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ESHA Stats: Enrollment & students of color; update on tuition & fees and admission & attrition
Contrary to what some might guess to be the national enrollment picture for independent schools in the current economy, the median enrollment for ESHA-member schools is, in fact, higher now than it was when school started in fall of 2008. Our members' schools saw a spike in attrition in 2009 and (we might surmise, a related) spike in new student enrollment that followed a year later. Members will find the 2011-2012 "Enrollment and Students of Color" ESHA Stats report -- containing a wealth of information at the national, regional, and specific-school levels -- in Excel format in the downloads section at right. We've also updated our reports on tuition & fees and on admission & attrition, incorporating additional data not available when the originals were published in December. These comparative statistics, generated from the NAIS StatsOnline Survey, are available to all ESHA members with the expectation that NAIS StatsOnline data policies will be honored.
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Annual Dinner: RSVP by February 8
This year's Annual Dinner host, Michael G. Murphy, Seattle Country Day School, has a terrific evening planned for us on February 29, including an appealing Tuscan buffet. We're expecting a good-sized group, with 44 people registered to date. Last call: register online or by mail by Wednesday, February 8. ESHA holds a dinner each year hosted at an ESHA member's school. Our Annual Dinners feature colleague time, a festive shared meal, a tour of the school, and a student performance. While held in conjunction with the NAIS conference, one need not be a member of NAIS to attend. Members, spouses/partners, prospective members, and their guests are welcome.
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The evolving role of the head of school: Words with heads at three career points
Attending the NAIS Annual Conference? Join our ESHA panel for some lively discussion. Angél Kytle, Saint Paul's School (FL), Chad Small, Rumson Country Day School (NJ), Clay Stites, Resource Group 175, and Claudia Daggett, ESHA Executive Director, will be addressing the topic of "the evolving role of the head of school." You'll find them Friday, March 2, at 1:30 p.m. See the December issue of ESHA News for a list of other sessions offered by ESHA colleagues.
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ESHA's global connections: CHINA
Here's an opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime experience! ESHA and Independent Education (IE), the association of independent schools in greater Washington, DC, have combined forces to offer a tour of China from June 16-30 for our members, including school visits and the opportunity to explore school partnerships. You'll find information on itinerary, cost, and registration process below.
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ESHA's global connections: AUSTRALIA
2011 ESHA Conference attendees had the privilege of meeting Keith Dalleywater, of the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA), and his wife Diana. Keith describes his ESHA experience in the most recent issue of Federal Link, the IPSHA newsletter. He comments: "Collegiality -- a sense of professional connection and belonging -- is one of IPSHA's greatest strengths.... But isn't it also wonderful that beyond the safe harbour of IPSHA are to be found other professional sanctuaries, gatherings of like-minded school leaders in passionate pursuit of what's best for young learners?"
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ESHA's global connections: KENYA
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Blended Learning: Registration now open!
A recent article in Mind/Shift identified the three most significant trends in contemporary learning as: collaborative, tech-powered, and blended. We hope you and members of your team will join us for ESHA's inaugural collaborative, tech-powered blended learning course! "Blended Learning for the K-8 Classroom," a 20-25 hour online class, will be held from June 25-July 20, led by Melissa Smith, Technology Coordinator Specializing in Virtual Learning at Presbyterian Day School (TN). The cost is $395, payable to ESHA. For a video preview, see: Blended Learning for the K-8 Classroom.
Registration is now open, available online and by mail.
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Marketing in a down economy
"Marketing in a down economy" proved to be a popular member discussion topic during the fall and winter months, with the third of three sessions held on January 12. Thanks to Maggie Granados, Montclair Cooperative School (NJ), for being a well-prepared, spirited facilitator, and to all of our participants for both good discussions and additions to our shared resource list.
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ESHA Book Talk: Our first
ESHA members gathered by video conference for our first ESHA book talk on January 19, a discussion of The Grace of Silence by Michele Norris (Knopf Doubleday, 2011), a memoir that addresses themes of race and family. Our discussion led us to consider the existence of hidden stories within families in all of our schools. The sense of the group was that this book could serve as a rich springboard for school community discussion. Thanks to Matthew Bradley, West Chester Friends (PA), for being our facilitator.
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ESHA Book Talk: Our next
Our next book discussion will feature Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (Macmillan, 2011). We'll come together by video conference on Thursday, April 5, at 1 PM CST. Tim Monroe, Sage School (MA), who describes the book as " a metacognitive joy ride," will be our facilitator. RSVP to info@elementaryschoolheads.org by March 29.
Says Jim Holt in his review in the New York Times: " Thinking, Fast and Slow... is an astonishingly rich book: lucid, profound, full of intellectural surprises and self-help value. It is consistently entertaining and frequently touching."
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2012 Annual Conference: Oct. 13-16
Our 2012 Annual Conference will be held from October 13-16 at Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. Conference planners Larry Griffin, Shore Country Day School (MA), and Chris Elliot, Tenacre Country Day School (MA), are putting together a program sure to move us to look toward the future. Details in the April issue of ESHA News.
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Advocacy for the elementary school model
Controversial conservative school reformer Chris Pierson Yecke, former Florida Chancellor of K-12 Public Schools and champion of the K-8 model, published an article five years ago that may be of enduring interest. In "Mayhem in the middle: Why we should shift to K-8," (Educational Leadership, ASCD, April 2006), Yecke cites research showing higher academic achievement in K-8 public schools as compared to their middle school counterparts in Milwaukee, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.
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On the road again
Recent visits with ESHA members were focused in ESHA's new home base in the central states. In December, ESHA Executive Director Claudia Daggett enjoyed a visit to Rossman School (MO) and conversation there with Pat Shipley. January brought the ISACS Heads of School Conference in Chicago, with opportunities to connect again with Pat and with several other ESHA friends: Matthew Gould, Community School (MO); Melissa Grubb, The Stanley Clark School (IN); Ben Hebebrand, Quest Academy (IL); Tom Hoerr, New City School (MO); Michael Kennedy, Gross Point Academy (MI); Michael Roberts, Catherine Cook School (IL); and Mike Vachow, Forsyth School (MO).
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Life after headship: From Gus Favreau
For me the word "retirement" is somewhat of a misnomer, for as heads of schools, we become involved in a range of new and productive activities. I certainly fit that mold, and I have applied Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot's wonderful book, The Third Chapter: Passion, Risk and Adventure in the 25 years after 50 (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2009), as a guide, and it has served me well. One of the individuals she interviewed referred to "giving forward" rather than "giving back," and that is the motto that I apply to my personal development.
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In memoriam: John Marder, Jr.
We are saddened to report the passing of John Marder, Jr. John was head of school at Harbor Day School (CA) from 1967 until his retirement in 1993. An ESHA member since its founding in 1973, John served as ESHA President from 1980-81. A memorial service was held on January 14 in Corona del Mar. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Harbor Day School for the John F. Marder, Jr. Fund for Faculty Development, Harbor Day School, 3443 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.
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Welcome these new ESHA members
New members:
Chris Lindeman, The Common School (MA)
Ronni McCaffrey, Graland Country Day (CO)
Returned after a hiatus:
OJ Morgan, Bright School (TN)
As always, you'll find an ESHA Member Directory above, just below the "Dear ESHA Members" letter and to the right of the first newsletter article. In that Directory, you'll find contact information for our new members.
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Member news
PublishedTom Hoerr, New City School (MO):
Intelligence Connections, ASCD Multiple Intelligences Professional Interest Community
Dane Peters, Brooklyn Heights Montessori School (NY):
Recognition, Independent Teacher, NAIS, Fall 2011
Neal Brown, Green Acres School (MD):
Elementary school leadership in an age of anxiety. Independent School, NAIS, Winter 2012, pp. 30-36
Nicholas Thacher, Dedham Country Day School (MA):
"Proving them wrong: An elementary commitment to public purpose." Independent School, NAIS, Winter 2012, pp. 72-77
Annette Raphel, Belmont Day School (MA):
"Topic A: Innovation," The Head's Letter, Educational Directions, February 2012
Jay Underwood, High Meadows School (GA):
"What, me worry?," The Head's Letter, Educational Directions, February 2012
Highlighted in the mediaBrain power blocks, MY9TV.com, 12/15/11:
City and Country School (NY) (Kate Turley)
Getting into the "right fit" private school, Connection Newspapers, 12/15/11:
The Langley School (VA) (Doris Cottam)
IDS students step up to help..., Killingworth-Durham-Middlefield Patch, 12/29/11:
Independent Day School (CT) (John Barrengos)
Kids helping kids, Preston Hollow Advocate, January 2012:
Lamplighter School (TX) (Joan Hill)
Darien teens attend diversity conference, Darien News, 1/01/12:
New Canaan Country School (CT) (Tim Bazemore)
Students, teachers rally for 'respect and responsibility,' Northern Valley Suburbate, 1/05/12:
Elisabeth Morrow School (NJ) (David Lowry)
DeBeer settles in as Friends' head of school, Boulder County Business Report, 1/06/12:
Friends' School (CO) (Steve deBeer)
Derby students take center stage, Hingham Patch, 1/07/12:
Derby Academy (MA) (Andrea Archer)
Confucious classrooms in Highlands School, Birmingham News, 1/09/12:
Highlands School (AL) (Kathryn Barr)
HostingNed Hallowell: All-Boys Education Speaker Series, 3/05/12:
The Fessenden School (MA) (David Stettler)
Richard Louv: The Nature Principle and the New Nature Movement, Leading Voices, 3/13/12:
Beauvoir, The National Cathedral Elementary School (DC) (Paula Carreiro)
2012 Martin Institute Summer Conference, 6/12/12:
Presbyterian Day School (TN) (Lee Burns)
Innovative Leadership: Leading for Effective Change, Santa Fe Leadership Center, 7/15/12-7/19/12:
Hillbrook School (CA) (Mark Silver)
LaunchedNew commons building:
St. Mark's Episcopal Day School (FL) (Cathy Hardage)
Preschool, beginning September 2012:
The Fessenden School (MA) (David Stettler)
New website or website design:
The Pike School (MA) (Muddy Waters)
The Allen-Stevenson School (NY) (David Trower)
New mobile site:
Derby Academy (MA) (Andrea Archer)
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