The Propeller

When other educational institutions quiet down a bit, things around the EXPLO world ramp up. We’ve jumped into summer engagements with schools working on projects ranging from strategy development to scheduling. At the same time, our summer programs have launched and we’re already into session two. Our nearly 50-year-old summer academic enrichment program functions as a lab school, a place where we are always experimenting. Wellesley College is our summer home and hundreds of students from all over the world have descended on the College taking courses in game theory, medical rotations, engineering, psychology, and more. We’ve utilized this lab to bring a group of independent school teachers to campus for observation work and professional development. Starting this fall these folks will begin teaching EXPLO designed experiential courses every week in a variety of subjects ranging from forensic science to architecture and we’ll be coaching them throughout the year in an approach to teaching that drives student engagement and agency. Then the week after next we’ll be welcoming district leaders to campus to think with them about how to transform their middle schools. I’m deep into life at Wolfeboro Camp School leading the AISNE accreditation team for Wolfeboro's inaugural accreditation. What a remarkable school! Life is full, but in the best of ways. 

This issue we cover the parallels between K-12 and higher ed; how fractional senior leadership can be a powerful and great investment in transforming departments; what makes a great teacher today and what to look for; what to be doing now to turn your families into school champions; and a case study that although extreme, provokes some questions about the perils of poor board-head relationships.