Stay current with the latest private-independent school news.
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?
Check out Community Corner, a free blog from ISM.
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.
Search
See articles for School Heads, Business & Operations, Advancement, Academic Leadership, and Trustees, in addition to Private School News.
4 Ways to Ensure a Successful Community Service Program
Academic Leadership // November 13, 2017
Many schools have incorporated community service into their mission to show their students how to become global citizens with hearts for helping others. An integral part of delivering this value is an ongoing focus on service learning.
Read More
The Benefits That Millennials Really Want
Business and Operations // November 7, 2017
Millennials first entered the workforce about 10 years ago and abruptly changed office dynamics. Their standards and values are so different from boomers and Gen Xers that they didn’t just cause small ripples through common work processes—large adjustments have become necessary to remain competitive.
Read More
Price, Product, Process: Choosing Your Competitive Marketplace Position
Business and Operations // November 7, 2017
When it comes to your school’s mission and the value you offer to families, you can’t be all things to all people. Many schools fall into the trap of trying to offer the best programs, the smallest class sizes, and the most accomplished graduates—all for a lower price than the competition. In our experience, this simply cannot be done. We instead encourage schools to choose their competitive marketplace position and keep every strategic decision in line with this stance.
Read More
How Small Schools Can Approach a Major Gifts Program
Advancement // November 7, 2017
Small schools face an unique set of challenges when it comes to major gifts. With a modest staff and possibly smaller network within the community, it can seem like a daunting task to run a major gifts program. However, we’ve found that many of the challenges small schools believe they face are based in perception, not reality.
Read More
6 Ways to Use the Characteristics of Professional Excellence
School Heads // November 2, 2017
We often refer to the Characteristics of Professional Excellence: A list of specific behaviors, values, and attitudes that every school must create to illustrate how its faculty acts to meet the school’s mission and helps mold its intended graduates. ISM has developed a broad list of Characteristics of Professional Excellence that includes 35 items we believe should help guide private-independent school educators’ actions and behaviors.
Read More
How to Prepare for Your Next Board Meeting
School Heads // November 2, 2017
All School Heads face the same dichotomy when it comes to the Board: You are the Board’s sole employee and are expected to receive direction from its members. Yet, you are the person in the school each day. Board meetings are times when the whole Board comes together. Each meeting is the perfect time to help influence the Board’s operations and demonstrate your skill as a leader. Preparing effectively for each Board meeting is essential.
Read More
Stress Is Contagious: Don’t Let It Spread in Your School
Private School News // October 26, 2017
Recent research shows that stress can indeed be contagious within your school. Researchers from the University of British Columbia conducted a study of more than 400 elementary school students from different grade levels. They examined students’ cortisol levels, finding that students who tested higher for the stress hormone also had teachers who reported higher levels of burnout.
Read More
3 Tips for Giving Productive Feedback as a Mentor
Private School News // October 26, 2017
Most administrators at a private-independent school take on the roles of mentors at one point or another. Whether that’s working with members of the faculty or staff, helping a new hire come up to speed, or managing a department, giving effective and useful feedback can greatly impact your school culture.
Read More
How Are Your International Students Adjusting?
Private School News // October 26, 2017
As November quickly approaches, it is a good time to start evaluating how your international students are acclimating to their new experiences. Students should be settled into their routine and aware of elements that are uncomfortable or hindering to their progress.
Read More
Online Courses: How Do You Compete?
Board of Trustees // October 24, 2017
Keeping up with technology has become a chief concern for many schools, often representing a major portion of their budgets each year. Private-independent schools, competing with public and charter schools that typically have greater available funding, find this particularly troublesome.
Read More