NAIS Member Voices Podcast Archives: Season 2
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.
Find Member Voices on iTunes, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Season 2 Episodes: 2018-19
Episode 17: Jill Cross, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, TMI Episcopal
Jill Cross, dean of curriculum and instruction at TMI Episcopal (TX), speaks with us about how to start strong in a new role, being a cheerleader for teachers, and her love of George Washington.
Relevant Resources:
- Connect with colleagues in areas such as curriculum in our online community.
- Explore schools' successes and innovations in Independent Ideas: The Independent School Magazine Blog.
Episode 18: Helen Rankin Butler, Board Chair, Hathaway Brown School
Helen Rankin Butler, board chair at Hathaway Brown School (OH), tells us about being a "lifer," tips for great governance, and her love of cooking.
Relevant Resources:
- NAIS Leadership Through Partnership (LTP) helps you maximize the working relationship between the head of school and the board of trustees.
- Our Principles of Good Practice for Independent School Trustees provide a common perspective on the responsibilities of individual members of independent school boards.
- The NAIS Bookstore offers several books on independent school governance, including the Trustee Handbook and the Trustee's Guide to Fiduciary Responsibilities.
Episode 19: Frazier Stowers, Director of Admission and Tuition Assistance, Woodberry Forest School
Frazier Stowers, director of admission and tuition assistance at Woodberry Forest School (VA), describes his mentors, his "working definition" of leadership, and his love of spending time outside.
Relevant Resources:
- Data and Analysis for School Leadership (DASL) allows you to explore your school's enrollment and financial aid trends and see how they compare to other schools locally and nationally.
- The NAIS Connect Admissions Community is a great place to share ideas, challenges, and successes in the field of independent school admissions.
- Review our Principles of Good Practice for Admissions, then use them to guide your work.
Episode 20: Trina Moore-Southall, Director of Equity and Inclusion, Brentwood School
Trina Moore-Southall, director of equity and inclusion at Brentwood School (CA), shares how she never planned to be in this role, the challenges she's faced, and the importance of prayer in her life.
Relevant Resources:
- NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC)
- The Fall 2018 issue of Independent School magazine focuses on Diversity & Inclusion.
- The NAIS Bookstore offers several books on equity, diversity, and inclusion, including the Demographic Outlook in the NAIS Trendbook and Diversity Work in Independent Schools.
- "Equity & Justice Work: It's Not Just for Directors of Diversity and Inclusion ," from Independent Ideas: The Independent School Magazine Blog.
Episode 21: John Kerney, Executive Director and CEO, Winchendon School
John Kerney, executive director and CEO at Winchendon School (MA), reveals the unique approach his school took to help ensure financial sustainability, how much fun he's having in his job, and his love of the podcast How I Built This.
Relevant Resources:
- Video: Reimagining Independent Schools: The Winchendon School-Brooklyn Campus
- Learn more about NAIS Professional Development opportunities.
- "Improving Financial Sustainability: Schools Experiment With New Models," from Independent Ideas: The Independent School Magazine Blog.
Episode 22: Tekakwitha Pernambuco-Wise, Head of School, Sea Crest School
Tekakwitha Pernambuco-Wise, head of school at Sea Crest School (CA), shares five tips for aspiring heads, her school's approach to student health and well-being, and her daily rituals.
Relevant Resources:
- "Supporting Heads," from the Fall 2016 issue of Independent School magazine.
- Navigating the Labyrinth," from the Summer 2014 issue of Independent School magazine.
- Learn more about the Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads.
Episode 23: Nicole DuFauchard, Head of School, The Advent School
Nicole DuFauchard, head of school at The Advent School (MA), tells us about how her school recruits and retains top talent, the many books she's reading, and her love of Wonder Woman.
Relevant Resources:
- NAIS’s Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM) helps schools benchmark their school climate and advance strategic equity goals.
- NAIS Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI)
Episode 24: Adam Nye, Assistant Head for Educational Strategy and Gary J. Neils Chair for City as Our Campus, Winchester Thurston School
Adam talks to us about taking on a new role, how his school is preparing for the future, and his New Year's resolutions.
Relevant Resources:
- "Blue Ocean Thinking," Independent School magazine, Summer 2016.
- "Pittsburgh: Where the City Is the Classroom," Independent Ideas blog, September 2017.
- Watch the webinar recording "Innovation in Independent Schools: What Boards Should Be Considering."
Episode 25: Robert Brisk, Head of School, The Wellington School
Robert discusses how his school is deepening student engagement, how he builds an effective team, and what his Jersey roots taught him about communication.
Relevant Resources:
- Take a Student Engagement Survey to help your school build a culture that increases achievement and decreases dropouts.
- View NAIS reports on the Middle Grades Survey of Student Engagement and the High School Survey of Student Engagement.
- Read "Peer Review: There's an App for That," an article in the Fall 2016 issue of Independent School magazine.
Episode 26: Connie Fink, Fifth-grade Social Studies Teacher, University School of Nashville
Connie talks to us about making her classroom an inspiring place to learn, finding balance, and what kind of impact she wants to have on her students.
Relevant Resources:
- Review the Principles of Good Practice for Teachers and Supervisors of Teachers to help guide your work.
- Share ideas with peers in the Teachers of the Future group in Connect.
- Read "What Is a Classroom?" an article in the Spring 2019 issue of Independent School magazine.
Episode 27: Patti Wilczek, Head of School, Helios School
Patti discusses what it's like to work at a school for gifted students, how she has managed crises at past schools, and how she could have been a geologist.
Relevant Resources:
- Explore NAIS resource guides for managing a crisis, making your school an inspiring place to learn, building your team, and more.
- "Life in the Media Frenzy: Balancing Crisis Management Perceptions and Realities," Independent Ideas blog, December 2018.
Episode 28: Phil Higginson, Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement, Ravenscroft School
Phil gives us insights into the field of advancement and best practices for funding the future, and talks about how he's an "introvert wannabee."
Relevant Resources:
- Explore Independent School magazine's Winter 2019 issue, which is all about advancement.
- Compare trends and figures for your school's giving campaigns with peer schools using the Advancement section of the DASL Databook. This resource is members-only.
- Fundraising Tips for Independent Schools. This article is members-only.
- "Board Chair Line of Succession: Are You Prepared?" This article is members-only.