Category: Uncategorized

Your Head of School is leaving. What do you do next as a Board? Sally Mixsell | September 1, 2025 A friend and fellow head of school called me recently to share that she would be departing her role as head after nearly twenty years. She gave notice to her board eighteen months prior to… Continue reading Your Head of School is leaving. What do you do next as a Board?

Strategy vs. Operations: A False Dichotomy Mark Crotty | September 1, 2025 As executive director of a regional accrediting association, I often heard about frustrations between heads of school and boards. The details and nuances would vary, but often a unifying theme emerged: boundary violations. Usually the grievance would fit into the framework of strategy… Continue reading Strategy vs. Operations: A False Dichotomy

Creating Strategic Thinking Boards Eric Temple | September 1, 2025 Every three to five years, Independent School Boards typically engage in strategic planning to chart the future of the school they serve and focus the school’s resources to support its strategic priorities. This is important and time consuming work. The steps to create a strategic… Continue reading Creating Strategic Thinking Boards

Letting Go: The Current Head’s Role in the Search Process and Moving On Carole Everett | February 15, 2025 The search for a new Head of School is one of the most pivotal moments in the life of a school. For the outgoing Head, it can be a time of mixed emotions: pride in the… Continue reading Letting Go: The Current Head’s Role in the Search Process and Moving On

Welcome Mark Crotty as New Partner Alex Maegdlin | Feburary 21, 2025 Educators Collaborative LLC will welcome Mark Crotty as the newest member of the company’s impressive roster of partners in Summer 2025, along with Percy L. Abram, Ph.D. Mark is finishing his sixth year as the Executive Director of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools,… Continue reading Educators Collaborative to Welcome Mark Crotty as New Partner

Weaving Community André Withers | January 16, 2025 Many school heads struggle to hold their school communities together, given polarization and the shifting commitment to DEI, growing ideological divides, and the perception that we have little in common with those who might vote or worship differently than we do.  “Wedge issues,” as I like to call… Continue reading Weaving Community

Welcome Percy L. Abram, Ph.D. as New Partner Seasoned Independent School Professional & Sought after Board Member will Join Leading Strategy & Search firm Alex Maegdlin | November 10, 2024 Educators Collaborative LLC, a leading strategy and search firm supporting independent schools, will welcome Percy L. Abram, Ph.D. as the newest member of the company’s impressive… Continue reading Educators Collaborative to Welcome Percy L. Abram, Ph.D. as New Partner

Courageous Conversations Tracy Bennett | November 10, 2024 “These are hard conversations.” This has been a somewhat constant refrain over the past few weeks in my conversations with school leaders—heads and trustees—as the school year marches on and we grapple with the aftermath of a divisive election. They are tackling issues such as: How do… Continue reading Courageous Conversations

Parenting is a Team Sport Tracy Bennett | October 30, 2024 Admiring the vibrant fall colors of New England on a recent walk, I listened to a NYT Daily podcast, The Parents Aren’t All Right. Spurred by the recent advisory from Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General, about the state of stress and mental health… Continue reading Parenting is a Team Sport

Meaningful and Lasting Relationships With Schools Sally Mixsell | May 18, 2024 In the shifting landscape of independent secondary school education, Educators Collaborative partners are ready to respond to the myriad needs of schools. We love what we do. As EC partners, we regularly exchange information with one another about our ongoing searches identifying patterns… Continue reading Meaningful and Lasting Relationships With Schools