Using the School Growth system for growing schools, Daniel Breen has successfully led Sacred Heart Cathedral School (Knoxville, TN) through a season of transformation. Under his guidance they achieved 94% re-enrollment, exceeded their new enrollment goal with a waiting pool, surpassed their fundraising targets, and student academic results were the highest in years.

On a recent flight I sat next to a woman who had a very intriguing story. She was once a teacher, and apparently a pretty good one. But she opted to change careers in her early-40’s because she couldn’t take it anymore. Instead she became a flight attendant.

What was the problem? Was teaching really that bad?!

Do you have a strategic plan or school improvement plan? Have you prioritized the ONE THING that has the biggest impact on student growth and overall school growth?

Research indicates that within the next few years 68% of sitting heads will either retire or move to another school.  This high level of change may be attributed to baby boomers delaying retirement as a result of the financial recession of 2008, and it is also triggered by school board quality issues.

Does your school have a well-defined leadership succession plan?

St. Anthony High School (Jersey City, NJ) is terminating operations this month. After 65+ years of service to a diverse population, the leadership ran out of money because the economic model of the school was unsustainable. It's a harsh reality that President Bob Hurley, Sr., and his team were unable to overcome. I'm sad for the families of Jersey City and the many students and alumni who will be impacted by the loss of this important community institution.

Does the School Growth innovation and design method really work? Can you transform a school with tactical planning and disciplined talent development? Here's one example from an early adopter that proves the answer is "Yes!" This school achieved 65% higher enrollment in 5 years by using the School Growth Method.

Talk of school reform and innovation sometimes makes it seem like this is a recent concept in education, but at School Growth we've had the privilege of visiting two schools in the last week who have managed to effectively understand economic and education forces in order to stay relevant and grow. 

I recently read an article about the Dallas Cowboys new training facility, that many say will give them an advantage against other NFL teams. But what if it will also give some local schools a competitive advantage as well?

What you may also find interesting is that the Frisco Independent School District will share this state-of-the art athletic and entertainment facility that will include a 12,000-seat indoor stadium, a luxury hotel, and convention center. "Teaming up with the Cowboys on the indoor stadium allowed the city to save about $500,000 a year in operating costs and between $10 million and $15 million in capital costs." 

This will certainly be an innovative destination that provides powerful marketing but also economies of scale for the local public schools. That's smart! We've seen some other new designs for facilities that inspire a whole new approach to education. These are some of the school buildings in your future. 

To be the best it makes sense to learn from the best. Barbara Daush has served as the President at St. Agnes Academy - St. Dominic School for the last 22 years. Very few have achieved the level of success and influence that she has established during this illustrious career.

To understand the full scope of her school leadership, consider that Barbara is:

* Currently serving as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS)
* Was named the 2014 CEO of the Year by MBQ Magazine
* Is a member of the inaugural class of the Memphis Business Journal's Super Women in Business in 2012
* Is a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS)
* Is past president of the Memphis Association of Independent Schools.

These perceptions contribute to the success of your school--whether you are expertly professional or awkwardly lazy in your standards and expectations. Excellence is the word most commonly used on school websites and in marketing materials, and your families are daily evaluating your commitment to excellence based on their interactions with you.