RG175 Blog

On the surface there is nothing exceptional about Karen Tyler’s professional background. Before becoming Head of School at Erie Day School in 2011, she was a Professor at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. Indeed, she does have a doctorate in education, but it was not from what the independent sch... read more

Dear Head of School:Congratulations! You have won a highly coveted position and now have an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of students and teachers. You are no doubt poised to make your mark on your new school, and you should be commended for your hard work and talent that hav... read more

In an earlier article, “The Bias That Inflicts Head of School Search Committees,” I detailed the kinds of prejudices that influence decision-making as schools search for new Heads. These prejudices extend across all human decision-making and have been written about extensively, most notably by Nobel... read more

Let me begin with a belief. Independent schools that have “turned around,” schools that are thriving, and schools that have made significant advances, all have one common attribute: strong, powerful Heads of School. These Heads do not take that power for granted. They know they are accountable to th... read more

Over the past year I have read almost one hundred resumes from candidates applying for Head of School positions and many suffer from a common resume malady. By listing responsibilities and detailing jobs such as supervising faculty, being a part of the administrative team, and attending trustee meet... read more

Opportunity statements for head positions at independent schools more often than not indicate that the school is looking for a “visionary” leader. And, indeed, vision is often critical to the advancement of a school. It separates true leaders from managers. And yet, heads of school struggle with the... read more