RG175 Blog

First-year heads need thought partners. In fact, all heads need thought partners.What is a thought partner? They are the head’s key administrators who show signs of intelligence, imagination, and buy-in to the head’s emerging vision for the school. As new heads develop their political capital, engen... read more

In October 2016 The Harvard Business Review published a fascinating study of effective educational leadership. “The One Type of Leader Who Can Turn Around a Failing School” is an in-depth research project on educational leaders in England who were charged with transforming under-performing public sc... read more

In recent years I have read many independent school strategic plans that are strikingly similar to each other; it’s as if they came from a clearinghouse of pre-packaged strategic goals. The goals are laudable—better facilities, more diversity, greater access, STEM and STEAM. However, their ubiquity... read more

Despite the slight uptick in enrollment over the past year, many independent schools continue to face enrollment challenges. Too often these challenges are met with quick fixes that provide temporary comfort, but are ineffective and often detrimental in helping the school attain long-term financial... read more

In my last blog entry I discussed the pros and cons of closed vs. open searches. Though certainly critical to the outcome of the search, the paradigm of closed versus open misses a larger point—the consultant’s important role in helping the search committee identify real leaders. Although search com... read more

Process and outcomes are inextricably linked. This maxim is clearly demonstrated in the most important job of an independent school board of trustees—selecting a head of school. Before identifying a consultant, the board should discuss the merits of a closed search versus an open search, two very di... read more