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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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See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
Four Critical Ways the Board Supports the Annual Fund
Board of Trustees // December 20, 2013
When it comes to the annual fund campaign, it is essential that Trustees not only set a strong example, but that they lead by example. As donors, their participation level must be 100%. They are viewed as “insiders” by your school’s constituent groups—if they don’t provide enthusiastic support, why should anyone else?
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The Roles of the Board Vice President
Board of Trustees // December 20, 2013
The demands on a Board President are considerable, and the second-in-command can do much more than stand ready to take the reins in the President’s absence. Other than waiting in the wings to assume the President’s position when absent or disabled, what tasks logically fall into the Vice President’s purview?
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“How Can I Give When I’m Already Paying Tuition?”
Advancement // December 19, 2013
Your phone rings, and it’s an outraged parent on the other line, demanding to know why they’ve received a request to make a gift to the Annual Fund. “I just paid the tuition bill for this semester!” they say. “How could you ask me to give even more! It’s the holidays, and money’s so tight right now. I don’t know if I can give gifts for my family this year, let alone the school!”
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Holiday Tips for the Development Office
Advancement // December 19, 2013
Happy New Year! Okay, it’s a little early to say that, but it would serve you well to start thinking about December 31st now. Conventional wisdom and research show that most charitable giving occurs during the last week of the year, with the most donations occurring on the last two days. (Of course, the tax deadline incentive helps with that philanthropic phenomenon.)
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Admitting Legacy Students
Advancement // December 12, 2013
You care about your former students, whether they go on to become chemists, priests, or teachers just like the ones who inspired them in your school. You want them to remember their days in your classrooms fondly, reflecting their accomplishments with pride to their own children. And – if you and your school have done a superb job – perhaps they will wish to enroll their son or daughter in your private-independent school.
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Correcting Mistakes and Second Chances: Misinformation in the Application Process
Advancement // December 12, 2013
As hard as we try to perfect important school forms and paperwork, it’s inevitable that mistakes occur. Acknowledging this basic fact of life can make you more understanding when you notice errors in a student’s application. That said, you should make allowances for blunders made innocently while recognizing and confronting those made purposefully.
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Controversial Paid Maternity Leave
Private School News // December 10, 2013
Paid maternity leave is a benefit to which many U.S. employees are not accustomed. Most companies have moved away from offering paid maternity leave, opting instead to follow the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regulations, which protects employees in organizations with 50 or more workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave. (The United States is one of only eight countries out of 188 with known maternity policies that does not enforce paid maternity leave.) In 2012, only 9% of employers provided new moms with full maternity disability salary, down from 17% in 2005. Who can blame Human Resource Managers for playing it safe when discrimination claims and lawsuits have been statistically increasing?
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Homework: What It Is and What It Could Be
Private School News // December 10, 2013
Homework! Students hate doing it, parents hate policing it, and teachers hate assigning it. In recent years, current homework philosophy has come under fire by teachers, administrators, and parents alike. Modern students bear a heavy homework burden, and schools rarely offer solutions to rectify the situation.
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Teacher Evaluations: Help Yourself by Helping Others
Private School News // December 10, 2013
In a recent article, Education Week questions the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s donations in terms of the quantity, quality, and focus of allocated funds to K–12 education. At the forefront of their examination lies the foundation’s recent focus on teacher-related research and programs. One such applied-research experiment, their Measures of Effective Teaching or MET, focuses on a multifaceted approach to teacher evaluation geared toward public education. Its efficacy has yet to be fully vetted, though early analysis appears optimistic.
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Donor Recognition: Appealing and Gratifying to the Donor
Advancement // December 9, 2013
When choosing your means of thanking contributors to your fund-raising campaigns, keep each major donor’s identity and interests in mind. Public recognition is a secondary motivation for many donors. Peer identification can be seen as a positive business or social by-product, and you may find many “public” settings in which to perform continued recognition.
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