The Independent School Management Podcast

A Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing a Community Wellness Program at Your School

Wellness programs have been shown to improve employee retention, productivity, and health for your entire school community—including students, faculty, and staff. However, starting such an important initiative can be a daunting task.In this episode, you’ll receive a step-by-step guide to building, implementing, and maintaining a community wellness program in your school to improve everyone’s health and morale. And if your school already has a wellness program, discover strategies for expanding its offerings.

How Mental Health Initiatives Affect Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement

A healthy school is only possible if it’s home to healthy students. Although schools have embraced physical health education, students benefit most from wellness programming when an array of wellness and mental health services are available. Many schools still fall short of providing comprehensive mental health programs, depriving students and the larger communities of numerous benefits.Learn how robust mental health initiatives improve family recruitment, increase student retention, and engage alumni. When intervention occurs early, mental health treatment and wellness services can make a tremendous difference.

Leading for Well-Being and Mental Health: Influence, Impact, and Implications

Work and learning have shifted fundamentally, and leaders have a tremendous influence on mental health and well-being. Join us to hear new perspectives, fascinating research, and fresh viewpoints on how school leaders can influence positive experiences for their teachers, students, and peers—with implications for well-being and health.

Take the Guesswork Out of Your Digital Marketing Campaigns

The way families find and research schools has changed, and schools must adapt their marketing efforts accordingly. Digital marketing has the power to set your school apart—if you can harness its potential.
In this webinar, Clint Losch (ISM Advancement Academy Faculty and Director of Business Development, Powered by ISM) and Jamie Giblett (Sales Manager, Digistorm) will discuss how to evaluate your school’s current digital marketing efforts and implement strategies based on data, not speculation.

The School Head and Board’s Role in Advancement: A Panel Discussion

Collaboration between your Board, your School Head, and your Advancement Team (Marketing Communication Professionals, Development Directors, Admission Directors, and enrollment managers) is essential to successfully achieve your enrollment and fundraising goals.
As you look ahead to the 2023–24 school year, how can you think strategically about this collective approach?
The following panelists will share their experiences and provide expert insight:
Isabel Sankaran-Wee, CFRE, IAP-L, Director of Advancement at Stratford Hall, B.C. Canada;
Steve Salvo, Head of School at St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School, FL;
Penny Abrahams, ISM Senior Consultant, Advancement Department Head, and Advancement Academy Convener; and
Scott Wilson, ISM Executive Leadership Department Head and Platinum Executive Coach.

Five Steps to Invest in Your Faculty and Increase Retention

How do you develop a school culture that helps teachers thrive and feel supported, and encourages them to stay? Especially as you approach all that is involved in the hiring season?
In this webinar, Meredith Monk Ford, Executive Director at Folio Collaborative, walks you through a specific conversation strategy you can use that demonstrates your investment in your teachers while uncovering how to sustain their commitment to your school. This strategy builds on five concepts that help foster a school culture that encourages teachers to stay for the long term: putting people first, taking purposeful action, creating clarity, honoring reflection, and making time for celebration.

ChatGPT: The Game-Changing Technology for Private School Marketers

You’ve probably heard of the revolutionary new AI language model, ChatGPT. And now you’re wondering:
Do I really need to learn how to use it?
Is this just a fad?
How can this new system actually help with our school’s marketing?
Aren’t the outputs too basic and generic?
As a fellow marketer who has spent over 200 hours studying ChatGPT and implementing it in my own marketing efforts, I can confidently tell you it is a game-changer!
The problem is, many people don't know how to use it to its full potential.
After this webinar, you will have the exact strategies and ChatGPT prompts to save you hours, and even days, executing your most critical marketing tasks.

SUCCESSion Planning

In today’s challenging employment environment, succession planning has become a vital part of organizational sustainability. Independent schools operate in unique ways that reflect the rich mosaic of skills, talents, styles, and passions of those who lead. But, despite the uniqueness of each school culture, there are universal do’s and don'ts when planning for succession for any role.

WISE: A New Program Providing Critical Student Mental Health Support

One in six children in the United States has a mental health disorder.
Anxiety in teens has increased by 93.6% since 2019.
1.8 million additional therapists are needed to effectively treat serious mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
In 2021, only 15% of adolescents aged 12-17 reported receiving mental health services at school.
More than 50% of adolescents indicated they would seek mental health support if it were more readily available.
These numbers are frightening, but there is hope. Access to a professional–when students need it most—could help you prevent a tragedy and maybe even save a student’s life.
ISM has partnered with HEP-Health Care to create WISE (Wellness in Independent Secondary Education)—a smartphone app that gives students 24/7/365 access to live mental health professionals instantaneously. In this webinar, Dr. Deborah Beck, MPA, Ed.D., FACHA, and President of HEP-HealthCare, will discuss the mental health crisis among students today. Dr. Beck will explain how our new program can partner with your school’s counselors to provide invaluable support and resources for your entire school. Tune in to see a live demonstration of the program and discover how it will make a difference for your students, faculty and staff.

What to Do When Your Learning Support Program Isn’t Enough

Learning support services in independent schools are growing. But despite a dedicated and caring faculty working hard to provide individualized education plans, your program might not be meeting the needs of some students.
Brad Rogers, Head of School at The Gow School—a mission-driven school in New York for students with dyslexia—will share his expertise on supporting students with learning differences. He’ll also share how he partners with independent schools to ensure ALL students are provided the best school experience possible.