Apps Ahead
 
Bob Williams and Charles Long from the Asheville School in Asheville, NC, knew as early as 2010 they wanted to develop an app for the school. Williams is the school's Director of Communications and Long is its Director of Technology. The two enjoyed a fruitful working relationship that spanned more than a decade. They had collaborated on building a virtual tour for the school's website, a project that won the school an award from CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education). At a following CASE conference they began discussing developing an app, and what it would require. "It was a very ambitious project and we had to teach ourselves on our own time outside of work, but we knew what we were getting into and it was an exciting concept," said Williams. "And we work well together and complement each other, so we knew we could do it."
>>Read more HERE
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Call for Board Nominations

SAIS Board of Trustees | nominations due May 19


Nominations for the SAIS Board of Trustees are now being accepted. To nominate yourself or someone else, please review this information about board service. Nominations are due by May 19.

The board is responsible for the supervision, control and direction of the association. According to the bylaws, trustees must be heads of SAIS member schools. The board seeks to represent geographic diversity as well as diversity of school mission. View the current board of trustees.

The SAIS Committee on Trustees will process the nominations and review the nominees. The slate will be presented for approval by the membership at the SAIS annual business meeting, which takes place at the SAIS Annual Conference, October 18-20 in Atlanta. New trustees will begin their terms on January 1, 2015.  Submit a nomination for the SAIS Board of Trustees

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

 

"I don't speak robot, you'll have to talk to Dr. P," said Dale Crane, Director of Communications at Valwood School in Valdosta, GA. Dr. P is Valwood's Head, Dr. Darren Pascavage, and his robot is gaining a reputation among students and faculty alike. 
 
Rolling down the halls of the school and into classrooms the robot is an iPad attached to what looks like a hanger with wheels, created by the company Double Robotics. Dr. P can navigate the device from any computer, mobile device, iPad, or remote destination, and interact with his students or faculty in real time. Think of it as Skype or Face Time on skates that you can drive. And the students love it. They light up when they see Dr. P's robot round the corner and are eager to interact with him>>Read more HERE
Hand sketching Online Survey Concept with black marker on transparent wipe board.
SAIS Member Needs Survey
 
Please be on the lookout this Thursday for an invitation to take our 5-minute survey. It will come from the address [email protected] and will have survey in the subject line. Your responses will help us confirm that the high-quality work SAIS does in accreditation, governance, and professional development meets your school's needs as you continue striving to fulfill your mission. Thank you in advance for your participation.
How to Get New Teachers Off to a Great Start

 

As the Upper School Director for Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, SC, Pete Sanders has many duties, one of which is helping new teachers successfully acclimate to their classrooms and the school. One resource he relies on in that task is the SAIS Institute for New Teachers (INT). Whether he's advising a recent graduate entering the teaching profession, or someone new to independent schools and changing careers, he recommends the INT as part of their orientation. 

 

"There was a person we hired a few years ago, a very strong candidate who had attended [a great independent school and a well known southern university], but they were brand new to the profession," said Sanders. "We knew the INT would help him by covering the basic common sense matters that go into being a teacher, but also learning the unique cultural aspects present in an independent school. From attending the INT, he gained a better understanding of what would be expected of him, especially in those first months." Sanders said he could tell a noticeable difference in the teacher's confidence after attending the event. The INT will be offered in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Memphis this summer. >>Read more HERE
Great Summer Books
 
Are you ready for summer faculty reading? Here are eight great books to consider for a faculty read. Whatever you choose, we would love to know! >>Read more HERE
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
SAIS Board Nominations
Do You Speak Robot?
Member Needs Survey
New Teachers
Summer Reads
Blogs
Annual Conference Breakout Sessions
QUICK LINKS

Newsletter Archive 

President's Page 

Contact SAIS Staff 

 

Do you have a colleague who would benefit from this eNL? They can subscribe here.

The word Events in cut out magazine letters pinned to a cork notice board. Events may refer to news
Summer Institutes

June 15-17
Institute for Senior Administrators 
Emory Conference Center - Atlanta
featuring Keith Evans & David Mahler
June 18-20
Administrative Leadership Institute 
Emory Conference Center - Atlanta
featuring Rob Evans & Michael Thompson
 
June 24-27
Institute for Heads
Grove Park Inn - Asheville, NC
featuring Rob Evans & Michael Thompson

June 30-July 2
Institute for 
New Heads 
Atlanta, GA
featuring Jack Hall (Walker School) and Billy Peebles (The Lovett School)
Institute for 
New Teachers 
June 24-26 | Atlanta
July 16-18| Charlotte
July 22-24 | Memphis
July 28-30 | Atlanta

Coming this fall ...
October 18-20
Annual Conference 
Atlanta, GA - Crowne Plaza Ravinia
Blogs of Note 

Jay Underwood, Head of High Meadows School in Roswell, GA, discusses what it means to be a progressive school.

Annie Murphy Paul, author and consultant, shares how breakthroughs in cognitive science can inform teachers' classroom strategies, and help them assign more effective homework.

Leah Slawson, English Teacher at Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery, AL, shares the perils of overcommitting one's time and the need to leave breathing room.

Annie Sickling, class of '12 from Whitefield Academy in Mableton, GA, reflects on a visit to the beach in Normandy, France, where two of her grandfathers fought in World War II.

Brad Rathgeber, Executive Director for the Online School for Girls, discusses the benefits of including online learning programs at independent schools to share resources, reduce costs, and expand offerings.
2014 SAIS Annual Conference Breakout Session Proposals
Breakout session proposals for the 2014 SAIS Annual Conference are being accepted through April 30.  The conference will take place October 18-20 at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia in Atlanta.  >>Submit proposals HERE
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SAIS Stakeholder Survey Center
  • Visit www.sais.org/surveys to see the stakeholder surveys available to you and your school community.    
  • SAIS has created a series of highly reliable and valid stakeholder surveys for you to use either in conjunction with a strategic visioning process or just to take the pulse of your community.   

  • Be sure to check out the video explanation, the sample questions, the timelines, and the sample reports.