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Webinar Recording – Fixing the Future: Tackling Deferred Maintenance

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Five Indicators Every Independent School Should Track and Leverage

Introduction While independent schools vary in mission and model, the fundamentals of financial health are remarkably consistent. This article will present five essential indicators that every independent school head, trustee, and senior leader should have “at the ready,” – figures […]

January 2026 Signals

Hello there, I hope your well-deserved break allowed for moments of rest and meaningful time with family and friends. Before enrollment agreements, staff contracts, and budget planning come fully into view, I invite you and your team to pause and […]

Mission in Motion: Strategic Branding and Messaging That Spark Action

Schools talk about brand, but how does one differentiate in a crowded market? That’s the challenge top of mind for nearly 30 percent of SAIS marketing and communications professionals (Pulse Perspectives, May 2025). Though nearly 20 percent of MarCom pros […]

The First Years Matter: Research Insights on Early Career Educators

To better understand the experiences of early-career professionals in independent schools, SAIS partnered with Dr. Carrie Grimes from the Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in the fall of 2025 on an extensive research project. The research included a survey to […]

Next-Level Leadership: Developing Strong, Cohesive Leadership Teams

Attracting and retaining qualified faculty and staff, as well as balancing daily demands with strategy, are among the issues keeping heads of school up at night (SAIS March 2025 Pulse Survey). To be able to delegate and allow others to […]

BOARD BULLETIN: Recalibrating Strategic Direction: Keeping Vision and Action Aligned

By Dr. Brett Jacobsen, SAIS President In today’s dynamic educational landscape, independent schools cannot afford to let strategy gather dust on a shelf. A board’s ability to set, monitor, and adapt strategic direction determines whether the school’s mission evolves with […]

BOARD BULLETIN: Leading Through Relationships: The Power of Community Engagement

By Dr. Brett Jacobsen, SAIS President In every independent school I visit, one truth consistently stands out: schools thrive not just because of great programs or facilities, but because of the strength of their community. Trustees, as stewards and ambassadors, […]

BOARD BULLETIN: Strengthening the Board-Head Partnership

By Dr. Brett Jacobsen, SAIS President One of the most important factors in a school’s long-term success is the strength of the partnership between the board of trustees and the head of school. When this relationship is grounded in trust, […]

BOARD BULLETIN: Introducing the Governance Health Index

By Dr. Brett Jacobsen, SAIS President Across the independent school landscape, governance challenges are growing more complex. From rising stakeholder expectations to increased financial and strategic pressures, boards and heads are being called to lead with sharper alignment, deeper trust, […]