​From ESHA President Elinor Scully

                                                   Heads Up!

       This article came out in November and provides an interesting perspective on cell phones and accompanying suggestions.
https://www.waituntil8th.org/blog/2018/11/12/middle-school-misfortunes-then-and-now-one-teachers-take

     The following three links are just parts of an extensive "Special Report on Childhood "in the January 5th edition of The Economist.

https://www.economist.com/special-report/2019/01/05/why-childrens-lives-have-changed-radically-in-just-a-few-decades

https://www.economist.com/special-report/2019/01/05/the-early-years-are-getting-increasing-attention

https://www.economist.com/special-report/2019/01/05/how-children-interact-with-digital-media

​          And finally, Carla Silver of Leadership and Design once again pushes us where we might want to go!

The Miracle of Tidying Up School

Carla Silver, Head L+Doer
Leadership+Design

 I haven't read The Life-Changing Habit of Tidying Up - although I do own it. From what I have read about it, I'm pretty sure I would be a big fan. I'm also certain that it offers many more humane, kind and empathetic methods for what I do everyday - heartlessly and haphazardly get rid of crap.  Or should I say, "stuff?" Whatever. It's in the eye of the beholder. At the rate I fill extra large hefty lawn bags full of art projects, broken toys, plastic souvenirs from family vacations as well as school and professional sporting events, unfinished friendship bracelets, cardboard cities, and school work, I feel like I should hold an honorary trash collector's license, much less feel capable at "tidying up." The day winter vacation ends and the kids go back to school: that is when I am at my most relentless.
 
One final hypothesis about this book (that I have not read)  is that it isn't really about keeping a clean desk or a tidy house, it's about being able to make clear choices about what to keep and what to throw away -  in life. Whether we are talking about personal and work habits, relationships, possessions, or ideas and perspectives, we all carry around a lot more than what really serves us, brings us joy, feels relevant, and really matters in the here and now.
 
Schools are no exception. In fact, I would actually consider schools - as an industry -  to be hoarders - of curriculum, pedagogy, calendar, and mindsets about student learning. Faulkner, Steinbeck, Hemingway, and Fitzgerald  - can't get rid of those guys. That Latin text book from 1989 - it has a few good translations. Keep. AP courses - how will our students ever get into *name brand college* without them? Three months of summer - our teachers and students need time to rest and recover and our families need time to take overseas vacations.  Lectures and exams - our students will need to know how to do these when they go to college because that is what colleges do - especially *name brand college*. I could go on, but I think I've made my point. At what point do we keep hoarding all of these elements of education or make the choice to tidy up and make clear and intentional decisions about what is really important, relevant, joyful, and meaningful?
 
School leaders can get cluttered too - with the stories they tell themselves and their own personal narratives about how they need to serve their school communities, make decisions, and their strengths and weaknesses. "Nobody takes me seriously." - Better hold onto that idea.  "I need to be decisive." - A little old school, but that's what leaders do. "I solve the problems - for my school and all of my direct reports." - I can be the hero. What are the stories that leaders can tell themselves that actually serve them and help them to be more capable in mobilizing change and empower others to do work that matters? What stories inhibit success and are no longer useful? Hoarders.
 
This month, in our year of Mad-Lib style newsletter articles, we asked our writers to complete the following prompt that we like to call the Miracle Question: A miracle has occurred and ________ problem has been magically solved overnight.  We're observing ___________ as a result, and it's blowing our minds. For me, the miracle would be that we have applied the KonMari method described in The Life-Changing Habit of Tidying Up (or at least the version I have in my head)  to school and to school leadership. We have systematically explored what we possess and what we store in our syllabi, our personal narratives, our curriculum and our pedagogy, and we ask ourselves,"Is this serving me and my students now?" "When was the last time I really used this?" "Where am I not making space for solutions, practices, and learning experiences that could be more elegant and relevant?" "Is this bringing me and my community joy?" The real miracle would be that we have tidied up school.  There would be space for growth. My mind would be blown.
 
In the natural word, there are eco-cycles that organic systems go through - starting with gestation and moving through birth, maturity and finally creative destruction.   Liberating Structures - a set of practices that are helpful when teams are trying to make progress through challenges  uses a tool called "Ecocycle Planning" to help organizations and teams apply this natural phenomenon in their own work, helping them to identify where certain practices, products, activities and services are in their various ecological stages. Creative destruction is part of any healthy eco-cycle.  To make space for new growth and allow new seeds to germinate, other plants must die or be repurposed and turned to mulch. Ecosystems depend on these cycles. It's nature's way of Tidying Up. When nature hoards, we end up with forest fires. When schools hoard, we end up with fires of a different kind.
 
Take a look below at the miracles our amazing writers - all L+D Fellows - have identified.  Thanks Michael Ecker, Rhonda Hewer and Hannah Nelson. You are all miracle workers! Speaking of the L+D Fellowship, it's almost time to open up the applications for this year.  We start taking applications February 1 and the deadline is March 15. Also coming up, Equity and Inclusion Action Lab in Seattle with NWAIS (you don't have to be a NWAIS member to attend).  Wonder Women! is filling, so register soon if you want to join us - this year we are back in Oakland, CA at Head-Royce School. Lastly, we opened up registration for a new adventure last week - L+D TruthSeeking Pods.  If you are interested, email me  or Ryan  and we can send you a registration link. We only have a couple of spaces left! Apparently there are a lot of school leaders seeking truth because those spots were snatched up lickity split.
 
May 2019 bring you many wonderful adventures, hopefully some with L+D!

Warmly,
 
Carla Silver

    ESHA Flights: Ongoing Conversations with other ESHA Heads

ESHA member Abigail Wiebenson, former Head of Lowell School in Washington, DC, and currently a leadership coach, runs one of our connecting flights and summarizes what the calls entail:

The monthly Flights are an intentional way of giving ESHA members an opportunity to air ideas and consider situations in a safe, knowledgeable and collegial environment.  These calls affirm and strengthen leadership as participants gain insight, awareness and validation from exchanging experiences with their colleagues about successes and dilemmas. Meeting monthly, if possible, has the added benefit of developing enduring professional and personal relationships over the course of a school year. 
During the hour phone discussions, flight leaders listen carefully and guide the conversation, enabling ideas to be exchanged in ways that produce insights, affirmations and “takeaways” for the participants.

Dane's Education Blog
iGen Generation - Born 1995-2012

Posted: 16 Aug 2018 05:12 AM PDT​

If you, or your child, or your student was born anytime between 1995 and 2012 you/she/he is of the iGen generation— you know, the generation after the Millennials. You will want to read Dr. Jean M. Twenge's book iGen.

Filled with charts, statistics, and facts, her book, will amaze you at how iGens have moved beyond the technology and social media we think the Millennials own.

Here is a link to the many Appendices that supplement the book, and along with the book, here is where you will get a quick sample of what the author has compiled to help readers understand the iGen generation. Ironically, when you view this link, the first graph you will see is Figure 1.A. "8th and 10th graders' print media use." Hang on to your seat when you view this graph.

Coincidentally, NYTimes columnist Frank Bruni quoted Twenge in his Sunday Review column last Sunday, [She said] "Having to sit for more than a half hour or an hour doing one thing — that's gone by the wayside, and that concerns me as an educator and as a parent."

Here is one more link to her TEDx Talk. In her closing comment she states, "Let your phone be a tool you use, not a tool that uses you."

                             Leading Off




Dear ESHA Friends,

May is nearly done, so congratulations are due for almost completing your leadership year for 2017-2018! In my discussions with you, both face to face and on our connecting calls, I remain deeply impressed with the common sense, creativity, and energy with which you approach your always demanding jobs. Keep it up! Go, ESHA Heads!

To the degree possible, enjoy the hoopla and intensity of the end of the school year, and then totally enjoy the well deserved time off that you have merited this summer. And before you check out, register below for our October Retreat in Palm Beach!

Cheers!

Chris

​,From ESHA President Elinor Scully

Dear ESHA Colleagues,
 
We are in the home stretch and I'm sure all of you are counting down, in one way or another, to the end of the school year. I also hope that as you anticipate summer you have carved out some time to rest and recharge. I'm including two links to things I've read recently that are compelling and speak to our work as leaders of preschool through grade eight institutions. 
 
1. The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives, by William Stixrud and Ned Johnson.
 
2. The 10 Skills You Need to Thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
 
Have a wonderful summer! I look forward to seeing all of you at The Breakers in Palm Beach for our annual retreat in the fall.
 
Warmly,
Elinor 

                                  Heads Up!

Food for thought from The Marshall Memo...

Which Managerial Coaching Style Works Best?
 
This Harvard Business Review article reports that most managers aspire to check in frequently with their people to see how things are going and develop talent. “Indeed,” say the authors, “the desire for frequent discussions about development is one reason many companies are moving away from annual performance reviews: A yearly conversation isn’t enough.” But surveys reveal that managers spend only about 9 percent of their time with subordinates; they’re just too busy. Given that stark reality, the key question is how leaders can have the biggest impact in that small window of opportunity. 

A study by Gartner Executive Programs identified four distinct employee-coaching profiles and analyzed which was most effective:

• Teacher-managers give advice, feedback, and direction based on their own knowledge and past experience in the field.

• Always-on managers provide continuous coaching, give feedback across a wide range of skills, and stay on top of how employees are developing. This is often seen as the ideal style of management.

• Connector managers link employees to others on the team when they themselves can’t give the most helpful feedback. They spend more time assessing the skills, needs, and interests of their employees, and realize that they often aren’t the best person to do the coaching.

• Cheerleader managers are available and supportive and deliver positive feedback, but mostly put employees in charge of their own development.

The Gartner research team came to several conclusions. First, the amount of coaching time was less important than depth and quality – and quality depended on coaching style. Second, the hyper-vigilant Always-on coaching style was the least effective; in fact, these managers were doing more harm than good. Why?

-  Their continual stream of feedback could be overwhelming and kept employees from developing independently.

-  They spent less time assessing employees’ skill needs and tended to coach in areas that weren’t relevant to real needs.

-  They were so focused on coaching that they often failed to recognize the limits of their own expertise; they were winging it or giving misguided advice.

Third, the researchers found the Connectors were by far the most effective. In fact, employees who worked with these leaders were three times as likely to be high performers as those under the other three styles. 
What’s going on here? Consider a professional tennis player’s coach who tries to do it all. Nobody knows everything, which is why a really good coach will identify expertise, monitor progress, and outsource certain areas – perhaps strength training, nutrition, serves, lobs, and backhands. 

Becoming a Connector is a mind shift for many leaders, especially the humility involved in admitting gaps in knowledge and deferring to others. “Historically,” says Jaime Roca of Gartner, “being a manager is about being directive and telling people what to do. Being a Connector is more about asking the right questions, providing tailored feedback, and helping employees make a connection to a colleague who can help them.” Being a connector also takes some of the pressure off managers to be all things to everyone. They basically delegate some of the coaching to other members of their team, encouraging people to coach one another, and constantly assessing and pointing out skills that exist within the organization that can benefit everyone.
 
“Managers Can’t Be Great Coaches All By Themselves” in Harvard Business Review, May-June 2018 (Vol. 96, #3, p. 22), https://hbr.org/2018/05/managers-cant-be-great-coaches-all-by-themselves

And here's yet interesting another post from Dane's Blog by ESHA member Dane Peters...

                                Leading Off

                    
​Dear ESHA Friends,

Our Annual Dinner in Atlanta gave many of us an opportunity to gather for a terrific evening at The Children's School, hosted by ESHA board member Nishant Mehta and his wife Neeti. Nishant gave timely remarks about the importance of our schools' important efforts to sustain the childhoods of our students for as long as possible, particularly in light of Parkland and other school tragedies. Abigail Wiebenson, a "connecting flight"conference call leader, spoke about the value of the discussion groups and encouraged all Heads to consider participating, and attendees got a preview of the October Annual Retreat in Florida. The Annual Dinner, the Connecting Flight calls, and the Annual Retreat: take advantage of all three!

Best,

​Chris 

From ESHA President Elinor Scully

​​​Dear ESHA Colleagues,​

By now I hope many of you have had (or are getting to enjoy) a much-deserved spring vacation and that the bulk of winter weather has passed for those in the areas that have seen so much snow and cold weather. ESHA held its annual dinner at The Children's School in Atlanta earlier this month during the NAIS conference. Heartfelt thanks go to our gracious host Nishant Mehta and his dynamic team for treating us to a lovely meal and a wonderful evening of fellowship. ESHA gives us that special network of trusted colleagues with whom we can share the joys and the challenges of our work. The annual dinner was no exception.

As we round out the year, I hope many of you will continue to participate in your Mentoring Flight calls, another example the benefits of being a part of ESHA.
 
Wishing everyone a happy spring!
 
Elinor

                   
​Dear ESHA Friends,
 
I look forward to seeing many of you in Atlanta at our Annual Dinner in March – hosted at The Children’s School by Nishant Mehta - and am happy to report that our planning committee is already assembling the program for our October retreat in Florida. In addition, many of our “mentoring and connecting flight” conference calls are providing ongoing support and stimulation for those of our Heads who participate, as Elinor notes in her message.
 
These three activities – the dinner, the retreat, and the calls – provide regular opportunities for you to engage in friendly conversations with your peers while addressing concerns about issues such as leadership styles, branding and marketing, and the cost of and enrollment in our schools.
 
Hopefully you will participate in all of these activities and fully enjoy the offerings that ESHA presents. Check out what Muddy and Liza Waters have to say about ESHA below.
 
Happy New Year!
 
Best,
 
Chris Abell  

​​Dear ESHA Colleagues,​

I recently held a Mentoring Flight Call with a group of ESHA heads. This is the second year for this particular flight and though we are continuing to get to know one another, we are developing a nice sense of partnership and rhythm in these calls. A few members have dropped off and we have added a few more. What struck me most, however, was how in just one hour I gained so much from the conversation. I left with several excellent ideas I could use in dealing with a strategic issue I was facing at my school. I garnered wisdom and practical advice, but moreover a sense that I wasn't alone in facing these challenges. In our days as heads of school, we have precious little time to truly reflect and gain advice. My Mentoring Flight offers this to me on a regular basis. It is a wonderful gift and if you haven't had a chance to explore this feature of your ESHA membership, please give it a try.

I also hope to see many of you at the annual dinner in Atlanta!  

Best, ​Elinor

​                         Leading Off



Dear ESHA Friends,

Comments from our October Boulder Retreat:

“Overall, another great year. I love the retreat format and the big picture presentations. I am leaving feeling renewed.”

“Warm, friendly, collegial. Genuine and authentic dialogue. A really worthwhile time. Made some wonderful new friends.”

“I am very glad I made it to my first ESHA retreat! Restorative, inspirational, and energizing!”

“The highlight of my year as far as a great balance between rest, fellowship, and inspiration.”
 
“Would never miss it!”

“All IN on ESHA! Best conference of the year.”

“Well done! It was a great retreat. I truly value this time to reconnect and share with old friends and new colleagues.”

Enough said. Make sure to join us at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida,  October 13-16, 2018.

Cheers!

Chris

​From ESHA President Elinor Scully


​Dear ESHA Colleagues,

As Chris shared, our annual retreat in Boulder, CO, this year was fantastic and a wonderful opportunity to connect with other ESHA heads. Our theme, From Head Teacher to CEO, allowed for some wonderful conversations about leadership. Recently, I read a New York Times article that made me think about our work as “CEOs” in elementary schools. In his article, “How to Be a CEO from a Decade’s Worth of Them,” Adam Bryant summarizes the qualities of senior leaders from his years of experience interviewing CEOs for his column, “The Corner Office.” Bryant says that successful CEOs share some common qualities: a habit of “applied curiosity,” a love of challenge and working outside of their comfort zone, and a commitment and focus on doing their jobs well rather than ambitiously climbing the professional ladder.
 
Over the course of the three days we were in Boulder, I heard many of my peers discussing these very issues. It was comforting and affirming to be in the company of the leaders who are struggling with issues similar to those I face and to be surrounded by leaders who are committed to finding creative and “out of the box” solutions to the challenges of school leadership.
 
ESHA is a place where I get fed and nourished intellectually and personally. My inner CEO finds a great deal of professional support and stimulation in our organization’s activities and in this network of exceptional leaders. I’m thrilled to be assuming the role of president and I encourage you to get involved. 

Best,

​Elinor

                                                      Heads Up!

ESHA'S Annual Dinner will  be hosted by Nishant Mehta at The Children's School in Atlanta on Wednesday, March 7, 2018, when NAIS has its annual conference. Details and registration will be available in December.

ESHA salutes and thanks the following members for their generous support as sustaining members (who kindly opted to add additional funds to their annual dues). Please consider joining them next year when your membership invoice arrives!

Arvi Balseiro, The Cushman School (FL)
Tim Burns, The Forsyth School (MO)
Laura Caron, Brookwood School (MA)
Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau, Yhe Evergreen School (WA)
Robert Cooke, Community School (MO)
Nicole DuFauchard, Advent School (MA)
Angi Evans, Harbor Day School (CA)
Matthew Gould, Norwood School (MD)
Arvind Grover, The Meadowbrook School (MA)
Joan Buchanan Hill, Lamplighter School (TX)
Stuart Johnson, St. Bernard’s School (NY)
Scott Laird, St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School (FL)
Billy McMurtrie, Mater Dei School (MD)
Nishant Mehta, The Children’s School (GA)
Neil Mufson, The Country School (MD)
David O’Halloran, St. David’s School (NY)
Greg O’Melia, The Buckley School (NY)
Joe Powers, The Woods Academy (MD)
Mark Silver, Hillbrook School (CA)
David Stettler, The Fessenden School (MA)
David Trower, The Allen-Stevenson School (NY)
Clair Ward, Shore Country Day School (MA)
Jerry Ward, The Fenn School (MA)
Muddy Waters, The Pike School (MA)

MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!

Once again, ESHA member Dane Peters has interesting suggestions!

Dane's Education Blog
 Top Books To Read
Posted: 28 Oct 2017 01:36 PM PDT
"I stumbled upon this fascinating article "Top Experts Always Recommend These 4 Books." Author Eric Barker's Time magazine article is excellent. Even though it was written in June of 2015, I think you will appreciate what the author has presented, and I am sure you will compare what he has listed with what you have read and which books sit on your bookshelf."
Books Experts Recommend – By Topic: Leadership  Gautam Mukunda, professor at Harvard Business School and author of Indispensable: When Leaders Really Matter recommends:

• Daniel Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow
• Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
• Clayton Christensen, How Will You Measure Your Life?
• Nassim Taleb, Fooled by Randomness
• Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
• Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals
• Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney, Willpower

Boulder covered it all! Among other things, Donna Orem talked about the change in our independent school market and what millennial parents want for their children. Tim Fish challenged us to make our schools as innovative as possible. Andy Watson touched on leadership skills. Attendees met for dinners at Walnut Brewery and the Rembrandt Yards Art Gallery, not to mention the terrific St. Julien Hotel, site of the retreat. And on October 9th, it snowed! Most of all, members had a chance to connect with new friends and old and to address issues of interest both in discussion groups and in their leisure time.    

                           
           

Dear ESHA Friends,

​Some of you have already been back in session for a week or two while some are starting up this week. Regardless, your school is - as it is every year - different than it ever has been or will ever be with new students, new faculty, new parents, new board members. So you're probably reverting to your primary roles as Head teachers while also attending to your equally important but sometimes overwhelming role as managers of the school's business. It's always a lot! I certainly wish you the greatest success in the 2017-18 year and encourage you to remember that you, like your staffs, need occasional time away from school, some professional development, and a reasonable plan to regularly give yourselves a break. These are proven tasks that result in better leadership over the long haul.

If you can, start this work now and consider attending ESHA's retreat in October (see below at the end). Be with your true peers, enjoy the company of our wise and upbeat members, learn from the stimulating presenters, and take in the inspiring surroundings. You're sure to get a nice boost and good energy for the job back home.

Cheers!

Chris

​

​Dear ESHA Colleagues,

​As I write this, the hallways are readied for our community to regather, but they are still a week away from beginning to return.  I have always loved summer, but when we get to the middle of August, I am excited to start the new school year and look forward to another year of growth and possibilities.
 
Just as summer flies by, so has my time as President of ESHA.  I want to thank the Board and the Executive Committee for all of their wisdom and hard work.  Also, it has been an honor to work with Chris Abell whose energy and passion for this work has made our organization even stronger.  For me, the good news is that I plan to continue to be an active ESHA member and look forward to more exciting annual gatherings and conversations with my mentoring flight.  Have a wonderful opening to the school year and see you in Boulder.

Best,

​Muddy

                                              Heads Up! 

From ESHA member Dane Peter's "Dane's Blog," here is a quick review of the traits of inspirational leaders.

Dan Rockwell's "Leadership Freak" addresses ways to deal with mediocrity.

We are all aware of this alarming and frustrating trend, and Judy Twenge reports on it in detail in her article in The Atlantic, "The Impact of Smartphones and Social Media on Young Teens." 

                      Leading Off
​ 
Dear ESHA Friends,

​This is just a quick mid-summer "hello" and a wish that your summers are going well and that you are getting a good break.
I'll suggest two things that would only briefly interrupt your relaxation time:
1) If you haven't yet done so, make sure to register below for our October Retreat in Boulder, Colorado.
2) Take a look at the short articles below as both a primer for the retreat and a different way of looking at the future enrollment.
​
Cheers!

Chris

                                                 Heads Up! 

ESHA member Aaron Cooper of The Elisabeth Morrow School wrote the piece linked below for the summer edition of Independent School. If you haven't read it yet, take a look!

https://www.nais.org/magazine/independent-school/summer-2017/market-shift/

Also, check out the article from the September, 2016, issue of the Harvard Business Review on "Knowing Your Customers." You might read the first four or five pages to get the thesis and then the last three on Southern New Hampshire University's experience. 
​
https://hbr.org/2016/09/know-your-customers-jobs-to-be-done

Finally, note that The Jane Group, a crisis management and communication firm, offers scaled pricing for ESHA schools based upon the size of the school.
Jane Hulbert, who spoke to us at our Savannah gathering in 2015, can be contacted through the janegroup.biz.