Tactics for Leading Across Generations

The Center for Creative Leadership offers 10 tactics for effectively leading a multigenerational workforce. Strategies include promoting well-being, building trust, communicating change, retaining talent, and creating a learning culture. Despite stereotypes, CCL emphasizes that different generations have similar core values and desires in the workplace. Successfully managing a multigenerational team involves recognizing commonalities, promoting respect, and adapting leadership approaches to meet shared needs across all age groups.

Additional Research & Resources:

• Assessing School Culture and Climate as a New Principal, Edutopia

• Business Competencies for the Independent School Leader, MoonshotOS

• The Role of the President/Head of School in Strengthening Student Engagement, Carney, Sandoe & Associates

• Why Everything Starts and Ends with a Clear Vision, Ian Symmonds & Associates

School Safety Trends and Action Steps

Joffe Emergency Services shares current trends and practical strategies on a variety of school safety concerns beyond safety of the physical campus. Protocols for natural disasters and environmental threats are outlined, and precautionary measures and sample policies are provided to enhance schools’ digital security. A strategic, layered approach to physical safety and effectively addressing the challenges of political polarization round out this report.

Additional Research & Resources:

• Constructive Dialogue and Elections: An Educator's Guide to Engaging Students, Constructive Dialogue Institute

• How to Connect with Parents and Families in a Positive Way, John Spencer

• Teacher Well-Being: Beyond Yoga and Pizza Parties, Blackbaud

• Thriving in a World of Pluralistic Contention: A Framework for Schools, The Edward E. Ford Foundation

10 Studies Every Teacher Should Know About

Our understanding of effective classroom practices has evolved significantly over the past decade. Recent studies emphasize the value of low-stakes practice tests, brain dumps, and spaced review sessions, while the integration of background knowledge and incorporating drawing into lesson plans are strategies that have been proven to enhance student learning. Incorporate these research reviews, presented by Edutopia, in your next faculty meeting or professional learning opportunity.

Additional Research & Resources:

• Everything I Learned About How to Teach Reading Turned Out to Be Wrong, The Hechinger Report

• Simple Starters for AI Literacy and Digital Citizenship Learning, ISTE

• So Your School Wants to Ban Cellphones. Now What?, The 74

• Why AI Can't Replace Teachers, John Spencer

How to Create a Successful School Branding Strategy

School branding is important to establish trust, set your school apart, create a sense of purpose, and encourage word of mouth marketing. This article from School Webmasters offers 13 steps to an effective branding strategy that include defining your values, incorporating the school’s website and social media channels, developing a logo, and designing a brand guide. How might your school build a brand that engages both current parents and students as well as potential new families?

Additional Research & Resources:

• A Shift in the Admissions Funnel: Inquiries Down, Applications Up, Truth Tree

• Donor Readiness: The Secret of All Successful Capital Campaigns, Gail Perry Group

• Has Your School Considered the Power of Endowments?, ISM

• Navigating a Communication-Heavy Culture in the Midst of Global Events, St. Anne's-Belfield School with AKCG

2024 SAIS Annual Conference

Join your peer independent school leaders at the 2024 SAIS Annual Conference, October 20-22, in Charlotte, NC. Over three days, you’ll gain new insights on timely topics such as retention and recruitment, AI, and community and connection.

With keynotes from Mesmin Destin, Michelle Icard, and Grant Lichtman, plus more than 30 breakout sessions and four learning journeys, you’ll discover new strategies for success and learn about emerging trends, all while expanding your network and connecting with other independent school leaders.

Upcoming Webinars:

• L+D’s Design for Election Season, September 10, 12:00-1:15 PM EDT

• Protecting Your School & Yourself From Deepfakes, September 12, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT

• Navigating the Digital Landscape: Cell Phone Policies & The Anxious Generation, September 17, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT

• The ROI of School Marketing, September 24, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT