School safety and security have been at the forefront of our minds because of the recent tragedy in Parkland, FL. It seems as if the conversation around safety and security have taken a different tone, and this is why I was glad to read the Chicago Sun-Times Op-Ed by my friend Mark Hamstra, Dedicated teachers — not gun-toting teachers — … Read More
Women’s Leadership and Mentoring in Christian Schools
A tweet from Jen Schwanke in Education Week Teacher that keeps popping up in my feed says: “The biggest challenge I face as a leader is carrying the burdens, worries, frustrations, and challenges of so many other people.” This hasn’t popped up just once, but I seem to see it weekly. As Christian educators, we should be pretty clear about … Read More
Women’s Leadership: Making Room at the Table
I grew up in an idyllic small town in Minnesota as the youngest of four kids. I had more people to look up to then anyone could ever ask for, and my siblings and parents helped me understand my place in the world by the expectations they set for me. As an admittedly exasperating little sister, I was always a … Read More
Identity Crisis: Women in Leadership
“This is the most sexist, racist place on the planet and I am underpaid, understaffed, overworked, and summarily ignored.” Where have you heard that before? Perhaps one of the descriptors resonates with you. If we are honest, maybe more than one of those sentiments has been in our heart (if not on our lips), and maybe more than once in … Read More
We’ve Got to Talk the Walk: Intentionally Supporting Women in Christian School Leadership
I was stunned. There she sat—an intelligent, energetic, Christcentered young faculty member—and her question to me, the (also female) assistant headmaster at her Christian school, was whether or not our leadership team values and supports women in leadership. We were having an in-depth conversation about our institution’s mission and vision, and she honestly wasn’t sure. After I assured her of … Read More
Women in Educational Leadership: Challenges and Supports
If one discovered an untapped source of gifted leadership for schools and organizations, it would be inexcusable not to share that with the educational community. Yet there is such a source, in gifted women leaders. Currently there is a scarcity of female leadership in Christian education. All leadership is costly—and tough, especially for women who believe God has called … Read More
Blessing the Culture for Good
When you are asked the question, “Why Christian school?”, what is your reply? Do you perhaps point to the biblical imperative that parents should teach their children the faith, or perhaps you cite the sociological evidence that subcultures are effective at reproducing religious faith? Maybe you argue that Christian schools are a conserving force in the face of moral decay … Read More
Using Research to Prove Our Point – Part 2
As consumers, we go through the process of constantly gathering data in order to make the best purchasing decisions. Parents do the same with school choices. Parents want proof for the claims we make which should not surprise us. We are conditioned to expect evidence to back up claims made by others for two reasons: experience tells us that people … Read More
Choosing a College? Beware a Short-Sighted View
When I was a high school senior, I focused on finding the best college that would benefit me and my future. It was an individualistic approach, paying attention to the best scholarships offered, how nice the admissions counselor was, and how many complimented me for being accepted to the school. I didn’t really consider or give weight to how my … Read More
Cost of Leadership: Brief Inquiry into Head of School Compensation
Conclusion as the Introduction: Traditionally, an essay concludes with findings and ruminations, but for this blog I’m using a different approach as I’d like to frontload my comments before you dig into the information below. When I started this blog, my assumptions of leadership, which I’ve written about in many blogs are: School success is dependent upon quality and stable … Read More