Employee retention and hiring will be the front-burner operational challenges for independent schools in the New Year.

Hiring is a year round job. You'll need a great process to evaluate candidates, but first you'll need a deep network to find them.

In their employment and enrollment decisions, heads balance compassion with their duty to protect the school's mission and bottom line.

Too many head search committees believe that they're buying when, in fact, they should be selling.

Independent schools consistently hire consultants to assist with head searches--for very good reasons.

Boards should provide first year heads with dedicated mentoring on Day One.

The ideal independent school Director of Business should have the equivalent of an MSW to go along with a CPA.

Hiring is the head's most important task. How you go about it should reflect the highest values of the school.

It's essential for boards to have a carefully designed transition program for new heads.