Generative AI in Schools: What Leaders Need to Know Now
In a recent episode of The Table, executive director Sarah Hanawald makes the case that independent schools are uniquely positioned to lead the way on generative AI — but only if educators are willing to engage. Here’s what’s at stake and where to start.
Why Micro-Communities are the Key to K-12 School Culture
We often mistake activity for connection. While large-scale school traditions matter, the real engine of belonging lives in the micro-communities—small, intentional spaces where every student is truly known. Discover how to design these spaces for maximum impact.
When the System Gets Tired: What April Reveals About School Culture
Dean’s Digest Newsletter – April 2026 April 2026 | Issue #33 When the System Gets Tired: What April Reveals About School Culture April is one of the most revealing months of the school year. The excitement of September has long faded, but the finish line is still weeks away. Students are tired. Adults are tired. […]
Raising Children with a Sense of Belonging: What Parents and Educators Need to Know
In a recent episode of The Table, consultant and former educator Peyten Williams breaks down what it practically looks like to raise children with a deep sense of belonging and how parents and educators can work together to make it happen.
Student Life and Strategic Leadership: Why K-12 Schools Can’t Afford to Separate Them
Culture, belonging, and family trust are built largely outside the classroom. Here’s why student life belongs at the strategy table — and what changes when it gets there.
Mindset Shifts for Educators: What Mind Shifting Means for School Culture
In a recent episode of The Table, educator and author Mitch Weisburgh introduced the concept of mind shifting — and why it may be the most underrated skill in education today. From managing conflict to preventing burnout, the conversation is one every school leader needs to hear.
Before You Sign That Contract: Student Life Leadership Sustainability in Independent Schools
March is contract season in many independent schools, and for student life leaders, renewal deserves more than a signature. These five structural questions will help you evaluate whether your role is designed for longevity — or quietly set up for burnout.
What It Really Means to Be a Trusted Adult in K-12 Schools
Building trust with students is central to student life work — but without clear boundaries, even the most caring educators burn out. In a recent episode of The Table, Dr. Brooklyn Raney shares a practical framework for building authentic, sustainable relationships with young people.
Why Student Life Becomes the Catch-All Department (And How to Stop It)
When expectations are unclear elsewhere in a school, the work quietly rolls downhill until someone picks it up. That someone is usually student life. This post explores why that happens, why it’s a structural problem rather than a personal one, and what leaders can do about it.
Sustainable School Leadership Systems: Moving Beyond the Hero Model
Too many school leaders are holding their institutions together through sheer personal effort. In a recent episode of The Table, consultant Kalimah Fergus-Ayele breaks down how to shift from heroic, one-person-dependent leadership toward sustainable infrastructure that empowers every member of your team — and actually lasts.