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THE COALITION CONNECTION
February 20, 2015
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Dear NCGS Community,
Howdy from Austin, Texas, where the NCGS board met for our February meeting. Some might say it was to escape yet another blizzard in the Northeast. In truth, we were drawn by the presence of several fabulous member schools: Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, The Girls' School of Austin, and Bertha Sadler Means Young Women's Leadership Academy. Girls' education is thriving in this tech-boom Texas land of great music and memorable guacamole. The Girls' School of Austin has just completed a $5 million renovation after doubling their enrollment over the last seven years; Ann Richards has placed 100% of its graduates in college since its launch, earning exemplary ratings from the state of Texas; and Bertha Sadler Means is happily enjoying its very first year. Come to Austin if you are interested in great Tex-Mex, heart-healthy two-stepping, and excellence in girls' education.
A quarter of NCGS members are girls' public schools, so our board's professional development deep dive consisted of learning more about the earliest beginnings of the Ann Richards School and the challenges faced by public school educators in the realm of girls' education. After a day and a half of discovery, we unanimously agreed: girls the world over benefit from immersion in the air of empowerment our schools steadily and successfully provide.
Perhaps of most interest to our membership would be the board discussion on the emerging issue of transgendered youth in our schools. Since late last fall, we have had a task force at work creating a position statement and recommendations for schools, as well as gathering resources for our members as we head into this brave new world of gender constructs-or lack thereof. You will hear more about this work in the weeks ahead, and we are planning a special session at the upcoming 2015 NCGS Conference in June at St. Catherine's in Richmond. You are planning on coming, aren't you?
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NCGS staff and board members gathered in Austin for the February Board Meeting
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Finally, while discovering the wonders of a perfect breakfast burrito, we spent considerable time imagining NCGS beyond our first Global Forum in February 2016. Our primary focus is on providing the services our members need and want, so don't hesitate to speak out when we call for your engagement. In the middle of that discussion was our promise to deliver relevant and timely research on the case for girls' schools.
Between honky-tonk and strategic vision, school tours and transgender complexities, barbecue and the politics of public girls' schools, it was a productive... and fun... visit to the Lone Star State. Productive and fun-two words our school cultures are very fond of combining. I send best wishes to each of you as you find the right combination of productive and fun to nurture the girls in your school communities.
Trudy Hall
NCGS Board President
Head of Emma Willard School
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NCGS Seeks a Program Associate
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NCGS is seeking a Program Associate to join its team. The Program Associate is responsible for strategic outreach events that advocate for  all-girls education and create connections between professionals and alumnae in the NCGS network. Additionally, the Program Associate provides overall administrative support for NCGS operations. This position reports directly to the Executive Director and works closely with all members of the NCGS team. Click here for the complete job description.
To apply, email a cover letter and resume to Executive Director Megan Murphy at mmurphy@ncgs.org. The deadline to apply is March 16, 2015.
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2015 Enrollment Surveys Now Available
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The 2015 NCGS enrollment surveys for prospective families are now available. This set of three web-based surveys is a  simple, cost-effective way to gather data and feedback about your school's admission process.
Each survey is customized with your school's logo, a personalized introduction and closing, and your preferred deadline. You can also add up to five unique-to-your-school questions.
The enrollment surveys are available to NCGS member schools at the discounted rate of $350 and to non-member schools for $450 (additional $50 fee for custom questions for members and $65 for non-members).
Click here for more details. Contact ohaas@ncgs.org by May 1, 2015, if you want to take advantage of this opportunity.
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NCGS Partners with Women's Colleges to Host Girls' School Advantage Events
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NCGS is pleased to partner with the women's colleges Barnard and Mount Saint Mary's University to host Girls' School Advantage events in New York and Los Angeles. The Girls' School Advantage advocacy outreach program is designed for prospective families to learn about the effectiveness and unique environment of all-girls schools.
Recognizing that selecting a school is both a matter of the head and the heart for families, the Girls' School Advantage is designed to address this balance by presenting quantitative and qualitative information. The program includes a presentation of research highlights, a moderated Q&A panel of student representatives, and a school information fair.
New York Girls' School Advantage
April 26, 2015 
1:00 to 3:00 PM
Barnard College
Participating member schools include The Brearley School, Chapin School, Convent of the Sacred Heart (NY), Hewitt School, Marymount School of New York, The Nightingale-Bamford School, The Spence School, and the Young Women's Leadership Network (YWLN).
May 3, 2015
1:00 to 3:00 PM
Mount Saint Mary's University
Participating member schools include The Archer School for Girls, Cornelia Connelly School, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Immaculate Heart High School and Middle School, Louisville High School, Marlborough School, Marymount High School (CA), Ramona Convent Secondary School, Vivian Webb School, and Westridge School.
The 2014-2015 Girls' School Advantage program is sponsored by Girl Up, an innovative campaign of the United Nations Foundation. Girl Up gives American girls the opportunity to become global leaders and channel their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for United Nations programs that help some of the world's hardest-to-reach adolescent girls.
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NCGS Accepting 2014-2015 Ransome Prize Nominations
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The Ransome Prize is an annual award presented in honor of the National Coalition of Girls' Schools co-founder Whitty Ransome, which was established by her husband Tom Wilcox in 2009. NCGS presents this award to a woman who has made outstanding contributions to the Coalition and one of its member schools to further the NCGS mission to be "a leading advocate for girls' education with a distinct commitment to the transformative power of all-girls schools."
The recipient of the $1,000 prize will reflect a pure devotion to a higher cause, joyfulness in serving others, and the grace and generosity in allowing others to take credit for good work, all of which characterized Whitty Ransome's own commitment to NCGS.
Nomination Process
If you know a colleague who embodies the personal characteristics of Whitty Ransome, as described above, and who has made extraordinary contributions to NCGS and girls' education, we invite you to nominate her. The deadline to submit nominations is March 13, 2015.
Click here to download the nomination form. For more information and the selection process calendar, click here.
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