Empowering School Leaders: Rubrics for Reflection and Action

Grounded in years of in-house research, GOA has developed five core leadership competencies that include human-centered meetings, effective communication, decision making, systems thinking, and vision alignment. This resource provides guiding questions and rubrics for each area that encourage self-reflection and action, identifying areas of strength and growth. 

Additional Research & Resources:

• Architecting Culture: Lessons for Schools and Beyond, Cara Gallagher

• The New Rules of Board Meetings, Korn Ferry

• Think Roof Shot, Not Moonshot, When You're Trying to Be Innovative-ish, Harvard GSE

• Why Revenue is the #1 Issue for (Most) Independent Schools, MoonshotOS

Social AI Companions

Social AI companions can pose concerning risks to children and teens. Common Sense Media reveals 72% of teens have used AI companions, with 52% using them regularly. These platforms pose serious risks including encouraging harmful behaviors, providing inappropriate content, misleading teens about their nature, and failing to recognize mental health crises or understand consequences of dangerous advice.

Additional Research & Resources:

• Building Safer Schools and Communities: A Layered Approach, Joffe Emergency Services

• Find Resources to Create a Safer School, SchoolSafety.gov

• From Pay Scales to Purposeful Compensation, Trey Education

• Supporting the Mental Wellness of Teachers in the Year Ahead: 7 Practical Strategies, Tech&Learning

Provide Learners With Tools to Prioritize Their Time

SAIS School Community surveys consistently identify time management as the most lacking student skill. Learner-Centered Collaborative has developed several strategies and graphic organizers to intentionally support students as they develop time management skills. These tools, along with explicit modeling and scaffolding, can empower students to take ownership of their own learning process.  

Additional Research & Resources:

• Core Digital Literacy Skills for 2030, Tech&Learning

• Developing AI Ethics in the Classroom, Harvard GSE

• Student Voice Is More Than Just Feedback, ASCD

• The Powerful Union of Differentiation and UDL, MiddleWeb

Retaining Students Is More Important Than Admitting New Ones

Retention not only measures parent satisfaction, but also generates positive word-of-mouth referrals. Truth Tree demonstrates how retaining families requires seven times fewer resources than enrolling new ones. They encourage schools to identify grade or division attrition patterns and develop tools to track students. When families consider leaving, direct outreach, active listening, and leveraging faculty/student advocates can help re-engage them effectively.

Additional Research & Resources:

• 2025 Philanthropic Landscape Report, CCS Fundraising

• 5 Ways to Market Effectively to Millennial Parents, AISAP

• Do's and Don'ts for Using AI to Write School Blog Posts, SchneiderB Media

• Leverage AI for Giving Tuesday & Year-End Fundraising, OneCause

Timely Challenge Conference

November 10-11 | Atlanta, GA

Attracting and retaining top faculty and staff is one of the most pressing challenges facing independent schools today. The Timely Challenge Conference brings together school leaders to explore innovative strategies for recruitment, retention, and workplace culture.

Over two days, attendees will engage in expert-led sessions, peer discussions, and case studies that address topics including building a compelling employee value proposition, navigating generational shifts in the workforce, and creative pipelines for hiring and talent development.

With keynotes from Dr. Carrie Grimes, Vanderbilt University, and Andy Walker, Willis Towers Watson, this conference is designed to provide actionable insights, strategic frameworks, and collaborative problem-solving opportunities to ensure your school remains a destination for top-tier educators and staff.

Upcoming Events:

• Leadership Operating Model: Aligning Time, Energy, and Priorities for Impact, September 22, 4:15 PM Eastern

• Curriculum Storyboarding: From Mapping to Meaning, October 2, 12:00 PM Eastern

• Mind the Gap: Strengthening the Recruitment Pipeline, October 9, 12:00 PM Eastern

• Annual Conference, October 19-21, Atlanta, GA

• Blueprint Sprint, November 6-7, Charlotte, NC, and November 17-18, Atlanta, GA