Leadership

Illustration of a hand holding a cracked lightbulb from which a rocket launches.
  • Human Resources
  • | Leadership
  • | Technology

6 Ways to Advance School Business Operations, from the 2025 NBOA Professional Achievement Award Recipients

By investing in systems, people and relationships, these independent school leaders strengthen both the bottom line and their school’s culture.
6 min read

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership
  • | Technology

My Top 3 Takeaways from the 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting

Tucker Bryant and Heather McGowan shared how we can seize the moment in this time of technological change and move our schools forward.
7 min read
Attendees gather at the NBOA Annual Meeting opening reception.
  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Everything Under the Sun: New Ideas and Learning Pathways at the 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting

From live podcast conversations to dynamic keynotes, this Annual Meeting brought fresh ideas and renewed community connections.
5 min read
Colorful, abstract figures are interconnected by lines on a grid, symbolizing a network of leadership.

Projections  

  • Accounting
  • | Human Resources
  • | Leadership

Leadership Throughout the Business Office

Controllers and HR Directors have strategic roles to play — if we commit to making space for their voices.
5 min read
Three students wearing safety goggles collect water samples from a lake's edge.
  • Change Management
  • | Environmental Sustainability
  • | Facilities

Sharing a Director of Sustainability This item is protected.

Two schools jointly hired for this single position, which has propelled both schools’ sustainability goals.
5 min read
  • Culture
  • | Leadership

What Disney’s New CEO Can Teach Us About Beloved Leadership

His focus on not just the customer but also the employee experience may resonate with independent schools looking to retain faculty and staff.
5 min read
career transition tips

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  • Human Resources
  • | Leadership

Transition Tips from an HR Expert This item is protected.

Seven people‑centered steps to help CFOs transition smoothly to a new school.
2 min read
Front of the US Treasury building
  • Accounting
  • | Legal
  • | Regulatory Updates
  • | Tuition

OFAC Sanctions Compliance and Independent Schools: New Guidance

IMG Academy was fined $1.72 million for violations of U.S. sanctions laws.
2 min read
Three student hikers with large backpacks wade through a shallow river in a forested mountain area.
  • Culture
  • | Leadership
  • | Professional Development

The Big Move: Navigating a Career Transition This item is protected.

When it’s time to leave one school and start a new position at another, these considerations will make it easier on all parties – business leader, former school and new one.
14 min read

CEO Notebook  

  • Crisis Management
  • | Legal

Immigration Enforcement: What Independent Schools STILL Need to Know

Growing concerns about immigration enforcement underscore the need for clear protocols, informed staff and steady leadership in independent schools.
5 min read
Abstract digital wave with glowing blue and purple lines

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  • Gift
  • | Legal
  • | Technology

Byte-Size AI: Legal Insights and Development Wins This item is protected.

Hopkins School has tapped generative AI to do initial legal research and queries, and also used it to meet donor interests efficiently and with real depth, among other uses.
5 min read

CEO Notebook  

  • Compensation Strategies
  • | Leadership
  • | Planning

Congratulations to the 2026 NBOA Award Recipients!

This year’s recipients have elevated school financial strategy, advanced groundbreaking compensation research and pioneered AI frameworks for school business operations.
7 min read
Illustration of engineers installing giant letters AI

Feature  

  • Culture
  • | Technology

Byte-Size AI: Building Your Own GPT This item is protected.

Sarah Hanawald, executive director of Association for Academic Leaders, shares how school leaders across the U.S. have been building their own bots.
4 min read

CEO Notebook  

  • Legal
  • | Membership

Collaborating To Make SGO Policies Work For Your School

NBOA has joined other associations in advocating for clarity in new federal SGO policy that will optimize impact for independent schools.
4 min read
Wooden judge gavel and flipping numbers 2025 and 2026 on cubes
  • Human Resources
  • | Legal
  • | Tax

2026 Updates To Mileage Rates, Contribution Limits and Charitable Giving This item is protected.

Annual adjustments from the IRS and Treasury as well as changes in labor law will impact operational costs at independent schools.
3 min read

CEO Notebook  

  • Culture
  • | Leadership
  • | Planning

Leading with Purpose: Five Reflections from CEO Notebook in 2025

Authentic leadership, data-informed planning and easier ways to manage risk were among the top themes for the year.
4 min read
best of 2025
  • Leadership
  • | Membership

Best of Net Assets Magazine 2025

From salary transparency to AI governance, these 13 standout Net Assets articles cover the most pressing issues for independent school business offices.
4 min read
Stock image of a microphone on a flat surface

CEO Notebook  

  • Leadership
  • | Membership

11 Podcasts I Enjoyed Hosting in 2025 – and Some of Their Best Takeaways

Before we turn the page to 2026, let’s revisit top leadership lessons from the Net Assets Podcast this year.
7 min read
Headshot of Tucker Bryant

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  • Change Management
  • | Leadership
  • | Technology

The Words to Say It: Interview with 2026 NBOA Annual Meeting Speaker Tucker Bryant

Poet and corporate innovator Tucker Bryant helps business leaders generate new ideas and bring them into action.
8 min read
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Voices from the Field  

  • Culture
  • | Diversity and Inclusion
  • | Leadership

What’s Next for Diversity and Inclusion in Independent Schools? This item is protected.

Two school leaders share insights on how DEI work has shifted in the past year and how anchoring in mission can help schools navigate the moment.
8 min read