Specialities
Consulting
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Faculty Morale in a Challenging Year
A simple question recently ignited a torrent of responses: What are schools doing to support faculty morale this fall? Independent school leaders responded with an outpouring of concern and sympathy for teachers. While some offered concrete steps schools can take to ease the burden teachers carry this fall, most respondents were also looking for answers […]
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Here’s What You Need to Know If You Experienced a Fall Admission Bump
ISM Consultants have worked with many school Admission and Marketing Directors who enjoyed surprising spikes in inquiries and applications during the late 2020 summer months. And, while this may seem like encouraging news, we caution against premature excitement. Keep in mind the bump in enrollment may come from families who are not aligned with your […]
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Six Ways to Use Your “Guide to Giving and Getting Involved” During and After COVID-19
Many schools are engaged in all or partial distance learning. This does not reduce the need for volunteer or philanthropic support. In fact, it is critical to remind parents your school must be sustained through the commitment of time and money from its friends. ISM recommends creating and using a “Guide to Giving and Getting […]
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Teachers Weigh In on the Best Distance Learning Approaches
This article is a compilation of research and data from an ISM survey of over 1,000 teachers conducted over the 2020 spring and summer. The rapid shift to distance learning left the majority of teachers and school leaders dealing with impossible tasks. In retrospect, teachers reported one of the biggest mistakes was trying to recreate […]
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Inbound and Outbound Marketing Strategies That Work
Inbound marketing involves sharing relevant and meaningful information that answers the needs of your community. You can share information by publishing it on your blog, on social media, or through digital marketing tactics such as social and display ads. The key to effective inbound marketing is creating a lead magnet. Two examples of tools you […]
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Should Your School Purchase Email Lists?
As a marketing leader, a primary goal is sharing your school’s message with your community. While you already have an email list of former and current families, you are always looking for ways to expand your reach and drive interest in your school. Schools ask us if they should purchase email marketing lists of prospective […]
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Why Your School Should Rethink its Social Media Posting During a Pandemic
Remember your school’s fall 2019 Facebook and Instagram feeds? Lots of campus shots with smiling students and maybe a video of a pep rally, right? The pandemic has shifted what school looks like now. Your social media posts should look different, too.
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How To Host Virtual School Events: A 10-Step Planning Guide For Fall
A virtual event isn’t a “less-awesome” version of your traditional in-person event — it’s a unique opportunity to leverage! Learn how to plan a virtual event that can boost enrollment with this 10-step guide.
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Hiring Leaders Who Will Succeed in Times of Crisis
Events in 2020 have cast an unusually bright spotlight on independent school heads and their abilities to lead in times of crisis. How can a Board of Trustees best assure that it will find effective leadership for times like this?
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Why Independent Schools Can No Longer Stay Silent on Black Lives Matter
As the national discussion surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement has increased exponentially since the murder of George Floyd and, most recently, the shooting of Jacob Blake, many independent schools have found themselves engaged in uncomfortable conversations.
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Racial Equity and Inclusion Goal-Setting
This tool is designed to support faculty and staff in their goal-setting process, especially at schools which have identified a professional growth theme related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Because independent schools tend to be historically and culturally White, this tool leverages that reality to support faculty/staff accountability and growth around racial equity.
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Pathways to School Leadership
Senior Consultant Ben Bolté shares advice on building a pathway to headship or a top leadership position.