SAIS produces a monthly e-newsletter, Signals, as a service to our membership. Browse the archives below to view past issues (formerly HeadLines) and articles. To sign up for SAIS e-newsletters, create an account (see the My Account menu), or use the following form if you are not with an independent school.
August 7, 2025 SignalsWhat’s Trending? Trend Tracker & Strategic Refusal MatrixWhat’s Possible? Strategic Approaches to Faculty Growth; Sharing Your Brand With Authentic StorytellingWhat’s Essential? Cybersecurity Challenges and Solutions; Supporting the Anxious StudentWhat’s Next? Annual Conference
June 3, 2025 SignalsWhat’s Trending? Trend Tracker & Pulse Perspectives (2024-2025 pressing issues)What’s Possible? Idea to Impact: Heads Reading RecommendationsWhat’s Essential? AI Sandbox: A Summer Learning PlaygroundWhat’s Next? Institute for New Teachers
May 1, 2025 SignalsWhat’s Trending? Trend Tracker & Pulse Perspectives (advancement professionals and marketing & communications professionals)What’s Possible? New Staff & Faculty Onboarding; New Family OnboardingWhat’s Essential? Leadership Retreats; Financial and Facility PlanningWhat’s Next? Summer Conference
April 3, 2025 SignalsWhat’s Trending? Trend Tracker & Pulse Perspectives (counselors)What’s Possible? Faculty Feedback; Outdoor EducationWhat’s Essential? Data Governance; Faculty EvaluationsWhat’s Next? Summer Conference
March 6, 2025 SignalsWhat’s Trending? Trend Tracker & Pulse Perspectives (heads of school)What’s Possible? Student-Run Media; School Mergers and AcquisitionsWhat’s Essential? Interviewing; Onboarding and Mentorship ProgramsWhat’s Next? Women’s Leadership Institute
February 6, 2025 SignalsWhat’s Trending? Trend Tracker & Pulse Perspectives (academic support educators, DEIB practitioners, and curriculum professionals)What’s Possible? Optimizing AI in the Development Office; The Portrait of an EducatorWhat’s Essential? Recruiting Top Talent; Risk Management for Independent SchoolsWhat’s Next? New & Aspiring Leaders Institute
January 9, 2025 SignalsWhat’s Trending? Trend Tracker & Urgency MatrixWhat’s Possible? From Idea to Impact; Parent Engagement That WorksWhat’s Essential? Structuring Faculty Compensation and Employee Agreements; Cultivating Major GiftsWhat’s Next? Academic Support Conference
December 5, 2024 Signals: What’s Trending? Trend Tracker, Pulse Perspectives: Academic & Division Leadership, What’s Possible? Starting With a Deficit and Saving a School, A Futurist Approach to Strategic Planning, What’s Essential? Developing Dashboards, Leading for the Long Term: Retention and Feedback Strategies, What’s Next?
November 7, 2024 Signals: What’s Trending? Trend Tracker, Pulse Perspectives: Ed Tech, What’s Possible? Supporting Student Well-Being With Intention, Reimagining Alumni Engagement, What’s Essential? Tuition and Affordability FastStats, Making Meetings Meaningful, What’s Next?
October 3, 2024 Signals: What’s Trending? Trend Tracker, Pulse Perspectives: Heads of School & Enrollment Management, What’s Possible? Developing Core Values That Resonate With Your School Community, AI and Adaptive Technology, What’s Essential? Exploring Endowments, Effective Scenario Planning, What’s Next?
September 5, 2024 Signals: What’s Trending? Trend Tracker, Pulse Perspectives: Business Office, What’s Possible? Maintain Teacher Autonomy While Adopting AI Schoolwide, Dialoguing Across Difference, What’s Essential? Developing Effective Teams, Time Management and Productivity, What’s Next?
August 1, 2024 Signals: What’s Trending? Trend Tracker, Pulse Perspectives: Heads of School, Counselors, Advancement, What’s Possible? Preparing Students for an Ever-Changing Future, Should Schools Say No to Smartphones? What’s Essential? Leading Through Polarity Toolkit, Crafting Effective AI Prompts, What’s Next?
May 2, 2024 Headlines: Letter From SAIS Trustee Doreen Kelly, The Head’s Transition, Fast Stats: Essential Questions, SAIS Appoints Director of Brand & Communications, Summer Reading List, Administrative Leadership Institute, Summer Conference, Upcoming Events
April 4, 2024 Headlines: Letter From SAIS Trustee Jackie Westerfield, School Stories: A Journey of Transformation at Carolina Day School, Counseling Professionals Survey Results, Wellness Resources, Embracing Continuous Enrollment: Overcoming Challenges & Maximizing Benefits, Summer Conference, 2025 SAIS Board of Trustees Nominations, Upcoming Events
March 7, 2024 Headlines: Letter From Former SAIS Trustee Jeff Mitchell, Effective Faculty Orientation & Mentoring, The Head of School Interview, Adding Up, Resources for Recruitment & Retention, SAIS Career Center, Institute for Heads, Upcoming Events
February 8, 2024 Headlines: Letter From SAIS Trustee Autumn Graves, Welcome New SAIS Board Members, Supporting & Retaining Talent, We Need to Talk: Preparing for Difficult Conversations, Navigating Financial Success & Mission Alignment, SAIS + MISBO + ST @ NAIS Reception, New & Aspiring Leaders Institute, Upcoming Events
January 11, 2024 Headlines: Letter From SAIS Trustee Stuart Gulley, Campaign Readiness: Is Your School Prepared?, Resources for Identifying and Supporting Executive Function Skills in the Classroom, Introducing the New SAIS Member Compass, Traveling Our Pathways of Diversity, SAIS DEI Institute, SAIS Advancement Institute, Upcoming Events
December 7, 2023 Headlines: Letter From SAIS Trustee Kavita Vasil, Make Sure Your Employment Agreements Include the Three P’s, Lessons for Women in Leadership: Stop Saying These Two Phrases, Key Insights From the 2023 Security Survey, Kindness in Our Communities, Annual Conference Call for Proposals, Institute for Athletic Directors, Upcoming Events
November 2, 2023 Headlines: Letter From SAIS Trustee Doug Norry, FastStats: A Comparison of Teacher Salaries in SAIS States, Service Learning, Giving Tuesday, 2023 Annual Conference Review, Curriculum Symposium, Women’s Leadership Institute, Upcoming Events
October 5, 2023 Headlines: Letter From SAIS Trustee Nancy Foy, SAIS President Announcement, The Intersection of Learning Differences & Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence in Education, Get Ready for the Annual Conference, Contribute to Our HeadLines eNewsletter, Optimizing the Board/Head Partnership, Coaching: Finding Your Fit, Upcoming Events
September 7, 2023 Headlines: Letter From SAIS Trustee Will Kesler, Reinventing School, Distinguished Service Awards: Doreen Kelly & Dennis Manning, Welcome Jill, Curriculum Review, The What/Why/How of DASL, SAIS Board of Trustees Nominees, Upcoming Events
August 3, 2023 Headlines: Letter From SAIS Trustee Brett Jacobsen, Congrats & Welcome, When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic & What You Can Do About It: An Interview With Jennifer Wallace, Benefits of Serving on an SAIS Accreditation Team, Good Governance, SAIS Staff Update, SAIS President Search Update, Upcoming Events
May 18, 2023 Headlines: President’s Letter, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, SAIS Search Update, Summer Planning for the Next School Year, Are Print Books Better for Learning Than Digital Text?, Opportunities to Support Your New Teachers, 2024 SAIS Board of Trustees Nominations, Upcoming Events
April 20, 2023 Headlines: President’s Letter, An Interview with Devorah Heitner on Digital Well-Being, Big Picture Reflections to Inform Your Faculty Onboarding Re(Design), Suicide Prevention & Supporting School Community After a Loss, School Stories: Student Wellness Programs, SAIS President Search Update, 2024 SAIS Board of Trustees Nominations, Upcoming Events
March 23, 2023 Headlines: President’s Letter, Faculty & Stuff Hiring: A Concierge Approach, Feedback as Furthering: The Three C’s, Engaging Challenging Parents, Board Self-Assessment, Evaluating the Head of School, News You Can Use, Reflect & Reset in Sarasota, Upcoming Events
February 23, 2023 Headlines: President’s Letter, Vetting Candidates Throughout the Hiring Process, Employee Benefits in SAIS Schools, The Smartest Person in the Room, The Head’s Role in Cultivating Leaders, SAIS Career Center, Submit a Session Proposal, Upcoming Events
January 26, 2023 Headlines: President’s Letter, The Strategic Value of an Interim Head, ChatGPT: Understanding the Tool & Implications for Our Classrooms, Powerful School Partnerships, DEI Institute Speaker Spotlight, Employee Benefits Survey, Submit a Session Proposal, Upcoming Events
December 8, 2022 Headlines: President’s Letter, Building Teams, The Head of School Database: First-Year Findings, School Stories: Why Worldview? A Call to Christ, A Call to Virtue, Four Benchmarks That Predict a Successful Capital Campaign, Reviewing Enrollment Contracts, Data Collection Tools for Financial Planning, Upcoming Events
November 10, 2022 Headlines: President’s Letter, Values That Bind and Divide Us, Considerations for an Evolving Legal Landscape: Student Pregnancy on Campus, Learning Restoration in the COVID Era: A Study of SAIS Member Schools, 2022 SAIS Annual Conference Recap, SAIS Academic Support Conference Preview, We’re Hiring, Upcoming Events
October 13, 2022 Headlines: President’s Letter, Fundraising Trends, The Power of Process, Essential Questions for New Leaders, Using Data Science to Enhance Your School’s Perceived Value & Financial Vitality, Child Safety & Protection Resources, SAIS Volunteer Opportunities, 2023 SAIS Trustee Nominees, Upcoming Events
September 15, 2022 Headlines: President’s Letter, Update: Nonprofit Status & Federal Financial Assistance, School Safety & Security, Board & Governance Resources, School Stories: Back to School Events, Preview: SAIS Annual Conference, Distinguished Service Award, 2023 SAIS Trustee Nominees, Upcoming Events
August 18, 2022 Headlines: President’s Letter, Independent School Associations’ Response to Federal Court Ruling, Welcome & Congratulations, Dodging Potholes: An Open Letter to New Heads of School, School Stories: How Do You Celebrate Your 175th Birthday?, School Community Feedback Survey Trends, Volunteer Opportunities With SAIS, Upcoming Events
May 5, 2022 Headlines: President’s Letter, SAIS Board of Trustees: Call for Nominations, Leadership Transitions, Investing in Early-Career Teachers, School Climate and Student Well-Being, SAIS Accreditation: Jumping Through Hoops or Getting Engaged, Summer Reading List, Governance Resources, Upcoming Events
April 7, 2022 Headlines: President’s Letter, SAIS Board of Trustees: Call for Nominations, Work and Wellness, School Stories: The Mount Vernon School’s Innovation Diploma, Mental Health and Students Athletes, Suicide Prevention and Supporting the School Community After a Loss, FastStats, Serenity in School Leadership, SAIS Connect, Upcoming Events
March 3, 2022 Headlines: President’s Letter, Helping Students Understand Current World Events, The Ins & Outs of Social Media, School Could Be Real Life, Powering On, Congrats Junior, Parent-Teacher Conferences, Upcoming Events
February 3, 2022 Headlines: President’s Letter, Reinventing the Interview, What Employees Want: Post-Pandemic Retention Strategies, Recruiting & Retaining Diverse Faculty & Staff, Black History Month Resources, School Stories: Culture With Intentionality, Developing Onboarding Procedures, Required Skills & Responsibilities, Upcoming Events
January 13, 2022 Headlines: President’s Letter, School Is Not Reality, School Stories: The John Crosland School, Partnering With Classroom Teachers to Support All Students, Service Learning in Middle School, Executive Functioning Skills for All Students, Career Center Offers Member Benefits, Upcoming Events
December 2, 2021 Headlines: President’s Letter, FastStats: Financial Health Trends, Getting Your Financial House in Order, Financial Wellness, Traditions & Celebrations, Fundamentals Conference, Developing Financial Policies, Upcoming Events
November 4, 2021 Headlines: President’s Letter, Dashboard Dive, Financial Planning Tools, Data Science Standards, School Stories: We Have a Data Breach, SAIS Surveys, Cybersecurity Pitfalls, SAIS Distinguished Service Award, Upcoming Events
October 7, 2021 Headlines: President’s Letter, Amanda Ripley Interview, Working Through Conflict With the Board, Annual Conference Reading List, SAIS Distinguished Service Award, Leading Through Conflict, Effective Board Governance, Upcoming Events
September 9, 2021 HeadLines: President’s Letter, 2021-22 HOS appointments, FastStats: Director of Communications, Communications in SAIS Schools, Calming Crisis, A Checklist for Crisis Planning & Preparation, Beyond the Open House, 2022 SAIS Trustee Nominees, Upcoming Events
August 12, 2021 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Vaccine & Mask Survey Results, Measuring Student Well-Being, Improving Support for Mental Health, The Second Pandemic, Rebuilding Community, COVID-19 Resources, Upcoming Events
May 6, 2021 HeadLines: President’s Letter, FastStats: Pandemic Impact on School Indicators, Financial Health, Strategic Steps to Design the Future of School, Lifelong Learners vs. Skill-Seekers, In-Person Events, Training for Your New Teachers
April 8, 2021 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Post-Pandemic Skills for School Leaders, Learner-Center Education, Leading With Integrity, Post-COVID Entrepreneurship, In-Person Events, Upcoming Webinars, SAIS Board of Trustees: Call for Nominations
March 11, 2021 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Working With Parents, Campus Tours, Designing With Intention, Fundraising Lessons, Summer Conference, Upcoming Webinars, In-Person Events
February 11, 2021 HeadLines: President’s Letter, DEI in Independent Schools, Pollyanna Position Paper IV: Looking for a Partner, Insights From Derrick Gay, Three Reasons to Be Optimistic About Fundraising in 2021, Women’s Leadership Institute, In-Person Conferences
January 14, 2021 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Strategic Planning 101, Eight Predictions for Education in 2021, Webinars, Virtual Conferences, The Reckoning Begins, In-Person Conferences
December 3, 2020 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Learning From Crisis, Upcoming Webinars, Buckle Your Seatbelts! Navigating the Path to 2021-22, Winter 2021 Virtual Learning Opportunities, Parent Ambassadors, 2021 Events
November 5, 2020 HeadLines: President’s Letter, FastStats: NAIS & SAIS Students & Personnel of Color, Quick Tuition Study: 2019-20 Data, Buckle Your Seatbelts! Navigating the Path to the 2021-22 School Year, 2021 Learning Opportunities, Knowledge Center, Upcoming Webinars
October 8, 2020 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Shifts & Opportunities on the Path Ahead, SAIS 2020: Are You Registered Yet?, Jon Meacham Looks to Lessons From History & Meet Reuben Brigety, 2021 Learning Opportunities, Thank You Sponsors, October Webinars
September 10, 2020 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Will It Still Matter Who Gets In & Why?, Conference Breakouts Span Variety of Topics, Jon Meacham Talks About His New Book, Webinars for Heads & Boards, Author Chat With Debby Irving, Webinars for Admin & Faculty
August 13, 2020 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Return to Campus Resources, SAIS Virtual Conference, Community Well-Being, 2021 SAIS Board of Trustees Nominee, Active Learning & Physically Distanced Classrooms, Virtual Learning Opportunities
May 14, 2020 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Summer Programs, Virtual Summer Conference, Returning to Campus, The World of Higher Ed, Tuition Considerations, Connect & Learn With SAIS
April 9, 2020 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Communicating About Refunds, Staying Grounded, Legal Guidance, Next Steps for School Leaders, Resources for Managing Difficult Times, COVID’s Impact on Education, Call for SAIS Board of Trustees Nominations, Upcoming Webinars
March 12, 2020 HeadLines: President’s Letter, 10 Ways to Prepare for Coronavirus, Coronavirus Webinar Takeaways, Coronavirus on Campus, Student Wellness Trends, Webinar Recordings, Call for SAIS Board of Trustees Nominations, Upcoming Webinars
February 13, 2020 HeadLines: President’s Letter, FastStats, Heifer International, Authentic Connections/SAIS Partnership, Share This With Parents, SAIS @ NAIS, Upcoming Webinars
January 16, 2020 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Managing Cyber Risks Webinar, Highlights, ISM, Disaster Recovery as a Service, LinkedIn’s Changes to Lynda.com, SAIS @ NAIS Reception, Authentic Connections/SAIS Partnership, Upcoming Webinars
December 5, 2019 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Head Contracts and Compensation, Compensation Strategy Resources, Southern Teachers, Financially Challenged Colleges, Student Wellness Webinar, January Professional Development
November 7, 2019 HeadLines: President’s Letter, FastStats: Compensation Trends, Annual Conference Wrap Up, Mills Uniform Company, January Professional Development, Head Contracts and Compensation, In Case You Missed It
October 3, 2019 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Compensation Strategies, SAIS Board of Trustee Nominees, The Carney Sandoe Commitment, Distinguished Service Award, Fall Magazine, Wage & Hour Law Update, In Case You Missed It
September 5, 2019 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Hurricane Resources & Support, Antitrust Investigation, FastStats, SAIS Board of Trustees Nominees, Stop School Shootings, SAIS Annual Conference, Cognia, Quick Links, Compensation Strategies
August 8, 2019 HeadLines: President’s Letter, SAIS Annual Conference, Governance Guidance, Transcript Consortium, SAIS Board of Trustees Nominees, Summer Recap, Book Review, Professional Development
May 9, 2019 HeadLines: President’s Letter, Women in Leadership Retreat, Collaboration Grant Report, FastStats, Summer Events, VR in the Classroom, SAIS Staff News, College Admissions
April 4, 2019 HeadLines: An Honor Well Deserved, Above and Beyond, Towards a More Humane High School Schedule, NAIS Recap, Book Review
March 7, 2019 HeadLines: College Interviews, Collaboration Grant Report, The Value of Intellectual Humility, Retaining Top Talent, and Book Review
February 7, 2019 HeadLines: FastStats on Faculty Salaries, Crisis Response, Book Review, and Re-enrollment Help
January 10, 2019 HeadLines: Tabletop Safety Drills, Financial Aid, Snow Days, Book Review, and President’s Letter
