NAIS has observed a troubling phenomenon unfolding within independent schools: the average tenure of a head of school has fallen from seven years to five, a trend shaped primarily by an increase of unexpected departures by heads of school within their first three years at a given institution. Disruption of this nature can negatively affect schools in many ways, including loss of revenue, strategic momentum, and community trust, among others.
To mitigate this trend and to stabilize leadership at schools across the board, NAIS is undertaking a new initiative called the Leadership Alignment Project. It is a bold, field-shaping effort to increase longevity and stability of independent school leadership and help schools navigate leadership transitions with confidence, clarity, and shared purpose.
Goals
Through this multiyear project, we will develop and test a comprehensive suite of research, frameworks, tools, and programming designed to help independent schools reduce head turnover, particularly within the early years of headship; strengthen professional and strategic alignment between boards, heads, and leadership teams; improve schools’ readiness for leadership transitions; and build school resilience through shared data, strategy, and governance practices.
Outcomes
While research, testing, and work with cohort schools will inform the specific deliverables of this project over several years, we ultimately envision resources like the following to be available to NAIS member schools:
- Framework and Toolkits
- Data Dashboards
- Surveys
- Research & Insights
- Programs and Professional Development
Learn More
NAIS members will hear regularly about this multiyear project as it takes shape. However, if you would like to learn more about it or provide your insights, feel free to reach out at any time to Ann Snyder, NAIS VP for Strategic Initiatives, at snyder@nais.org.