Celebrating Departing Heads During a Pandemic

Dave Davies, The Education Group

The global pandemic and subsequent isolation and school closures have presented Boards of Trustees with unimaginable challenges. Projecting enrollment and expenses, wrestling with potentially explosive growth in requests for tuition assistance, and supporting the Head of School and his/her staff are all uncharted waters for Boards.

A leadership transition in the midst of this adds a significant wrinkle. The transition for a new Head is complicated by the inability to make the customary visits to the new school to meet students, faculty, parents, and the Board. Practical concerns such as house hunting, moving, and other logistical matters only add to the challenge. Boards and transition committees will have much more to do in the months ahead.

However, what cannot get lost in all of the forward planning is celebrating the service of the departing Head of School. Regardless of whether the Head’s tenure was three or thirty years, it is important, not just from the Head’s standpoint but also institutionally, that this chapter in the school’s history be recognized and that the Head be thanked.

Many of the customary celebrations are not possible with schools shuttered and social distancing in effect. Cocktail parties, dinners, assemblies, chapels - all are likely off the table.

There are, however, numerous recognitions possible even in this state of lockdown that will properly acknowledge and thank outgoing Heads. Some of these are appropriate for longer-serving Heads, but the Board will make appropriate decisions.

• a memory book of cards and letters, handwritten if possible, interspersed  with photos of the Head interacting with students;

• a drive-by parade at the Head’s house or, if s/he is at school, in the parking lot, signs, balloons, etc. 

• a parting gift, perhaps larger than usual given the savings on cocktail parties and dinners, ideally something befitting the Head’s interests like season symphony tickets, gift certificate from a travel agency for a trip (probably not a cruise!), or tickets to a major sporting event. 

• a student-created video with testimonials from various constituencies

• in the case of a significant tenure or major program or facility development, a naming opportunity -- naming a facility for the Head, creation of or naming of an existing award in the Head’s name (ex. outstanding graduate)

The Board’s actions will be a clear sign to the community of their understanding and appreciation of commitment and service to the school. It is critical that the Board be thoughtful and proactive in this matter.

SAES/TEG New Heads Transitions

Resources for Heads of Schools and Board Chairs during the COVID-19 pandemic

Bowditch and SAIS | Partnership in Crisis
Monday, April 6, 2020, 4:00 PM Eastern
Almost overnight, independent schools have shifted from physical to virtual hubs of educational activity. Heads and boards are working together to manage this unanticipated phenomenon. Terry Briggs is a lawyer whose practice focuses on executive compensation and related tax issues. He works with large numbers of independent schools and heads of schools on employment matters. We have found him to be responsive, thoughtful, and creative in solving complicated problems. 
Join the workshop

SAES + The Education Group | New Head Transitions Part II
Friday, April 24, 2020, 3:00 PM CDT
TEG's team, along with the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools, will offer another Webinar, an open question-and-answer, interactive session that focuses on remaining transition challenges – many of them unique in light of recent events in the world, most notably the pandemic.

Join the workshop

Independent School Chairperson's Association (ISCA)
ISCA’s singular mission is to support independent school board chairs in becoming effective governance leaders for their Boards. 
Read more

Head of School Search in Time of Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed new rules and created protocols and procedures on an international scale previously known only to areas hit by regional natural disasters. 
Read more

The Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES)
SAES has a fantastic list of resources and webinars to help schools in their response to the pandemic
Read more

National Association of Independent Schools

Resources for Remote Hiring
Read more

Newly Appointed School Heads Webinar, April 24, 2020 at 3:00 PM CDT

Please join three former school heads for a special Webinar on April 24, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. CDT, designed just for newly appointed school heads.

The world has changed beyond measure since January, 2020, when The Education Group and the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools welcomed newly appointed school heads to a free Webinar designed to help them prepare for their new responsibilities. Consultants from TEG's Executive Coaching Program, all of them former school heads, anticipated and answered questions posed by participants in an hour-long exchange of ideas and advice. By all accounts our program was well received. Now TEG's team will offer another Webinar, an open question-and-answer, interactive session that focuses on remaining transition challenges – many of them unique in light of recent events in the world, most notably the pandemic. We hope that in sharing insights and experiences with the TEG team and one another, new heads will gain even more confidence as they get closer and closer to joining their new schools. Please plan to join us by registering on the link below, and learn about The Education Group and our team of distinguished former school heads eager to support the next generation of independent school leaders at https://www.educationgroup.com/executive-coaching

Please use this link to sign up for the webinar: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uJ0vd-6upzwt3BkOuWo4roJYQaxq0HZbCg

If you would like more information about the coaches, The Education Group, and our Executive Coaching Program, visit our web site at www.educationgroup.com.

David Dougherty
Director, Executive Coaching Program
david@educationgroup.com

TEG Interview with Linda Talton

Linda K. Talton brings over thirty years of experience in admissions, diversity and student development to The Education Group. In addition to her years of teaching, Linda has served as Director of Admission at Corlears School (New York), San Francisco Day School, Live Oak School (San Francisco, CA), and as Co-Director of College Placement for Metropolitan Educational Consulting Group (Washington, DC). Linda is also a leader in educational equity and diversity. She has created and facilitated many diversity and professional development workshops for teachers, administrators, and families around the country. Her passion for this work has inspired many teachers and administrators to join the independent school community.

Linda holds an M.Ed in Administration and Policy and a B.A. in Human Development from Howard University in Washington, DC. 

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Katherine Stuart, President of The Education Group recently sat down with Linda K. Talton, the newest member of TEG’s Search Firm and the first Director of Equity and Inclusion.

Katherine Stuart:
What brought you to the world of diversity work and what has driven your passion?

Linda Talton:
When I was an independent school student in the 70’s and 80’s, there was no such word as diversity used to describe people. Diversity meant, as it still does, variety or a range of things. Diversity, or “a range of people” was never a topic of discussion. In fact, difference was not discussed with regard to race or ethnicity unless it was a cultural holiday or Black History Week, this was before it became Black History Month. Back then we had to really rush to get everything into a week- it was exhausting!! The silent expectation was for students of color to attend classes, school events, and to almost fade into the community. In essence, mainstream into the dominant, predominantly white, culture and be grateful to have been one of a few admitted students of color. 

I never had an academic teacher of color, but at The Baldwin School in New York City, which is where I attended high school, my advisor Ms.Williams, a Black teacher, happened to have all of the students of color in her advisory group. While I had no idea at the time, the 25 minutes that I spent in advisory each day really gave me a sense of ownership over my school experience. We were not all friends, in fact most of us weren't, but we navigated very similar journeys and subtly created identical survival mechanisms that would stay with us for years to come, if not for the rest of our lives.

Years later, I had the opportunity to ask Ms.Williams how she happened to have all of the kids of color as her advisee’s and she told me that she asked for us and insisted on this happening in discussions with the administration. Ms.Williams was ahead of her time. Now many of our schools realize the many positive outcomes of providing both affinity spaces and multicultural programming for all of our students and entire school communities.

As a teacher and then administrator in independent schools, I have either introduced the idea of creating affinity spaces for students and staff or have had the privilege of supporting equity and inclusion work already happening and sometimes even thriving upon my arrival. As a trained SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) facilitator, I have seen the growth that teachers and administrators make after participating in a season of SEED meetings. Each member of the group emerges from the experience realizing that everyone in our school communities represents some form of diversity, which for me is heartwarming, as I am confident that our students truly benefit from teachers who have a sense of comfort around not only their own identities but those of the children in their care. I feel honored to have been able to support students, parents, and teachers in ways that I was blessed to have been supported in high school, thanks to Ms.Williams. My goal has always been, and remains as such, to be sure that each and every student feels not only seen but honored, and the beauty of independent schools is that we have the ability to make this happen.

Katherine Stuart:
Why did you choose to join The Education Group at this time and how do you see your background in diversity work as an asset in your role here as an Education Consultant?

Linda Talton:
I have such respect for the manner in which The Education Group conducts its searches. Having worked with many different search firms as both a teacher and administrator, I know first hand what the process feels like when looking for a new position. These are very important and vulnerable moments in one’s life, and not easy to say the least. TEG’s approach mirrors the approach that I have had as a teacher, as Director of Placement, and as Director of Admission exactly. The relationships with candidates are at the core of all of the work that we do. Our candidates constantly share how amazed they are with the attention paid to their journey as they search for their new school home. For this reason, I feel strongly that it’s the perfect fit for me and how I see myself moving forward and growing as a consultant, particularly because I find myself surrounded by former Heads of School and other school administrators at TEG who literally feed my nerdy educators soul! 

Having been on several search committees in schools, I have sat around many tables where I have heard candidates of color confidentially considered for various roles. There were often questions about these candidates fitting in. Will the parents respect them? They don’t have independent school experience, how will they understand us culturally as an institution? Or simply, I don’t think he/she will fit in…

There are many ways that schools can make better efforts when it comes to hiring and retaining faculty and administrators of color and I find myself in a position to help support this work as a consultant with The Education Group. Some of this work is simply sharing tips with school about how to read resumes in a more nuanced way, ways that are less traditional. This is something that will allow us to continue to change and grow in positive ways as institutions, and enhance the learning experience for the most valuable members of our school communities- our students.

I am excited to work with such an amazing, thoughtful, and brilliant group of consultants at The Education Group and feel honored that they appreciate and support me as I continue on with the work that I am so passionate about.

Newly Appointed School Heads Webinar, January 9th, 2020

Please join three former school heads for a special Webinar on January 9 at 4:00 p.m. CST, designed just for newly appointed school heads.

Consider this:

You have just passed through a demanding search process, experienced the excitement of success in it, started to plan for the future at your new school, and yet still serve full-time as a leader at your current school. You have never be busier!

Moreover, your excitement is exhilarating — "I can’t wait to get started!" But it’s also a little scary — "What have I gotten myself into?" The reality of your appointment hits home: You are the head of a school!

As eager as you are to tackle challenges you learned about in the search (e.g., the urgency to revitalize the faculty or to build a new field house), you probably find other matters daunting (your inexperience in budgeting or fundraising or perhaps your need to reassure an anxious family). And all of this is happening at once!

This Webinar, sponsored by The Education Group and the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools and conducted by TEG Executive Coaches who have "been there and done that" will address your questions and raise others, all in an effort to support and empower newly appointed school heads to make the most of the months before you officially start to work next summer.

Please join us and fellow "new heads" for the free, hour-long Webinar at the following:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TIs3VXglRvO9SPSgz6rFtw

If you would like more information about the coaches, The Education Group, and our Executive Coaching Program, visit our web site at www.educationgroup.com.

David Dougherty
Director, Executive Coaching Program
david@educationgroup.com

Gloria H. Snyder 1937-2018

Memorial ServiceS: 1/12/19 and 1/20/19

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Gloria Hoffman Snyder, beloved former Head of School at Parish Episcopal School and valued colleague at The Education Group, passed away December 21, 2018 at her home in Richardson, TX after a brief illness.

Gloria’s career in education was impressive. She became the second Head of School at Parish Day School of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas in 1979. Over her 30 year career at Parish, Gloria built the School from a Pre-K - 6th grade school on the church campus to a Pre-K - 12th grade school of 1100 students on two campuses.

Gloria was active in Episcopal school and church organizations and was a leader in Episcopal school education in the Southwest. In 2008 Gloria received the Ruth Jenkins Award for Outstanding Service to the National Association of Episcopal Schools. In 2009 she received the Elizabeth (Budgie) Hollamon Award for Outstanding Dedication to the Southwest Association of Episcopal Schools.

Gloria was the consummate sports fan, following her beloved Longhorns, Rangers, and Parish Panthers. In honor of her leadership and her strong interest in and support of athletics, Parish named their stadium for Gloria in 2009. In her lifetime, Gloria visited all but 3 major league baseball parks. She flew to Cooperstown, NY, to see Ivan “Pudge" Rodriguez inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Everyone at TEG mourns Gloria’s passing as we celebrate a life and career lived to the fullest. Please visit: Parish Episcopal School’s website for information or to leave a message about Gloria. The Dallas Morning News also has a wonderful tribute to Gloria.

A Requiem Eucharist with Committal of Ashes will be held at Episcopal Church of Transfiguration in Dallas on Saturday, January 12, at 1:00 p.m. Parish Episcopal School will host a celebration of Gloria's life on Sunday, January 20, at 2:00 in the Gene E. Phillips Activity Center.

Memorial gifts are invited to the Endowment Fund of Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, St. Philip's School and Community Center, and the Gloria Snyder Scholarship Fund at Parish Episcopal School.

NAES/SAES "Leaders for the Future" Conference, February 7-9, 2018

Executive Coaches Bob Kirkpatrick and Jay Secor will be presenting "The Leadership Transition" 

Are you thinking about a career as an Episcopal school head? Have you ever wondered if being a school head would be a good option for your future career? Have you ever wondered just what a school head does? If the answer to any one of these questions is "Yes," then you should attend this conference. Learn from our incredibly high-caliber panel, including current and former school heads, and leading search consultants alongside the NAES staff.

Whether you are currently working in an Episcopal school, another independent school setting, or a church setting, this is a gathering that will help you take your career to the next level!

Learn more through the Episcopal Schools website.

A Passing of the Baton

Join us as we honor Brooke Dudley, one of the co-founders of The Education Group, who is stepping down from his role as president to focus solely on consulting work. Under Brooke’s steadfast leadership, TEG has continued to expand its initiatives, including developing the Executive Coaching division. The Executive Coaching Program (ECP) addresses the growing need independent schools to find the right person and to help him/her fully acclimate to a new school environment and role.

Assuming the position of President is Katherine Stuart, former Director of Placement, who has been with The Education Group for over a decade. "I am entering my 12th year with The Education Group," shares Katherine. "What excites me most is the renewed energy and intensity we are bringing to the values that have always defined The Education Group. As a smaller firm, The Education Group has always been able to provide personalized attention to our clients. Our reputation stands on this level of specialized care, and is the one thing that will never change. At the same time, we are experiencing dynamic growth and success, all of which I attribute to this incredible team."