break. Hunter College High School has established three “homework holidays.” The Horace Mann School now has a tutoring center for students to help get it all under control.
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