High IQ and High EQ Are Not Sufficient for Today's Leaders

Author and Harvard Executive Fellow Bill George shares how true moral leadership combines purpose, self-awareness, and earned authority, guided by deeply held values and ethical boundaries. “Emotional intelligence is a must-have for you as a leader. But to be an authentic leader, you first have to discover your True North – your moral compass – and let it guide your leadership.”

Additional Research & Resources:

• Families on the New Frontier: Mapping and Meeting the Growing Demand for Unconventional Schooling, Christensen Institute

• Four Tenets of Agile Governance, NBOA

• Guarding Your School Against AI Deepfakes, Tech & Learning



• 12 Characteristics of a Good Leader, Center for Creative Leadership

New Data Shows Improvement In Youth Mental Health, With a Long Way Still to Go

This report from EdSurge shares new federal data from the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey showing slight improvements in youth mental health between 2021 and 2023. Reports of persistent sadness, suicidal thoughts, and attempts decreased slightly among girls, Hispanic students, and Black students. However, experts warn that overall mental health trends over the last decade remain concerning, with increases in bullying and school avoidance due to safety concerns.

Additional Research & Resources:

• Five Cybersecurity Tips for Schools, Tech & Learning

• Slow Down to Go Fast: Six Pillars to Prioritizing Community and Relationships, Learner-Centered Collaborative

• Understanding Classroom Anxiety and Practical Strategies to Help, ISM



• Voices of Gen Z Study 2024, Gallup and Walton Family Foundation

What Aspects of Teaching Should Remain Human?

The Hechinger Report dives into AI’s role in education, specifically around AI as a teacher or tutor. While AI tools can support teachers by automating tasks, experts emphasize the importance of human interaction for motivating students and addressing their unique needs. AI’s role in education is expanding, but it is best used to augment, not replace, the critical human element in teaching and learning.

Additional Research & Resources:

• Best Election Sites and Apps for Education, Tech & Learning

• How to Design Schools to Grow Thriving Adults: A Provocation, Getting Smart

• Schools Rethink Homework, Axios

• Teaching Executive Functions to All Students, Cult of Pedagogy

Five Giving USA Takeaways: What Every Independent School Fundraiser Needs to Know

The Winkler Group reports their takeaways from the Giving USA Annual Report documenting who is giving and to what. The article shares that despite one of the most robust economies on record, giving didn’t outpace inflation; we could be doing more to convince donors to shift their spending away from consumer goods and services and towards philanthropic giving; and giving to education increased by 11.1 percent.

Additional Research & Resources:

• Core Elements of Fundraising Success: Trust, Engagement, Impact, Train Your Board

• Independent Schools: Navigating Disruption and Managing Reputations in a Charged Election Year, AKCG Public Relations Counselors

• Nonprofit Marketing Analytics: Which Metrics to Watch and Why, Blackbaud

• Texting Your Way to Higher Enrollment, Truth Tree

Board/Head Workshop

The SAIS Board/Head Workshop provides a meaningful opportunity for school heads and board members to connect through guided activities led by Dr. Valaida Wise. Attendees will leave this workshop with a framework of practical and actionable steps to build and maintain a strong board/head relationship. The result? A positive impact on the overall success and well-being of your school community.

Early bird pricing for this powerful workshop is available now through September 27. Consider adding this focused time to your calendar to connect with your board. The workshop takes place prior to the SAIS Annual Conference on October 20 in Charlotte, NC.

Upcoming Webinars:

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

• Four Priorities for Human-Centered AI in Schools, October 1, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT

• Navigating Screen Time: Effective Strategies for Schools and Families, October 8, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT



• The Cost of Turnover: How Investing in Talent Management Transforms Independent Schools, November 7, 12:00-1:00 PM, EST