Board/Head Retreat

A strong working relationship between the head and board chair is critical to a school's success. On Saturday, October 18, heads and board chairs will have the opportunity to deepen this important relationship at the SAIS Board/Head Retreat, led by noted school psychologists and consultants Rob Evans and Michael Thompson as well as SAIS President Steve Robinson. 

Evans will kick-off the day at 10:00 AM with a joint session for heads and board chairs titled Governing in the New Age of Anxiety.  After lunch, heads will spend the afternoon with Evans and Thompson.  Board chairs will enjoy an afternoon session by Robinson, who says that a great board chair/head relationship should be approached with the same care and respect as a marriage. He suggests that board chairs and heads should focus on three key ingredients when building their relationship: maintaining a common purpose, excellent communication, and respect. Plus it is important for all parties to maintain a service mentality. They should continuously reflect and refocus on their primary goal and make decisions based on what is best for the school's students. 

The retreat will precede the SAIS Annual Conference. $195 per person.  >>Read more.

Reviewed by Jay Watts, Assistant Director of Athletics, The Westminster Schools, Atlanta, GA

Nathan Barber's What Teachers Can Learn from Sports Coaches will resonate with teachers who are looking for new perspectives in the classroom, or perhaps with those looking for affirmation for new ideas already in practice. The book could also be an eye-opener for coaches who have yet to see the connection between their coaching techniques and their classroom teaching. However, this book's greatest value may be that it reinforces the value of athletics as part of a school's total curriculum and the need for more recognition for coaches as innovators in education and, in many cases, masters of 21st century teaching pedagogy.  >>Read more.

Oct 18-20 at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia, Atlanta, GA
*Deadline for earlybird registration and hotel cut-off:  Sept 26

DON'T MISS THIS:  Be sure to register for the special dinner Celebrating Steve Robinson on Saturday, Oct 18.  Cocktails at 6:00 PM followed by dinner at 7:00 PM.  Advance reservations required ($65 per person).

This year's benchmarking data collection is being conducted in conjunction with NAIS and DASL. This is important information and all SAIS schools (even those not members of NAIS) are invited and encouraged to participate. If your school has not already received login instructions and credentials, please visit http://dasl.nais.org.

If you are a head of school who will be retiring at the end of the 2014-15 school year, please let us know so we can induct you into the SAIS Legacy Club, a group of retired heads of school who gather twice a year.  The induction ceremony will take place at the dinner on Saturday, October 18, 2014, in conjunction with the SAIS Annual Conference and the dinner celebrating Steve Robinson.  Please email [email protected] before September 19 to make sure we have you on the list (and please include a bio and photo).

The SAIS Board of Trustees proposes the following slate  of new trustees for service beginning January 1, 2015: 

The membership will have the opportunity to vote on these trustees at the SAIS Annual Business Meeting, which takes place during the Annual Conference, on Sunday, October 19, at 12:00 PM.  Register for the conference at www.sais.org/AC.

• Heads Leadership Retreat >> April 19-20
• Institute for Strategic Leadership >> June 15-17
• Institute for the Head's Assistant >> June 16-17
• Administrative Leadership Institute >> June 17-19
• Institute for Heads >>June 24-26
• Institute for New Heads >> June 29-July 1

See the full SAIS calendar of events at www.sais.org/events.

Academic Planning for Online & Blended Learning 

This blended course will help curricular leaders, department chairs, and senior administrators understand the academic implications, challenges, and advantages of online and blended learning for independent schools. During the course, participants will be exposed to national leaders and experts in online learning, including (and most importantly) experts within the independent school community. 

This course is appropriate for schools that are beginning to incorporate online or blended learning into their curriculum, or that are contemplating doing so.

Marcia Prewitt Spiller, Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, GA, reflects on the importance of teamwork after watching first graders solve math problems together.
 

Philip Cummings, Reading Teacher at Presbyterian Day School in Memphis, TN, shares class activities that encourage his students to be reflective, critical thinkers. 

Ruth Thomas, Curriculum and Instruction Specialist at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC, shares a reading list that teaches children the value of collaboration. 

Read more blogs here. 

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