 Letter from the President Kirk Walker, Ph.D.
Several weeks ago, a friend from high school died suddenly. Within hours, an email exchange began among several dozen of our graduating class. We were stunned and saddened at the passing of this beloved individual as literally dozens in our class shared one tribute after another: each one more heartfelt than the last.
His death reminded us of our own mortality ... but it also reminded us of something else. After several days, the topic of the emails shifted from expressions of grief for our departed friend and to shared thoughts about our times together as a class, our shared adventures, the way that our alma mater had shaped our lives, and the kinship that we still felt for each other after all of these years (47 to be exact).
My experience is not unique, but it speaks to the profound impact that schools can have on defining and enhancing community. We teach skills (many designed to last a lifetime) ... but we also bond lives together. And those bonds become powerful lessons taught and re-taught for decades.
In this commencement season, I have no doubt that your graduating classes have been well-prepared for the next step in their journey. And I have no doubt that most of them are grateful for your efforts. What they do not yet realize is that your school has given them a gift that they may not fully appreciate for another 47 years.
Well done.
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 Graduation: A Time to Give Back
By Christina Mimms, SAIS
'Tis the season of giving, if you're a high school senior, that is. With graduation approaching, seniors often receive gifts of jewelry, goodies for dorm life, or possibly checks from generous relatives. As part of their commencement exercises, many senior classes also present a gift back to their school - a product of their own fund-raising and hard work to give thanks to the place and the people who nurtured them through their teenage years, played a significant role in their college matriculation, and supported them on their academic journey thus far. >>Read more.
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 Gratitude
Reviewed by Lee Hark, Associate Head of School and Upper School Director, Durham Academy, Durham, NC
When I was a kid, my uncle Bob (Darlington School class of '66) was my coolest relative. He drove an Alpha Romeo convertible; he had long, wavy hair; he rode horses; and he did all these things while living in California (Fresno, actually, but I didn't know any better; I assumed the entire state of California was sunshine and palm trees). Whenever Bob would catch a red-eye home for Christmas, we weren't to disturb him until he awoke around midday (even his jetlag seemed cool). >>Read more.
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 FastStats: College Graduation Trends for Independent School Students
Perhaps the primary outcome of an independent school education is to be prepared for and graduate from college. For this FastStats, I will analyze the 50-year trends for college graduation among independent school graduates. Specifically, I will use undergraduate completion, whether students are graduating in four years, the percentage of students who have transferred out of a college program, and first-year GPA as measures of preparedness for college. >>Read more. |
 Stephen P. Robinson Collaboration Grant Recipient Report: The Lovett School and The Westminster Schools
In the upcoming issues of SAIS HeadLines, reports from the 2015 Stephen P. Robinson Collaboration Grant recipients will be published. These reports detail the programs funded by the grant program.
The Lovett School (GA) and The Westminster Schools (GA) are rivals on the sports fields but collaborators when it comes to the classroom. In 2013, the two schools joined to create a summer course to encourage students at both schools to take an active role in improving the quality of life in the city of Atlanta. Atlanta 2.0 (ATL 2.0), a course taught jointly by a teacher from Lovett and a teacher from Westminster, was born, allowing students to engage with civic leaders, tour a broad spectrum of Atlanta neighborhoods, and examine an array of current literature about contemporary urban life. Students worked to identify problems in the city, research potential solutions to those problems, and ultimately propose said solutions to a panel of Atlanta's leaders in government, business, education, law, medicine, and the arts.
>>Read more.
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 2016 SAIS Institute for New Teachers
The SAIS Institute for New Teachers is a must-attend workshop for the teacher new to teaching or just new to the world of the independent school. In addition to the educational component, there is also an experiential one - each participant presents a videotaped lesson that is critiqued by peers and the experienced faculty. Past participants have rated this as one of their best learning and growing experiences. "I loved being in small groups and getting immediate feedback on my lessons," said Cassidy Britt, a new 9th grade English teacher at the Webb School of Knoxville in Knoxville, TN. "It was a good challenge, all about sharing and learning."
"Getting feedback from each other and seeing ourselves videotaped was extremely helpful," said Jan Michael, 8th grade history teacher at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Jackson, MS.
The Institutes will be held in three cities this summer:
- July 12-14 | St. Martin's Episcopal School | Atlanta, GA
- July 19-21 | Providence Day School | Charlotte, NC
- July 26-28 | Brentwood Academy | Nashville, TN
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Call for SAIS Board of Trustee Nominations
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 and a variety of other factors. Review the current board of trustees here. 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 22-24, 2016, in Atlanta. New trustees will begin their terms on January 1, 2017. Submit a nomination for the SAIS Board of Trustees here.
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 SAIS Membership Dues 2016-17 Just a reminder that your SAIS membership dues invoice for the 2016-17 school year will be sent electronically the week of May 9. Dues are calculated based on information your school provided via our annual spring survey. The payment deadline is August 1.
There are three ways to pay dues: ACH transfer, credit card, or check. If you are paying by check please note our new mailing address: 6050 Peachtree Pkwy, Suite 240-199, Norcross, GA 30092.
As a member of SAIS you can take advantage of member pricing for all of our professional development offerings listed at www.sais.org/events.
Thank you for being a member of SAIS. If any of our staff can be of service to you or your school, please do not hesitate to call upon us. Our staff list can be found at www.sais.org/contact. |
SAIS offers a variety of affordable, accessible, and relevant professional development programs for independent school leaders.
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June 13-15 | Emory Conference Center | Atlanta, GA
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June 14-15 | Emory Conference Center | Atlanta, GA
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June 15-17 | Emory Conference Center | Atlanta, GA
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June 15-17 | Emory Conference Center | Atlanta, GA
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June 15-17 | Emory Conference Center | Atlanta, GA
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June 21-24 | Omni Amelia Island Plantation | Amelia Island, FL
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July 12-14 - Atlanta, GA | July 19-21 - Charlotte, NC | July 26-28 - Nashville, TN
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October 22 | Crowne Plaza Ravinia | Atlanta, GA
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October 22-24 | Crowne Plaza Ravinia | Atlanta, GA
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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
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Technical Assistance Services:
Benchmarking and Bylaws
Now is the time to use NAIS DASL data to plan for next year. Do you need benchmark salary information? SAIS can help and can teach you how to use this powerful tool.
Do your bylaws need a refresh? We have read quite a number and are happy to read yours and will provide suggestions on aligning your bylaws with your aspirations of being and remaining a strategically effective board. Contact Damian Kavanagh at SAIS, (404) 918-8850 or damian@sais.org.
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WANTED:
Your School's Logo
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Hammond School
The fact that Hammond is the largest independent school in the Columbia, SC area comes as no surprise. First and foremost, we take academics seriously, and our track record proves it. But that's only half of the story. Our athletic department, art department, experiential learning programs, and commitment to community service help round out the Hammond experience to develop the whole child. Field studies and overnight trips find our students exploring new environments, local and abroad, in addition to the ample opportunities that exist on our 200-acre plus campus. We believe in five imperatives that form the basis of the Hammond experience. >>Read more.
Would you like to be an SAIS Featured School? Contact christina@sais.org.
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Sean Corcoran, head of Brainerd Baptist School in Chattanooga, TN, advocates "keeping it simple."
Edutopia's Assistant Editor Todd Finley provides teachers with some good advice.
Dave Stuart Jr., teacher at Cedar Springs High School in Cedar Springs, MI, rekindles the joy of reading.
Michael Ehrhardt, head of Cary Academy in Cary, NC, writes about managing kids and technology.
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Olympic events, Earth Day, SAIS school visits, and more!
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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 christina@sais.org.
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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.
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