The NAIS Member Voices podcast features stories from the thoughtful, hard-working individuals who make up the independent school community. You'll hear from faculty and staff at NAIS member schools about their roles, challenges, successes, inspiration sources, and more. Whether you are currently part of the NAIS community, considering joining, or simply interested in learning more about our industry, we hope you will listen and enjoy!
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to hear a new episode each month.
Find Member Voices on iTunes, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Looking for more NAIS podcasts? Listen to New View EDU to explore the future of schools, and The Trustee Table for insights on critical governance and leadership issues.
Season 5 Episodes: 2021-22
Check back each month for a new episode!
Episode 63: Liz Walgamuth, Head of School, Grace School (Part 2 of Fostering Innovation miniseries)
Release Date: May 2
Innovation is vital to school transformation. Member Voices is taking a closer look at the work of fostering innovation in a three-part miniseries.
In the second episode of "Fostering Innovation," NAIS Director of Innovation Programs Jackie Wolking speaks with Liz Walgamuth, head of Grace School (TX). Liz shares how she redesigns space within the confines of an older school building, how "mistakes lead us to the next thing," and why sometimes innovation work is "just about moving forward."
Sponsored by Blackbaud
Relevant Resources:
Episode 62: Greg Chalfin, Head of Middle School, Stanley British Primary School (Part 1 of Fostering Innovation miniseries)
Innovation is vital to school transformation. Member Voices is taking a closer look at the work of fostering innovation in a three-part miniseries.
In the first episode of "Fostering Innovation," NAIS Director of Innovation Programs Jackie Wolking speaks with Greg Chalfin, head of middle school at Stanley British Primary School (CO). Greg describes the school's new block model approach, the importance of relational learning, and why he likes asking why not?
Sponsored by Blackbaud
Relevant Resources:
Episode 61: New View EDU: Schools as Practice Zones for Adulting (with Julie Lythcott-Haims)
Listen to an episode from our sister NAIS podcast, New View EDU, featuring bestselling author, speaker, and former dean at Stanford Julie Lythcott-Haims.
Julie joins NAIS Chief Innovation Officer Tim Fish and author and futurist Lisa Kay Solomon to share her insights on the role of schools in creating capable, responsibile adults—not just high-stat students who achieve academically but struggle to "adult" beyond the classroom.
You can learn more about this episode, related resources, and more on the New View EDU episode page.
Relevant Resources:
Episode 60: Luthern Williams, Head of School, New Roads School (Part 3 of Cultivating Diverse and Inclusive Communities miniseries)
In the third and final episode of our miniseries on Cultivating Diverse and Inclusive Communities, we talk with Luthern Williams, head of New Roads School (CA). Luthern shares how he strives to be a servant leader, his vision for well-being as the foundation of education, and how we all should promote the linkages and honor the differences.
Sponsored by Carney, Sandoe & Associates
Relevant Resources:
Episode 59: Noni Thomas López, Head of School, The Gordon School (Part 2 of Cultivating Diverse and Inclusive Communities miniseries)
In the second episode of our three-part miniseries on Cultivating Diverse and Inclusive Communities, our guest is Noni Thomas López, head of the Gordon School (RI). She talks about how becoming a more diverse and inclusive school is like peeling an onion, the importance of finding opportunity in discomfort, and why battling misinformation keeps her up at night.
Sponsored by Carney, Sandoe & Associates
Relevant Resources:
Episode 58: Randall Dunn, Head of School, Latin School of Chicago (Part 1 of Cultivating Diverse and Inclusive Communities miniseries)
Diverse and inclusive communities benefit everyone. In a three-part miniseries, Member Voices is taking a closer look at the work of cultivating diverse and inclusive communities in independent schools.
In the first episode, we talk to Randall Dunn, head of Latin School of Chicago (IL). He describes the importance of building a strong team, the unpredictability of the independent school model, and how diversity, equity, and inclusion work is everyone's work.
Sponsored by Carney, Sandoe & Associates
Relevant Resources:
Episode 57: Enrollment Trends Amid the Pandemic: Special Episode—Part 2
In the final episode of our two-part enrollment series, Joe Corbett (right), NAIS research analyst, speaks with Amada Torres (left), NAIS vice president of studies, insights, and research, about national trends. These trends include enrollment changes due to the pandemic and those unique to lower schools, along with how these trends compare to previous years and recessions.
Relevant Resources:
Episode 56: Enrollment Trends Amid the Pandemic: Special Episode—Part 1
In the first of a two-part enrollment series, Joe Corbett (right), NAIS research analyst, speaks with Duane Emery (left), director of enrollment management at Sycamore School (IN). They discuss enrollment declines due to the pandemic, enrollment in lower grade levels, and how the school navigated these challenges.
Relevant Resources:
Episode 55: Tucker Foehl, Head of School, Sonoma Academy
As we welcome this year’s new heads of school, Member Voices is taking a closer look at the transition to headship in a three-part miniseries.
In the third and final episode of “Transitioning to Headship,” we talk with Tucker Foehl, head of school at Sonoma Academy (CA). Tucker details how he worked to build up his skills before his first year as head, the relationship-building that occurred during the search process, and what has been most helpful to him during his tenure thus far.
Sponsored by Educational Directions
Relevant Resources:
Episode 54: Jennifer Landis, Head of School, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child
As we welcome this year’s new heads of school, Member Voices is taking a closer look at the transition to headship in a three-part miniseries.
In the second episode of "Transitioning to Headship", we talk with Jennifer Landis, new head at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child (NJ). She shares how she finds joy in her work, how being a division head prepared her for headship, and what she's looking forward to in her new role.
Sponsored by Educational Directions
Relevant Resources:
Episode 53: Suzanne Walker Buck, Head of School, Western Reserve Academy
New heads of school often begin their tenure in July, and as we welcome this year's new heads, Member Voices is taking a closer look at the transition to headship in a three-part miniseries.
In the first episode of "Transitioning to Headship", we talk with Suzanne Walker Buck, head of Western Reserve Academy (OH). She describes how she approached the board-head relationship, balancing budgets, and questions of legal liability as a new head of school.
Sponsored by Educational Directions
Relevant Resources:
Archives: Episodes and Resources from Past Seasons
Questions? Comments? Stories you’d like to share on the podcast?
Please send thoughts and ideas to us at [email protected].