Category: Uncategorized

A Headmaster’s Daughter Becca Hamm Conard | January 15th, 2023 I woke up to my phone ringing. It was 4am and the caller ID said ‘Marcus.’ Looking outside I saw clear skies, and listening carefully I heard movement down the hallway. Bracing myself for the conversation, I flipped my phone open and said without introduction, “He’s… Continue reading A Headmaster’s daughter

Lessons from the Camino Tracy Bennett | January 14th, 2023 Sitting on the edge of my bunk in the cramped hostel (albergue) in Spain, I gingerly rubbed lotion into my tender and blistered feet. Today was hard. Even though I considered myself a seasoned pilgrim, 10 days into my second 500-mile Camino trek, I was tired… Continue reading Lessons from the Camino

Independent Spirit André Withers | October 25th, 2022 Not long after I’d started my first job in an independent school, I visited a friend at Cranbrook Schools (MI). The visit wasn’t particularly remarkable then, but about 10 years ago, when I was trying to come up with ideas for a student activities project, I recalled… Continue reading Independent Spirit

Your Own Child(ren) in Your School. Will That Work? Brenda Hamm | September 5, 2022 You are a head of school candidate and you have children of your own. It can be a wonderful thing to have your kids in your school! Here are six pieces of advice for you to consider beforehand. 1. Start… Continue reading Your Own Child(ren) in Your School

Writing an Educational Leadership Philosophy Statement Brenda Hamm | September 5, 2022You want me to write an educational leadership philosophy statement? What’s that? As you may recall from EC’s last newsletter, visualizing the three primary components of your written application (the resume, personal statement, and cover letter) as a Venn diagram, with each represented by… Continue reading Writing an Educational Philosophy Statement

Culture Shock? Pilar Cabeza de Vaca | September 2, 2022 Having spent many years leading orientation programs for American teachers who are recruited to work in international schools for the first time, I’m familiar with the stages of culture shock one undergoes when moving to a new country.  First there is the excitement of an… Continue reading Culture Shock

Take Care Of Yourself Brenda Hamm | April 26, 2022 I know a CEO of a multimillion dollar corporation who meditates for two hours every day. Two hours! I’m in awe of the discipline required, not just to remain in such a focused state for that amount of time, but also to protect two full… Continue reading Take Care of Yourself

Board Support of the Head of School Sally Mixsell | April 28, 2022 What should Board support look like? As a board member what should I be doing if I’m adequately supporting the Head of School? What are some resources I can tap into to help me be a better board member? BOARD MEETINGS Attend… Continue reading Board Support of the Head of School

The Cover Letter Brenda Hamm | April 26, 2022 The three primary components of your written application are the resume, personal statement, and cover letter. Visualize them as a Venn diagram, each represented by a circle overlapping with the other two. The intersection of all three circles is where the school knows you have a… Continue reading The Cover Letter

Finding the Right Leader John M. Mackenzie | March 23, 2020 “There has never been a more difficult time to lead a school.” This is a frequently heard refrain that grows more true with each passing year. While it is difficult to compare different eras in any endeavor, there are good reasons to acknowledge why… Continue reading Finding the Right Leader