Whew! You made it. Crossing the finish line of the 2024–2025 school year has never felt more rewarding. I want to take this moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that has defined school leaders across our association. The […]
Resources for Building Community During the May Heads Virtual Roundtable, several SAIS school heads — through the lens of their mission and vision — shared valuable research and resources they’ve put into practice and the meaningful impact these efforts have […]
One challenge in building an effective, collaborative board is the relatively long time between meetings (even if they seem to pop up every time you turn around). This often limits the opportunity to deeply discuss the key issues facing the […]
It All Starts With Your School’s “Why” Recruiting and retaining qualified faculty and staff remains a top concern for heads of school, according to a recent pulse survey. The onboarding experience for new faculty and staff sets the foundation for […]
The final stretch of the school year is here! It’s a season filled with a powerful mix of celebration, reflection, and anticipation. As you honor the extraordinary work that has unfolded behind the scenes, it’s also the perfect time to […]
4 Strategies for Implementing a New Family Onboarding Program As one school year ends, another quietly begins—with the arrival of new families preparing to join the community. The transition over the summer months is more than a logistical process; it’s […]
Mission, Maintenance, and the Margin Independent school leaders are navigating an increasingly complex financial terrain where sustainability pressures, program excellence, and facility upkeep converge. In the February SAIS heads pulse survey, 29% of respondents named financial sustainability among the top […]
With a few months left in the school year, a familiar tension has likely settled in —the anticipation of wrapping things up, paired with the fatigue that accumulates after months of deep investment. While feeling stretched, the calendar is packed […]
How Outdoor Education Programs Benefit the Entire School Community What’s one program that your school could add that would positively impact all of your students, as well as parents and your surrounding community? A program that would simultaneously support curriculum, […]
Moving Beyond Evaluations to Comprehensive Growth Plans Independent schools are rethinking faculty growth and evaluation by moving beyond compliance-driven models toward approaches that foster professional learning, trust, and shared accountability. By uncoupling growth from evaluation, schools can establish clear expectations […]
