STEM, STEAM, making, tinkering. Innovators, collaborators, self-directed learners. Idea labs, learning commons, makerspaces. The maker movement is a big deal for independent schools, an exciting reality playing out in ne
2 min read
Each year we have a unique opportunity to recognize two colleagues who reflect our highest professional standards and our community's aspirations for excellence within independent school business and financial operations
2 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Culture
-
|
Parent Organizations
As a trustee at my daughter's school, I get a lot of "feedback" from other parents. It ranges from concern over ERB scores to "can't we get more comfortable chairs for parents to sit in at assemblies?" I listen, smile an
2 min read
The financial lens of independent school leaders is about to get a lot sharper. As you begin 2016 at your school, I'm very pleased to share that NBOA is also beginning an exciting new endeavor—one that promises to
2 min read
With today's unseasonably warm weather in Washington, D.C., I recall that freezing morning in Boston like it was yesterday. The 2015 Annual Meeting Fun Run, in fact, is one of my favorite memories from NBOA's last 12 mon
2 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Boards and Trustees
-
|
Governance
A dynamic group of volunteers, a hard-working staff and a well-defined mission to which both groups are committed: This is the unique ideal of nonprofit governance, but it is not easily achieved. In fact, nonprofit leade
2 min read
It has been a week of tremendous loss for the independent school community and the world. Like all of you, I was shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of NAIS President John Chubb on November 12. He was a friend a
1 min read
Last week I was honored to be featured in an online Q&A about school leadership with Rob DiMartino of Finalsite , which provides web solutions to schools. This week I have invited Rob to respond to some of the mos
5 min read
It's widely accepted as best practice for independent schools to maintain three percent of the total cost of replacing the physical plant in a separate budget called PPRRSM (provision for plant replacement, renewal and s
2 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Boards and Trustees
-
|
Governance
One of the greatest challenges of any nonprofit board is to ensure that its conversations are both generative and strategic. Frustratingly, boards too often get mired in committee work. As a consequence, the full board s
3 min read
"The bean counters are taking over the world!" A school faculty member posted this on Twitter, the implication being that the "numbers people" were influencing too many decisions at his school. I don't know a single busi
3 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Boards and Trustees
-
|
Compliance
It's often been said that the only constant is change. As we enter another school year, this cliché is spot-on.
3 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Communication
-
|
Enrollment
"What keeps you up at night?" I get that question fairly often, including very recently from a head of school who I consider a thought leader within the profession. You might identify with my response of late. It covers
3 min read
The next time a prospective parent checks out your school, there's a good chance they'll do it from their phone or tablet computer. Whether they're waiting in line at the grocery store or sitting at a café, and wh
2 min read
As business officers know too well, there really is no such thing as downtime anymore in independent schools. The summer is busy with wrapping up the prior school year and preparing for the one ahead. NBOA is no differen
2 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Boards and Trustees
-
|
Governance
With the busiest part of the school year behind most of us, I invite you to consider your school's Board of Trustees in the context of the NBOA Board of Directors. Our Board is probably similar to yours in some ways, yet
3 min read
As your school year winds down, your professional association's planning for next year is already ramping up. Last week, members of the NBOA staff assembled in Washington, D.C., to identify and plan the vast array of NBO
3 min read
It's been a spring of heavy travel, and at each independent school I visit the topic of technology invariably arises. The questions go something like this: What role should technology play in our delivery of preK–1
3 min read
CEO Notebook
-
Culture
-
|
Human Resources
For more than 15 years I've been thinking about the role of the CFO, especially as it relates to educational institutions, vis-à-vis my professional positions at NBOA and NACUBO. Is it just me or is the CFO gettin
2 min read
Without shame or apology I admit that I'm a change addict. I firmly believe that any organization, program or resource can be made better. "No status quo," in fact, is a mantra I developed with my friend and colleague Gr
3 min read
