Transitions Don't Break SchooIs. Misalignment Does.

Transitions tend to amplify what is already present. Cara Gallagher encourages boards and heads to pause and consider where there is and is not alignment of priorities, if governance guardrails need clarification, and what data will be required to make informed decisions. Gallagher suggests early, intentional retreats can be used to clarify roles that may be changing, examine decision-making processes, and establish frameworks to facilitate transitions.

Additional Research & Resources:

• Are You Leveraging the Talent on Your Board?, Harvard Business School

• Do You Have a Strategy or Just a Strategic Plan?, RG175

• The Tensions in the Independent School Business Model, MoonshotOS

• What Is the Job of a Mission Statement?, ExploElevate

Young People Rank Safety as Most Important Value

UCLA’s latest Values Report asked 1500 people from age 10-24 to rate the importance of 14 priorities. Safety emerged as the top-ranked value for the second consecutive year, signaling that security and stability continue to anchor their worldview. “Being kind to others” ranked second, while fame and popularity ranked low on the list, suggesting that rather than chasing attention, today’s adolescents are prioritizing stability, connection, and emotional well-being. 

Additional Research & Resources:

• 5 Data Privacy Steps Your School Can Take Before Spring Break, Fisher Phillips

• Clarity Before Consequence: The Leadership Work That Must Precede Hiring Season, School Growth

• Respect the Human: Preventing Burnout & Strengthening Retention, National Association of Episcopal Schools

• Supporting Student Wellness, Cerini & Associates

Reimagining Teaching in an Accelerating World

The latest report from the OECD begins with how the teaching profession is evolving, asking how we might nurture educators to be agile enough to navigate uncertainty, confident enough to embrace the unknown, and generous enough to empower students to do the same. The report’s additional themes focus on professional autonomy powered by trust and questions how we might integrate artificial intelligence that empowers educators and helps every learner succeed.

Additional Research & Resources:

• The Joy Missing in the Classroom, Innovator Mindset

• The Transformative Potential of Learner-Centered Education, Education Reimagined

• Why It's Important for Young Children to Understand What's Behind AI, The 74

• Why the Difference Between AI Literacy and AI Fluency Matters, Getting Smart

When Alignment With Faculty, Staff, and School Leadership Is Assumed, Not Shared 

Sometimes enrollment work feels harder than it should. Schools may not recognize an alignment issue until momentum slows or enrollment leaders feel isolated in work that should be shared. Supportive but distant leadership, faculty that don’t understand the process, a disconnect between enrollment and marketing, and a lack of peer connections can all contribute. This Tassel webinar shows schools how these four can surface and offers action steps to address each.

Additional Research & Resources:

• How to Build Capital Campaigns Around Real Donor Conversations, Virtuous

• Journey Mapping: A Tool That Should Be in Your Arsenal, 38 House

• Shifting Perspective: Treating Yield as a Mirror, Not Just a Metric, DNI Consulting

• Out With the Clutter, In With the Clarity: A Spring Reset for Internal Communications, House of Hats Marketing

Independent School Leadership Forum

June 22-24 | Charlotte, NC

The Independent School Leadership Forum provides a rare opportunity to learn how heads think about leadership and decision-making; ask questions in an open, strategic setting; build connections with mentor-level leaders beyond your own institution; and expand your professional network with peers who understand your role.

Designed specifically for mid-level leaders, you'll learn directly from heads of school, former heads, and other senior leaders. These accomplished leaders will share candid insights, practical strategies, and real-world lessons.

This forum offers more than inspiration: it provides a strategic space for professional growth, equipping you with the skills, perspective, and relationships needed to lead with confidence and clarity.

Small Schools Summit

June 24-26 | Charlotte, NC

Designed for leaders from small independent schools, where close-knit communities and personalized learning thrive, this event provides a tailored experience that addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of small school leadership.

Be empowered with three dynamic keynotes and learning pathways built around three key challenges: financial sustainability, strategy & systems, and people & team.

Plus, co-labor with and learn from your peers with cohorts specific to this event. You'll gain targeted resources for your specific challenges, network with peers facing similar priorities, and build expertise in your focus area. Join us to learn strategies that can move the needle and make a difference.