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The Trustee Table

Education Podcasts

The Trustee Table, an NAIS podcast, provides insights and information for trustees, board chairs, and school administrators on critical governance and leadership issues. Each episode will include a discussion with an expert in the field on a specific topic or challenge facing independent schools. For more information about NAIS or any of the resources discussed, please visit www.nais.org or contact us at membership@nais.org.

Location:

United States

Description:

The Trustee Table, an NAIS podcast, provides insights and information for trustees, board chairs, and school administrators on critical governance and leadership issues. Each episode will include a discussion with an expert in the field on a specific topic or challenge facing independent schools. For more information about NAIS or any of the resources discussed, please visit www.nais.org or contact us at membership@nais.org.

Twitter:

@NAISnetwork

Language:

English


Episodes

Building Connections: The Board's Role in Community Engagement

5/30/2021
In this episode, Reveta Bowers, interim head of The Early Childhood Center in Los Angeles, shares her insights on how boards can engage and communicate with their communities around critical issues facing independent schools, as well as specific examples of effective board engagement opportunities from her own leadership experience. Reveta served as the Head of School of The Center for Early Education in Los Angeles for 40 years before retiring in 2016. Prior to her retirement, for fifteen...

Duration:00:23:09

Data-Driven Marketing – How Schools Can Maximize Their Recruitment Strategy

4/25/2021
In this episode, Kevin MacNeil, Vice-President of Metric Marketing, shares his insights on admissions and enrollment challenges facing independent schools today, how schools can best leverage their advertising dollars, and ways schools can keep both prospective and current families engaged. Metric Marketing is a strategic, digitally driven agency that helps independent schools build loyalty and grow enrollment in an increasingly connected world. Kevin brings over ten years of experience in...

Duration:00:20:54

Working with Independent School Parents

3/28/2021
In this episode, Dr. Robert Evans and Dr. Michael Thompson, authors of the new NAIS book Hopes and Fears -- Working with Today’s Independent School Parents, discuss the power dynamics between parents, teachers, and school leaders, the role of the board in parent relations, and how parent board members can serve more effectively. Rob is a psychologist and school consultant. A former high school and preschool teacher and a former child and family therapist, he has consulted to more than 1,700...

Duration:00:32:28

Prioritizing Health and Well-Being as a School Leader

2/21/2021
In this episode, Dr. Eleonora Bartoli, a licensed psychologist specializing in trauma, resilience-building, and multicultural/social justice counseling, examines what it means to be a trauma-informed school, how the notion of resiliency has shifted during the pandemic, and why school leaders must make their own health and well-being a priority. Dr. Bartoli is also a consultant supporting individuals and institutions implement their diversity, equity, and social justice missions. She earned...

Duration:00:35:13

Enrollment Management in 2021 – Key Trends for Independent Schools

1/24/2021
In this timely episode, Heather Hoerle, executive director and chief executive officer of The Enrollment Management Association, shares her observations on how the pandemic has impacted independent school enrollment trends and what disruptors heads and boards should anticipate in the future. A thought leader in enrollment management, Heather personally led the charge for the professionalization of the admission and enrollment professional, demanding that industry colleagues mobilize to...

Duration:00:28:46

Designing the Future – Strategic Conversations for Heads and Trustees

11/29/2020
In this episode, Lisa Kay Solomon from Stanford University’s Institute for Design, explains her role as a futurist, shares why developing a futurist mentality is critical for heads and trustees to support their school communities, and how independent school boards can design and engage in strategic conversations. Lisa is a well-known thought leader in design innovation with a focus on helping leaders learn how to be more creative, flexible and resilient in the face of constant change. Lisa...

Duration:00:28:15

Time for a Tuition Reset? Critical Considerations for Independent Schools

10/25/2020
In this episode, Dr. Lucie Lapovsky, an economist who consults, writes and speaks widely on issues related to finance, pricing, strategy, governance, and enrollment management, defines what a tuition reset entails, describes how independent school boards can strategically consider pricing and affordability options, and explains the lessons learned from other schools that have engaged in tuition resetting. A parent of three independent school alumni, Dr. Lapovsky has served on the boards of...

Duration:00:21:33

Civil Discourse During Contentious Times – Why Board Culture Matters

9/27/2020
In this timely episode, Dr. Eugene Fram explains the ground rules for civil discourse, why engaging in civil discourse can be difficult for independent school trustees, and how boards can support a culture of civility. Dr. Fram is an expert in nonprofit governance, a business consultant, and an award-winning emeritus professor of the Saunders College of Business at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is the author of seven books, including Policy vs. Paper Clips (2011), which describes...

Duration:00:20:51

Good Governance from the Head’s Perspective – Insights from Dr. Scott Erickson

8/30/2020
In this crossover episode from NAIS Member Voices, Dr. Scott Erickson, head of Phillips Brooks School (CA), discusses how he employs effective governance practices, how he addresses communication gaps with his school and board, and how he uses his training as an ordained minister in his leadership. Scott has been Head of School at Phillips Brooks School since 2011. During his tenure, he positioned PBS to initiate its first-ever comprehensive capital campaign to invest in faculty with...

Duration:00:31:12

Actionable Assessment - Improving Board Performance Through Evaluation and Accountability

7/19/2020
In this episode, Dr. Anne Stavney, head of The Blake School in Minneapolis, describes her board’s evaluation process, how she supports a culture of assessment and accountability in the boardroom, and how trustees can use data to improve board performance. Since joining Blake in 2012, Dr. Stavney led the school in a successful 80M comprehensive campaign to fund student financial assistance, faculty professional development and facility renovations. Under her leadership, Blake has developed a...

Duration:00:17:02

Reducing Bias in the Head Search Process – Recommendations for Independent School Boards

6/28/2020
In this episode, Dr. Doreen Oleson, co-author of the NAIS Head Search Handbook and search consultant for RG-175, explores why diversity is a critical component to a successful head search. She shares how search committees can help ensure a diverse candidate pool, how bias manifests in the search process, and ways trustees can recognize and overcome their own inherent biases. Dr. Oleson served Saint Mark’s School, an Episcopal Parish Day School in Altadena, CA as head of school for...

Duration:00:21:22

COVID-19 Generative Governance - Board Guidelines from Dr. Richard Chait

5/17/2020
In this must-listen episode for trustees and heads of school, Dr. Richard Chait highlights how boards can govern more effectively during times of crisis, the importance of the head of school/board partnership, and practical ways boards can work more generatively while balancing the short and long term needs of the school. Dr. Chait is Professor of Education, Emeritus, at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has studied nonprofit governance for over 35 years and co-authored the...

Duration:00:25:31

The Art of Generative Thinking: How Boards Can Pivot from Crisis Management to Innovation

4/19/2020
In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Gold takes listeners through his decision-making process at the start of the pandemic, how boards can utilize breakout and generative thinking to achieve both short and long term objectives, and generative questions boards should consider as they innovate for the future. Dr. Gold is the chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, vice president of the University of Nebraska system, and chair of the board of UNMC’s principal clinical care academic...

Duration:00:24:14

The Core of Board Leadership: Establishing an Ethical Framework for Decision-Making

3/29/2020
In this timely episode, Ann Skeet, Senior Director of Leadership Ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, shares models of ethical leadership practices, the ways boards can seek resolution to ethical challenges, and how trustees can prepare for ethical decision-making in times of crisis. In her role at the Markkula Center, Ann guides programs in leadership, business and social sector ethics. She researches, writes and speaks about the ethical dilemmas of...

Duration:00:22:15

Fundraising Fundamentals - The Trustee’s Role in Philanthropy

2/23/2020
In this episode, Dave Sternberg explains the biggest misconceptions trustees have about fundraising, how they can become more comfortable in their fundraising role, and presents ways to build and sustain donor relationships. Dave has been a fundraising professional since obtaining his BA Degree from The Ohio State University. He is a faculty member at The Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University’s Fund Raising School, where he teaches courses such as Building the Annual Fund and...

Duration:00:18:03

Digging into Diversity – Essential Practices for Good Governance

1/26/2020
In this episode, Dr. Shirley Davis, explores how boards can recruit and onboard diverse trustees, the impact of diversity on board culture, and how to manage conflicts that may arise from embracing diverse perspectives. Dr. Davis is the former Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Workplace Strategies for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She has also been a featured expert on NBC’s The Today Show, USA Today, National Public Radio, The Wall Street Journal, Essence Magazine,...

Duration:00:20:19

Flipping the Strategic Plan on its Side: An Approach that Puts Students First

11/24/2019
In this episode, Romayne Levee, school founder and Director of Education Strategy at Mission Minded, inspires Trustees to set a new bar for their next strategic plan: one that is student-outcomes focused rather than school operations focused. For 20 years, Romayne been professionally and personally fulfilled working among schools and colleges that challenge the status quo by innovating teaching and learning, diversifying their communities, affording life-changing paths to under-resourced...

Duration:00:16:45

Leveraging Emotional Intelligence in the Boardroom – Insights for Heads and Trustees

10/28/2019
In this episode, Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University, discusses how his research on emotional intelligence can inform strategic planning, the head of school/board chair relationship, and board culture. Marc has published over 125 articles and is the recipient of numerous awards. He is the lead developer of RULER, an evidence-based approach to social emotional learning that has been...

Duration:00:21:11

Limitless Mind – A Conversation with Dr. Jo Boaler

9/29/2019
In an episode that will further educate heads and trustees about the latest developments in teaching and learning, Dr. Jo Boaler discusses her research into unlocking learning potential at any age. Dr. Boaler is a Professor of Mathematics Education at Stanford University, and the co-founder of youcubed, a site to give teachers, parents and students the resources they need to excite students about mathematics. She is an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (Great Britain), and a former...

Duration:00:18:46

Mastering Crisis Management: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve

8/25/2019
In this episode, Jim Hulbert, a partner and lawyer at the Jane Group https://www.thejanegroup.biz/, shares his expertise on crisis management, including the major issues facing independent schools today and how heads and boards can approach crisis communication effectively. When a school is in crisis, Jim works closely with the board, often on-site, to develop communications strategies and protocols. He also trains school leadership in crisis management including sexual misconduct issues and...

Duration:00:22:00