The Propeller

Three Metaphors for School Strategy; Turning Families into School Champions; Data Informed Decision Making and Institutional Research

We’re doing a lot of work these days with Heads and Boards. There are three metaphors that we like to familiarize Heads and Boards with before we begin our work. In this issue, Ross has written what we consider a must read piece before jumping into strategy development. Then we’ve got some thoughts on work school leaders must be attending to now if they hope to stem attrition and increase enrollment conversions later in the year. We’ve got bit on building dispositions in students and then we’re onto the topic of data and how to start building the structures and muscles to make your decision making more solid. – Moira

Three Metaphors for School Strategy

Over the last several months we have done a significant number of Board retreats -– from Beijing to Boston, from Charleston to Chattanooga. I am always fascinated to meet the people who express their connection and devotion to a school through Board service. We work Boards hard during the brief time we join them. We strive to surface critical topics and push them to locate their challenging work at the right altitude. 

The most satisfying aspect of the work for me has been to witness the remarkable board stewardship of high-quality school heads. I learn so much from them – from their patience, mission focus, and child-centric humanity. Each school and each leader reveals themselves in moments. A critical moment for any school and school head is strategy creation. This is where we can begin to help.