Member Voices

Brenna Foley speaks with Sarah Odell, PhD, Dean of Faculty at San Francisco University High School (CA), to discuss her research on gender equity and women in leadership. Sarah shares insights from her work on the challenges women face in the leadership pipeline, the evolving landscape of hiring and retention in independent schools, and strategies for fostering inclusive school communities. She also reflects on her personal journey, the mentors who shaped her career, and the importance of balancing innovation with institutional values.

You can find some related NAIS resources from this episode by visiting nais.org/membervoices.

Jackie Wolking speaks with Ben Farrell, Interim Head of School at New England Innovation Academy (MA), to discuss the role of AI in education and innovation. Ben shares how his school embraces emerging technologies, engages students in shaping AI policies, and fosters a culture of experimentation and adaptation. He also reflects on his journey in education, the importance of mentorship, and how independent schools can prepare students for an AI-driven future.

You can find some related NAIS resources from this episode by visiting nais.org/membervoices.

Margaret Anne Rowe speaks with Connie Coker, Head of St. Anne's School (MD), to discuss her journey in education and leadership. Connie shares her experiences transitioning from public to independent schools, the influence of mentors, and the parallels between her role as a school leader and her background as a competitive soccer goalkeeper.

You can find some related NAIS resources from this episode by visiting nais.org/membervoices.

Greg Martin, Dean of Faculty at Vermont Academy (VT) outlines a proactive year-round hiring approach focused on building relationships with potential candidates to enhance recruitment and retention. He highlights the importance of adapting to the needs of Generation Z employees, who prioritize work-life balance and community, while emphasizing faculty wellbeing to prevent burnout. Greg also stresses the importance of faculty wellbeing, noting the need for schools to be mindful of burnout and to create an environment where educators feel valued and supported.

You can find some related NAIS resources from this episode by visiting nais.org/membervoices.

Sara Stern, Director of Admission and Summer Programs (CO) shares tips for starting and sustaining impactful summer programs - including supporting underserved populations, creating pathways to increase socioeconomic diversity, and approaching staffing effectively. Sara also shares strategies for fostering fruitful partnerships with regional organizations and establishing a robust parent ambassador program to strengthen admission efforts.

You can find some related NAIS resources from this episode by visiting nais.org/membervoices.

Erik Wormwood, Upper School Division Head at Advent School (MA) discusses how his school is navigating polarization and supporting student and educator well-being. He shares his approach to working with neurodiverse learners and some emotional proudest moments in education. We also talk about how “teaching is hard, even when you’re good at it” and Erik shares how he has dealt with some “spicy problems”, how he creates space for his team members to share what’s on their minds, and how he takes time for self-care.

You can find some related NAIS resources from this episode by visiting nais.org/membervoices.

Jackie Wolking speaks with Autumn Adkins-Graves, Head of School at Saint Anne's-Belfield School (VA). In their conversation, Autumn shares the importance of curiosity is in the age of AI in our schools and how her school created a portrait of a graduate with a futurist lens. She also talks about change management and how we affirm what's working well to move things along and how we have to stop trying to control tech or dismiss it.

You can find some related NAIS resources from this episode by visiting nais.org/membervoices.

Maria Croley Madden, Head of School at St. Martin's Episcopal School (GA) is going into her second year as Head. She talks about the transition to headship and how she’s preparing for year two. She details how being a “product of independent schools” prepared her for her current role and gives some tips for others transitioning to headship on preparing for the interview, working with the board chair, getting up to speed on finance – and more.

You can find some related NAIS resources from this episode by visiting nais.org/membervoices.

Tenacre Country Day School (MA), where Will Crissman is the head, has had almost no employee turnover the past few years. We talk about his approach to retention (and recruitment) during a time when many schools are struggling in this area. We also discuss Will’s approach to leadership – including keeping a steady emotional state, not asking people to do things he wouldn’t do himself, and having fun!

You can find some related NAIS resources from this episode by visiting nais.org/membervoices.

Charlie Grossman, History Teacher, and Mary Gentry, Math Teacher, at Breck School (MN) discuss how to facilitate civil discourse in the classroom and how to address polarization with the impending election. They detail how they created and navigated a course around the general election in 2016, lessons learned, and what the course might look like this year. Mary and Charlie also share how they focus on connection before content in the classroom and try to create a “brave space” for their students. Ultimately, our conversation ends on an uplifting note - with the two educators focusing on how their students and colleagues inspire them, and how this time of polarization creates an opportunity for independent schools to shine.

You can find some related NAIS resources from this episode by visiting nais.org/membervoices.