SAIS Headlines

2015 SAIS Annual Conference Highlights

This year's SAIS Annual Conference attendees witnessed several firsts, including new SAIS President Dr. Kirk Walker's first year of leading the conference and presentations by the inaugural recipients of the Stephen P. Robinson Collaborative Grants. Additionally, there were several new topics among the breakout sessions, including discussions of LGBTQ issues, new takes on branding, and new issues related to technology. SAIS also welcomed speakers Rick Wormeli and Catherine Steiner-Adair. >>Read more.

Click here for the audio download of 2015 SAIS Annual Conference keynote speaker Ian Symmonds' address.

Live! From a High School Near You

When Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Atlanta launched its most recent campaign to design and construct a STEM building on campus, school leaders asked teachers and others for wish lists for the new space. Joe Conway, a four-year faculty member in upper school film and broadcast production, wrote a lengthy and, according to him, almost laughable list for the journalism department. To his surprise and delight, everything he requested was delivered, including a production studio where students tape the weekly WHIS-TV broadcasts and quarterly feature shows, a voice-over studio, three editing suites, a host of new equipment, and three classrooms used by TV crew, newspaper staff, and yearbook staff. >>Read more.

2016 SAIS Athletic Directors Conference

For the first time, SAIS will host an Athletic Directors Conference, January 14-15, 2016, in Atlanta. Topics will include strategic leadership and operational excellence in the athletic offerings at the school. >>Read more.

Ungifted: The Truth About Talent, Practice, Creativity, and the Many Paths to Greatness

By Scott Barry Kaufman

Reviewed by Rachel Plucker, Middle School Math Department Chair, Randolph School, Huntsville, AL

In his book, Ungifted, Scott Barry Kaufman presents a multifaceted look at intelligence against the backdrop of his own struggles of being diagnosed with a learning disability at a young age. Considering himself the victim of a standard IQ test, Kaufman took it upon himself to study the damaging effects and misconceptions of the traditional IQ test. The book, which is organized to correspond with his personal story, follows being placed in a special education class to achieving his ultimate goal of receiving his Ph.D. at Yale. >>Read more.

COMPANY PROFILE

TADS

A family applying for financial aid may naturally feel a bit uncomfortable about sharing personal data with school staff members. Is the person waving to them at morning drop-off aware of how much they paid in taxes last year or what their mortgage note costs? That type of discomfort can often lead a family to exit from independent school rather than go through the financial disclosure process. >>Read more.

The Stephen P. Robinson Collaboration Grants

The Stephen P. Robinson Collaboration Grants were created to encourage independent schools to form new partnerships with other schools, institutions of higher education, businesses, and/or nonprofits. SAIS will annually divide a total of $25,000 among two to five member schools. Those applying must demonstrate a vision and capacity to pursue and carry out meaningful collaborations. Successful examples have demonstrated efforts that benefit the greater community or region in unique ways. SAIS will accept proposals for the 2016 Collaboration Grants between October 20 and December 31, 2015. >>Read more.

On-Site Board Workshops

SAIS President Dr. Kirk Walker and Vice President Damian Kavanagh are available to visit your campus and conduct on-site governance workshops.

Trusteeship for Independent Schools
New Trustee Orientation
Becoming an Outstanding Board
The Changing Landscape of Independent School Governance

Just Say Cheese: Your Photos Wanted!

Got any great photos of your campus, students, or a special occasion at your school? Would you be willing to let SAIS use them on our website, in marketing materials, and in publications such as this? If so, please send high-resolution files to [email protected].

Retiring in 2016?

If you are a head of school who will be retiring at the end of the 2015-16 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. Please complete our Legacy Club bio form.

Benchmarking Data Collection

It's time to enter your data into DASL by NAIS. We are not collecting this important statistical information and encourage all schools, regardless of NAIS membership to enter data. When you need a benchmark on salary or student ratios or operational expenditures, you will need it. Don't delay - data entry has already started. Visit http://dasl.nais.org for more information and to get started.