Does Your School Avoid Politics?

Douglas Halladay heads The Halladay Group, a consulting firm specializing in all aspects of private school operations. We asked him how to advise a board of trustees on a headmaster search. Here are his answers.

We aggressively seek candidates for you who combine solid administrative skills and outstanding management abilities with dynamic leadership experience. The model that we utilize is included below.

Step 1: Initial Meeting

During our first meeting with the client, we review your organization regarding the position to be filled. We also seek to understand the organization's environment, which includes learning about the culture, norms, philosophy, history, work atmosphere, and personalities of the people and community this person will work for and with, as well as coming to know what causes individual success or failure at this organization and thoroughly understanding the vision of the organization. If confidentiality allows, we spend time with the supervisor and peers of the position to determine the management's style and personality. Since our goal is to find someone in whom the community will have confidence, both in ability and style, this part of the process is crucial.

This video outlines the hiring process involved with hiring education professionals.

Step 2: Position Profile

My firm next prepares a Position Profile that describes the client organization, details the nature of the position, the key issues facing the new leader, and the qualities and experience of the

In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, the integrity and security of private school operations have never been more critical. As administrators, we strive to cultivate environments where trust and transparency are paramount. However, my own experience transitioning a school from paper-driven to digital bookkeeping revealed just how vulnerable these systems can be. The school's petty cash account was a constant source of frustration, impossible to balance due to a complete lack of controls. This article delves into the multifaceted issue of employee theft within private schools, exploring its various forms, the risks it presents, and the profound impact it can have on both finances and reputation. By understanding these dynamics, we can better equip ourselves with the strategies and tools necessary to safeguard our schools and uphold the principles we hold dear.

A Trustee's responisibility.

You have spent a year as a trustee of St. Etheldreda's. You have attended all the meetings. Recently you were appointed to the finance committee. The nagging question keeps chewing at you. "How do we know that our employees aren't stealing from us?" After all, hardly a day goes by without yet another report on the news of some trusted employee stealing from one organization or another.

You simply have to ask these tough questions of your business manager and your auditor.

1. Does one person have control over all of your accounting functions?
2. Are two signatures required on checks over a pre-determined amount - say, $50?
3. Are checks ever pre-signed?
4. Are your

Your school needs dependable hardware. It needs hardware which will have many uses and also increase productivity. Whether you are in the market for projectors, white boards, a remote KVM switch, you need the best. Use these suggestions as a starting point in your evaluation process. The product links take you to the manufacturers' sites which will indicate where you can purchase these or similar items. Take a few minutes to bookmark and read Benjamin Herold's informative article in Education Week entitled Technology in Education: An Overview.

Promeathean ActivPanel
A whiteboard has so many uses for the creative teacher that I hardly know where to begin. 21st-century students live in a digital world most of the time, so it just makes sense to teach them using media-rich devices such as interactive whiteboards. Promeathean is but one manufacturer. Google "electronic whiteboards" to find several others. Don't stint on professional installation and training. Both are essential in order to receive full value.

Manufacturer's Description:
The award-winning ActivPanel is powered by a revolutionary, upgradeable Android processor that transforms the traditional projection display into an intelligent hub that unleashes the power of teacher and student connectivity. - See more.

Dymo LabelWriter® 450
This little printer is worth its weight in gold. Use it to label just about anything. Great for printing barcode labels for all your valuable classroom equipment.

What's Your Marketability Quotient?

If you have three or more of the following skills or credentials, you will position yourself for greater success in the private school employment market. While there is a shortage of qualified teachers, it is still a highly competitive arena in the private school world. Consequently, your chances at finding your dream job will improve if you can offer one or more of the following:

1. Speak and teach a second language.

Teachers who speak French, Spanish and Mandarin are much in demand in any school. Add a degree and certifications in those subjects to your credentials, and you will be a 'hot' property! Unlike public schools where language skills are necessary just to deal with a non-English speaking population, private schools offer academic courses in French, Spanish, and Mandarin language and literature. Many of these courses lead to AP level examinations. You will have the opportunity to use that honors degree work in foreign languages to your advantage.

This video shows a Spanish class at The Orme School in Mayer, Arizona.

2. Hold specialist certifications.

An ESL certificate or a reading specialist certificate will virtually guarantee you employment for life at many schools. Schools that enroll non-English speaking students frequently require those students to master English at a very high level to complete their academic coursework with good grades. An ESL-certified teacher is an integral part of the teaching