The author presents his thoughts on what constitutes a great and effective teacher based on his personal experience of 42 years in the education field. He lists what he believes are 25 traits of great teachers. These traits include the knowledge of how students think and what motivates them; the ability to network and collaborate with other…

All schools have the capacity to become great schools. All they need is the focus and leadership to create the proper conditions for the board, school leadership team, staff, and constituents to do so. In this article, the author presents 25 elements that are central to great independent schools. These include: Create and perpetuate an intentional…

The thinking on "strategic thinking" has evolved significantly over the years. In the previous century, the independent school strategy was to focus on long-range planning, blithely projecting 10 years into the future. For decades this worked well enough, but in the late 20th century, independent schools shifted to "strategic planning," with its…

For a long time, independent schools have relied primarily upon peer-review accreditation for the purpose of accountability. Akin to the process used by colleges and universities, libraries and hospitals, school accreditation via a reputable accrediting organization is thorough, rigorous, and professional. It is rooted in two underlying…

The director of Woodberry Forest Summer School outlines the implementation and operation of his program as a model for similar endeavors. (SJL)