The spring is a busy time for administrators who work in admission, enrollment management, development, and marketing communications. As your team works together to attract, select, and accept new students, you may also consider adding new administrators to your ranks. Hiring new employees during an already stressful and hectic period isn’t easy. But it’s imperative to manage this process well and take care of candidates through every step in your hiring process.

The summer is no time for rest in the Admission Office. Chances are that there may still be open seats for the upcoming school year and you’ll be working through the summer months to fill those spots. But tours can feel less lively in the summer. There isn’t the usual hustle and bustle that lets prospective families see classes in action and students enjoying activities and programs.

We have often cited that every private-independent school should live by its mission, making each decision with this statement in mind. Along with the mission, ISM recommends that schools create their full Purpose and Outcome Statements.

Helping students learn problem-solving and collaboration skills will be essential to their future job success. In today’s global workforce, employees must be able to work together across geographies and time zones to solve problems, generate solutions, and effect change. School leaders are charged with empowering students to learn these fundamental competencies through their curricula and programs.

Your School Head of 20 years is about to retire and your Search Committee has been unable to find a new Head who “fits” your school’s current strategic goals. You’ve decided to select an Interim Head, a temporary position for the upcoming school year, until a new Head can be found for the following year.

As an experiment, ISM suggests that your Board list the top strategies or actions you would take if you wanted your school to fail utterly. Then put systems and processes into place to avoid these scenarios. The following nine ‘icebergs’ are likely to sink your ship, resulting in insolvency, weakened organizational stability, and increased bureaucracy.

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.

If your school’s mission includes an emphasis on leadership and community involvement, a student council is often a great way to help students learn and share these skills. A student council can be a key driver in cultivating leadership skills for students in the middle and upper levels

There have been 306 shootings on school campuses in the U.S. since the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, according to Everytown For Gun Safety. As horrible as it may be to think of an active shooter at your school, it can happen. This type of event is usually random and can occur with little or no warning (or where warning signs were missed).

Your school probably uses vendors in some capacity to help support your operations. This could include transportation, food service, contractors or builders, coaches, outside facilities management, medical professionals, office suppliers, and more. While most schools engage with vendors, many do not use best-in-class contracts or agreements to solidify their working relationships. This can expose the school to significant risk and potential financial loss.