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.
Season 4 Episodes: 2020-21
Check back each month for a new episode!
Episode 51: Ray McGaughey, Director of Admissions, High Mountain Institute—Part 2
In the second and final part of our conversation with Ray, recorded in February 2021, we revisit our pre-pandemic conversation to see how he and his school are doing and how the events of the past year have changed his approach.
Relevant Resources:
Episode 50: Ray McGaughey, Director of Admissions, High Mountain Institute—Part 1
In the first of two parts, recorded in March 2020, Ray discusses his semester school’s unique model that emphasizes time in the outdoors, how he approaches recruiting, and why he loves running without headphones.
Relevant Resources:
Episode 49: Kim Evelti, Director of Curriculum and Computer Science Teacher, The Williston Northampton School
Kim tells us about how her school approaches staff professional development, how she builds curriculum in such a turbulent time, and what she misses most about her role pre-pandemic.
Sponsored by Search Associates
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Episode 48: Andre Withers, Assistant Head of School, The Madeira School - Part 2
In the second and final part of our conversation with Andre, he discusses his leadership of his school's COVID-19 task force, how schools can create a unique value proposition for families, and how critical issues for schools can be opportunities.
Relevant Resources:
Episode 47: Andre Withers, Assistant Head of School, The Madeira School - Part 1
In the first of two parts, Andre discusses how he and his team are working to avoid burnout, his role as assistant head in transitioning a new head of school, and how he approaches implicit bias in hiring.
Sponsored by ATOMS Placement Services
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Episode 46: Jaimi Boehm, Director of Middle School, Wildwood School
Jaimi shares her experience of navigating a new role and a pandemic at the same time. She also talks about how she and her colleagues led productive conversations during the presidential election and her podcast recommendations.
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Episode 45: Anne Glass, Head of School, Purnell School
Anne talks with us about her journey from investment banking to headship, the unique value of an all-girls education, and the importance of knowing who you are as a school.
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Episode 44: Jamie Williamson, Head of School, The Windward School
Jamie joins us to discuss how being a school psychologist has informed his approach to headship, the work he has done for children with learning differences, and what it was like being new to his school community when the pandemic hit.
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Episode 43: Ralinda Watts, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Associate Director of Admission, The Buckley School
Ralinda tells us how she has dealt with the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice, how she feels the Black@ movement is the best “racial audit” for schools, and how she wants this time to be “not a moment but a movement.”
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Episode 42: Henry Fairfax, Head of School, Revolution School
Henry joins us to discuss what it was like dealing with a pandemic in his school’s first year, how his school is “planning around yellow lights” when preparing to reopen in the fall, and what his experience has been like as a student, teacher, and administrator in independent schools.
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Episode 41: Aretina Hamilton, Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Interlochen Center for the Arts
In this episode devoted to race and racism in independent schools, we speak with Aretina about how schools should “lean into being uncomfortable” when creating anti-racist spaces of belonging and how the Black@ movement provides school leaders with an opportunity to openly discuss the “whispers in the hallway.”
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Episode 40: The Trustee Table - Mastering Crisis Management: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve
Listen to a a timely episode from our sister NAIS podcast! You can learn more about this episode, related resources, and more on our Trustee Table page.
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 membership@nais.org.