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What are the latest trends impacting private-independent school enrollment? How can you be the most effective in your role as an administrator? How can you help your school meet its mission and best serve your students?
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We cover such topics as how to communicate with your constituencies, work with your fellow school leaders, leverage new technology trends, utilize recommended reading and resources, implement new strategies—all to better serve your school's mission.
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Why Teachers Quit
Private School News // February 27, 2014
In a recent Huffington Post article, young professionals regard teaching as a “starter job” rather than a career choice. It's something noble to do for a few years, but new teachers leave for other professions. Maybe you’ve struggled with a “revolving door” at your private school, resulting in expensive and morale-killing teacher turnover. In cases like this, keeping new talent in the classrooms can seem like an impossible task. The first step in retaining excellent teachers is to discover why they quit.
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“Welcome! Bienvenue! Huanying!”—Three Benefits of International Students
Private School News // February 27, 2014
International students can be an enormous boon to your private-independent school, but are you taking full advantage of the opportunities they offer? Read on if you’d like to find three reasons why your foreign students’ presence can give your private-independent school a boost.
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Electives: What Should You Offer?
School Heads // February 25, 2014
Two weeks ago, ISM's Deans e-List buzzed with some questions on elective requirements and offerings. As you learn more about the talents of your students and faculty to prepare programs for the next academic year, now is the perfect time to consider adding dynamic new electives.
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Winter Playground Safety
Business and Operations // February 25, 2014
If you’re in the northern part of the country, you’ve been bombarded with snowfall after snowfall this year. Even some of the Southern states have seen icy, slippery conditions this season. And, what does snow bring with it besides snow days? Increased recess safety risks.
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Mac vs Microsoft: Don’t “Scroogle” Your Advertising Strategy
School Heads // February 25, 2014
(Picture credit to Whos.gr) Advertising goes beyond a branded color scheme and happy pictures. All pieces of your school’s marketing should be a part of a single cohesive vision, and as the School Head, part of your responsibility is to steer that overall strategy. Let's take a close look at two advertising campaigns for computers and associated programs that have run in the last few years by two different companies. Each told a similar story with its advertising, but one succeeded while another failed. Though not school examples, there are lessons we can take away for your own marketing campaign.
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Communicating Emergencies
Business and Operations // February 25, 2014
Winter weather has caused tricky situations for many schools this season. There certainly has been no shortage of snow days taken—meaning lots of opportunities to test your school’s notification process to families of closings and late openings. If you’re located in the Northeast, you may have ironed all of the wrinkles out of your process already. However, if you’ve had more than one confused communication with your families, faculty, and staff regarding changing operation hours, these tips will help you adjust your policies for future winters.
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Q&A With ISM’s Risk Manager
Business and Operations // February 25, 2014
Q: I’ve heard the term “Reverse Evacuation.” What exactly does that mean?
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School Is Five Days a Week (Except When It's Not)
Academic Leadership // February 21, 2014
There can be little doubt that most—if not all—schools east of the Mississippi River have lost required class time, thanks to a spate of winter storms and arctic vortexes determined to keep everyone at home and off the roads and playgrounds. Schools across the country are scrambling to compensate for the lost class time, but how they do it varies from place to place.
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Prep for the Test!
Academic Leadership // February 21, 2014
Private-independent school students are blessed in many ways. One of their advantages is the lack of state-mandated standardized tests that plague the public school sphere. Still, your students will serve their time filling in bubble sheets with #2 pencils when they take the SSAT or the ISEE for future private schooling, or even the SAT I & II and ACT tests for their college applications. (Side note: More students have taken the ACT than the SAT since 2012!)
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Marijuana: A Legal Drug on Campus
School Heads // February 20, 2014
As more states move to legalize marijuana, it's surprising not to find more chatter about how schools are affected. In fact, until Education Week published an article about it in its January 8, 2014, issue, we hadn’t found much at all outside the norm of statistics and headlined, random stories.
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