Many new heads beginning their tenure will face some degree of financial stress at their schools. I fear that in the face of what may be an existential crisis for some schools, the same “usual suspects” will be trotted out by boards as solutions—better marketing, a greater presence in the community,... read more
RG175 Blog
As part of our ongoing effort to cultivate and support independent school leadership, RG175 consultants contribute monthly blog posts on topics ranging from governance and head transitions to strategic thinking and school management.
As we end this unimaginable school year and transition to planning for the summer and fall, we are terrified, saddened, and exhausted by a global pandemic that has disrupted nearly every aspect of our lives.COVID-19 has shattered our norms, routines, and patterns. It has also shuttered our schools.... read more
New heads were hired over the course of the last eight months all over the country and around the world with great fanfare and excitement for the future. When done well, a search is structured around a strong mission and an open, inclusive process, yielding the person best suited to lead the school... read more
In times of leadership transition, Head of School Search Committees invariably express a desire to find a leader who will “take the school to the next level.” When asked to describe the “next level,” the picture gets fuzzy. A search team of a half dozen deeply-committed school community members fill... read more
Board Chair: Jill, we’re so pleased you have accepted our invitation to join the Board of Trustees. We believe our Board plays a vital role in the success of the school in obvious and not so obvious ways, in what we do and what we don’t do, and most importantly, in our unswerving commitment to the m... read more
The ProblemA major culprit in the enrollment woes so many independent schools are facing today is the absence of clarity surrounding their identities. To be sure, there are other drivers conspiring to depress enrollment: demographics, charter school competition, and unaffordable tuitions to name a f... read more