Mike Vachow2 days ago2 minCommunication and RecruitmentA lasting change from the pandemic: schools will need dedicated communication and recruitment leaders.
Mike VachowMay 22 minTighten UpNext fall, schools will focus on re-integrating the structures they relaxed in the course of the pandemic.
Mike VachowApr 144 minReader's Notes: Community, Culture, DiscernmentMore than ever, schools should be countercultural.
Mike VachowApr 12 minTop 5 Reasons Why Now is the Time for Strategic PlanningIt's a great time for independent schools to consider reviving or creating a strategic plan.
Mike VachowFeb 253 minUsing ConsultantsSome counsel on hiring independent school consultants. . . from a consultant.
Mike VachowFeb 244 minHiring as NetworkingA year-round networking approach to hiring is important in any season, crucial in the sellers' market that the pandemic has created.
Mike VachowJan 253 minThe "Alternative" CandidateIndependent school leaders should expand their definition of ideal candidates for positions in their schools.
Mike VachowJan 184 minHandle with CareIndependent school headship was enormously complex before the pandemic. Boards must plan more carefully for the support that heads need.
Mike VachowDec 30, 20212 minRoundup 2021Here are the recurring topics and themes in my writing on independent schools this year.
Mike VachowDec 14, 20213 minReady to Climb: HiringEmployee retention and hiring will be the front-burner operational challenges for independent schools in the New Year.
Mike VachowNov 21, 20213 minBehindSchools should design special summer camp programs for their youngest students.
Mike VachowOct 20, 20213 minNot Home, Part 2Driven by necessity but limited by elemental human need, remote learning will grow only on the margins.
Mike VachowSep 10, 20213 minThe Longer GameTo protect faculty and staff, independent school heads should set June of 2023 as the default horizon for institution-wide projects.
Mike VachowAug 29, 20213 minReview: Teaching Machines: The History of Personalized Learning, by Audrey WattersAudrey Watters traces the history of personalized learning and teaching machines from 1920 to today. The through line is behaviorism.
Mike VachowJul 20, 20213 minNew AgainFamilies who came to independent schools last school year are the marketing opportunity of a lifetime for independent schools.
Mike VachowJul 16, 20212 minBoundariesSetting boundaries will be one of the signature challenges for heads and boards in the 2021 - 2022 school year.
Mike VachowJun 8, 20212 minBoard ResetAfter the past year, boards should do some simple planning to set off on the right course next fall.
Mike VachowMay 24, 20214 minKeep it RealNext year, schools will weigh convenience and intimacy when organizing how adults will work together.
Mike VachowMay 3, 20213 minRelaxed, With a Sense of UrgencyHow can schools use the tools they developed during the pandemic to create the ideal rhythms of school life and learning?