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Resources
for Independent School Leaders and Aspiring Leaders
From time to time, Wickenden Associates publishes articles on topics of interest to
Heads of Schools, trustees, and aspiring school leaders. We also
conduct periodic national surveys of Heads to explore issues
related to governance and the headship profession. Click on
the links below for Adobe Acrobat versions of these documents.
To survive in a challenging competitive environment, independent
boarding schools must do a better job of defining and communicating
their unique mission, differentiating themselves programmatically,
communicating the benefits of a residential education, and
articulating those advantages to parents with compelling evidence to
back up their claims.
Our latest survey of
independent school Heads, conducted in 2002-03, explored their entry
into this demanding profession. The 420 leaders who responded have a
great deal to tell us about the predictable challenges of the first
headship -- and also about its considerable rewards. This summary of
the survey results was presented by Jim Wickenden at the 2003
National Association of Independent Schools Conference.
Much has been written
about the ways in which Boards and individual trustees fall short in
their efforts to govern. Our 1999 national Heads' survey
explored the topic of trusteeship from a different perspective. More
than 400 Heads told us about their "Superstar Trustees" -- Board
members whose contributions to their schools have been particularly
exemplary. By sharing their example of extraordinary service, we
hope to enlighten and inspire others who wish to make meaningful
contributions to the schools they serve.
Are you ready to be a Head
of School? How can you tell? This report -- based on our first
national survey in 1991, offers sage advice from experienced
independent school Heads. Their responses speak volumes about the
intricacies of school leadership, providing both a warning and a
plan of action for prospective Heads.
This 2002 National
Association of Independent Schools Conference presentation by Jim
Wickenden addresses the topic of Core Values, Mission, and the
College Admission Process in Independent Schools, laying out a
vision for a greatly enhanced, mission-driven college guidance
office. This article was reprinted in the Winter 2003 edition
of Independent School magazine.
While most independent
secondary schools have been affected by the increasingly competitive
college admissions picture, boarding schools have been hardest hit.
In this article, Jim Wickenden offers his thoughts about the roots
of the situation and suggests ways in which boarding schools might
respond.
This 1996 article offers
concrete suggestions for independent school Boards interested in
implementing the more modern, results-oriented, team-based
approaches to governance that have become the norm in other
executive spheres.
The application package is
the first hurdle in the multi-step Head search process. This article
offers tips for candidates on the preparation of the résumé, cover
letter, and statement of educational philosophy.
Based on our experiences observing more than a
thousand semifinalist interviews since 1986, this article offers
practical suggestions for candidates preparing for their initial
meeting with a search committee.
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