The Hidden Economics of Independent Schools

Moira Kelly from EXPLO Elevate discusses the necessity of cost accounting in schools. While schools often group finances into broad categories, this approach can hide unprofitable programs and divisions. Proper cost accounting reveals true costs of operations, enabling intentional decisions, resource allocation, and pricing. Though implementing this system requires a cultural shift, it empowers schools to maintain their missions while ensuring financial sustainability.

Additional Research & Resources:

• An Independent School's Guide to Evaluating Federal Financial Assistance, Venable

• Curiosity as a Strategic Stance, Leadership & Design

• Navigating Employment Non-Renewal With Fairness and Integrity, The Education Group

• What Is a School Operating System?, MoonshotOS

How to Overcome Anxiety Associated With Test Taking

Providing ways to deal with anxiety can improve a student’s overall outlook on life, which can have huge impacts on their educational experience, career, and beyond. Richard Mathy, for Tech& Learning, discusses how teachers can help students overcome test anxiety. Mathy recommends understanding root causes through open dialogue, reframing negative experiences positively, celebrating successes, and using scaffolded tests that gradually increase in difficulty to build student confidence.

Additional Research & Resources:

• LinkedIn Skills on the Rise 2025: The 15 Fastest-Growing Skills In the US, LinkedIn

• Teens Are Embracing AI — But Largely Not for Cheating, K12Dive

• The Gender Gap in Teen Experiences, Pew Research Center

• Tips for Helping Kids Manage Emotions When They're Intense and Difficult, KQED

The Science of Student Motivation

Youki Terada, Edutopia, interviews psychology professor and SAIS Annual Conference keynote Dr. David Yeager on meaningfully engaging teens by tapping into their sense of purpose. Yeager found that kids are better at goal-directed behavior than adults when presented with the right tasks. Teens respond to assignments connected to real-world problems they care about and can be excellent planners when motivated by experiences that offer status and respect.

Additional Research & Resources:

• Goal-Setting Frameworks and Tools for Students, Learner-Centered Collaborative



• How to Develop an Effective Framework for AI Readiness, EdSurge

• The Importance of Instructional Coaching, Now and In the Future, NWEA

• The Third Horizon of Learning, Getting Smart

Marketing Your Independent School: Are You Just Parading Elephants?

Successful marketing for independent schools is more than a series of disconnected efforts. It’s a coordinated strategy that ensures prospective families not only notice your school, but also feel compelled to apply and enroll. House of Hats Marketing uses a circus metaphor to show that marketing is not just about creating a flashy moment, but building a strategic, well-planned experience that guides families from interest to action.

Additional Research & Resources:

• Do a Number On Your Messaging, English Marketing Works

• Gen Z: The Future of Fundraising In a Mobile-First World, NonProfitPRO

• How Advanced Communication Differentiates Schools In a Competitive Market, Truth Tree

• How to Boost Yield: Turning Admitted Students Into Enrolled Students, DNI Consulting

Advancement Summit: Capital Campaigns

June 16-18, Sarasota, FL

Annual fund and capital campaign support is the top challenge for SAIS heads of school in 2025. Coinciding, independent school advancement professionals aspire to build with vision-casting for capital projects.  

In partnership with the Winkler Group, the Advancement Summit is an immersive workshop focusing on everything a head of school and development director need to know about capital campaigns.

Register today for this highly interactive program featuring breakout groups and dynamic discussions. 

Upcoming In-Person & Virtual Events:

• Learning Growth Among Students in SAIS Schools, April 21, 2:00-2:45 PM EDT

• Development Priorities: What to Do When You Can't Do It All, May 6, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT

• The State of Student Well-Being 2025: Trendlines and Next Steps, May 8, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT

• Administrative Leadership Institute, June 9-11, Sarasota, FL

• Summer Conference, June 16-18, Sarasota, FL

• Institute for Heads, June 24-27, Sarasota, FL