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Coming From Inside the House
Challenges to independent schools' values will come not from executive orders but from inside their own communities.

Mike Vachow
Apr 23 min read
79 views
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Hard Head Facts
Two hard things about headship, deal-breakers if you can't or aren't willing to do them.

Mike Vachow
Mar 123 min read
122 views
0 comments


Speak by the Card
In writing, just as in chemistry, knowing the parts and how to put them together is invaluable, especially if you want to blow something up.

Mike Vachow
Feb 133 min read
61 views
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Counter Cultural
With the new Presidential administration about to take office, many independent schools could become countercultural.

Mike Vachow
Jan 42 min read
197 views
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Rebuilding Student Culture
Students need help rebuilding their social skills post-pandemic.

Mike Vachow
Dec 4, 20243 min read
132 views
0 comments


Exit Ticket
Exit tickets are a powerful strategy for boards of trustees.

Mike Vachow
Nov 1, 20243 min read
107 views
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Capstone Experiences
A true capstone experience is a confidence flywheel for students.

Mike Vachow
Sep 13, 20242 min read
101 views
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Strong Start
You've got one shot at a strong start for new families. Make it count.

Mike Vachow
Aug 20, 20244 min read
119 views
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Student Retention: The First Two Weeks
Enrollment directors are wise to spend the first two weeks of the school year focused entirely on retention.

Mike Vachow
Jul 31, 20242 min read
513 views
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Outlook: 2024 - 2025
Predictions of the themes that will dominate the independent school conversation in the year ahead.

Mike Vachow
Jul 30, 20242 min read
222 views
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First 90 Days
Some frank counsel for new heads of independent schools.

Mike Vachow
Jul 2, 20243 min read
113 views
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Teaching and Learning
Your unique program might get them into the admission office, but once there, you've got to win them on teaching and learning.

Mike Vachow
Jun 3, 20242 min read
74 views
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Center Stage
Independent schools must showcase authentic student and faculty excellence to counter some toxic perceptions that have taken hold recently.

Mike Vachow
May 5, 20243 min read
215 views
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The Candidate's View
The faculty recruitment process from the candidate's point of view

Mike Vachow
Apr 1, 20243 min read
182 views
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Turning Down the Job
Our customers come to schools with jobs to be done, but some of them we can't do or can't do well.

Mike Vachow
Mar 4, 20243 min read
218 views
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Arcane Expertise
Heads often become expert in unusual subjects. Mine was neighbors.

Mike Vachow
Jan 30, 20243 min read
104 views
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Rolling Search
Because of the fewness of candidates, most searches are now rolling searches, candidates trickling through one by one.

Mike Vachow
Jan 2, 20242 min read
96 views
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High Touch
Leverage the high touch moments/locations of the school day--arrival, lunch, dismissal--by being present in them as often as possible.

Mike Vachow
Nov 13, 20233 min read
247 views
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Conference Recap
A collection of my discoveries at the 2023 ISACS Annual Conference.

Mike Vachow
Nov 5, 20232 min read
111 views
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Mining the Pandemic
In which I sort through, skim, to be honest, my writing about schools during the pandemic.

Mike Vachow
Oct 1, 20232 min read
34 views
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