As a Canadian I am an avid hockey fan. Normally as a Vancouver Canuck fan there can be long periods of disappointment since we have never won the Stanley Cup. However, I am back on the bank wagon as Mats Sundin will be joining the Canucks in his first hockey game tonight. I will let you know how the game goes.
As a former Head of a number of school types (e.g., day, boarding, co-ed, single gender, international, prep, special needs, rural, urban) and now the President of a successful consulting firm, all of these entities have had something in common – a strategic plan to determine what the trends are in the local and global community and gauge how the school should move forward. The result is the development and implementation of strategies that will help the school to maximize its strengths against the going trends. This is at both the micro and macro levels. Some of these trends/threats have included: SARS, Mad Cow Disease, Soft Wood Embargoes, 9/11, recessions, poor board leadership, inheriting schools with dramatic drops in enrollment, and on and on. In every case, when one stops and analyzes what the strengths and weaknesses are of the school and then looks closely at the trends and threats, you can put together a plan that allow any school to grow and thrive. Trust me I have been there and I know that by combining the experience of your community and building ownership in your vision, you overcome any challenge and thrive.
Today I want to share with you what I believe are some of the trends that new and established schools should be thinking about.
Doug Halladay
President and Founder
Halladay Education Group Inc.
www.HalladayEducationGroup.com
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In This Issue
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1. In The News
2. Services Your School Needs
3. Trends Your School Should Think About
4. Products To Invest In To Start And Lead Your School
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1. In The News
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RECESSION HITS PRIVATE SCHOOLS, TOO
Honolulu Advertiser - Honolulu, HI, USA
As many parents struggle to keep their children in private schools, the schools are experiencing their own troubles...
5 WAYS TO AFFORD PRIVATE SCHOOLING IN HARD TIMES
U.S. News & World Report - Washington, DC, USA
But according to a survey by the National Association of Independent Schools, the average median cost of private school tuition was a hefty $15763 during...
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2. Services Your School Will Need
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(A) STARTING YOUR A SCHOOL
Starting a school can be challenging and you never have a 2nd chance to make a first impression. This is why you need a firm that has experience starting schools in USA, Canada, and Internationally If you would like more information about our services related to starting your school, please click here.
(B) SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLANNING
We can help you to develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan for your school that will build consensus, motivate donors, and define critical priorities for your Board and Administration to improve your school. If you would like more information about our services related to starting your school, please click here.
>>> (C) BOARD GOVERNANCE WORKSHOPS
Do you want your school to have better leadership? Our full-day governance workshop in combination with our interactive online survey will fine-tune your board’s performance and refocus their mandate. If you would like more information about our services related to starting your school, please click here.
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3. Trends Your School Should Think About
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I have had to lead schools and support schools during some of the most challenging times in the last few decades, including: SARS, mad cow disease, 9/11, closing of local industries, and have always been able to increase school performance. Why? By having a plan in place that understands your school’s strengths and weakness, and looking at the future to determine what the trends and treats are that will impact your school. In today’s economy you cannot run your school by the calendar or from crisis to crisis, you need a coordinated plan that your community buys into and feels empowered to support.
I am not some sort of futurist, but rather an avid reader and one that tries to see patterns. Here are few of the trends that you should think about:
- With the downturn in the economy there will be a drop in enrollment while parents will be looking for financial aid (and schools will be offering it). In turn, parents will become more in control since there will be more space and offerings to lesser capable students.
- New models of public and private schools will grow.
- The prolonged economic downturn will make teaching a preferred career and increase the number of teachers on the market.
- Schools that successfully integrate technology to customize learning will leave other schools behind.
- Political tensions will continue to splinter our world.
- The aging population profile of North America, Western Europe, and Northeast Asia will drastically reduce competitiveness with younger.
- Increased competition for students and teachers.
- Rising tuitions may alienate parents, making schools less affordable or attractive to most of the marketplace.
- Parents will be more consumer-oriented and less flexible to school rules and cultural norms, and moredifficult to manage.
- A move from read-only to read-write culture, in which young people participate in the creation of the world around them. The "Net Generation," are less interested in experiences where they are passive recipients of media, culture, or, more relevant to this blog, news of global tragedy. They're looking to be engaged and put to work.
- Traditional educators are experiencing something of a "competitive terror," as the oft-repeated statistics about the number of PhD's that China and India are producing compared to America's stagnant test scores, which will force a new creativeness and experimentation.
- There is a feeling of something of a "generational imperative" among young people. It began earlier, but particularly in the wake of 9/11, the millennial generation feels a call to service that is putting significant pressure on educational institutions to create experiential programs that facilitate their development as global citizens.
- There is an increase in for-profit schools. Entrepreneurs recognize that the public’s dissatisfaction with one-size-fits-all schools is more than just fodder for political debates. It is a tremendous business opportunity.
- There is a growing effort by independent schools to expand marketing efforts beyond the traditional glossy brochure.
If you would like more information on how we can help your school develop your own customized strategic plan, please email HEG at info@halladayeducationgroup.com to set up a time to chat about your needs.
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4. Products To Invest In To Start Or Lead Your School
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Here are a set of popular Tool Kits to help you start and/or lead your school more effectively.
>> (A). STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOLKIT (#1 BEST SELLER)
Learn how to develop your own Strategic Plan effectively with our step-by-step, Strategic Planning Toolkit and Manual. Click here.
>> (B). START-A-SCHOOL TOOLKIT (#2 BEST SELLER)
Are you still struggling with starting your School? We share with you how to start a school from the ground up. Click here.
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To your success,
Douglas Halladay
President and Founder
Halladay Education Group Inc.
P.S. Do not forget to check out our secure Online Store for ways to invest in improving or starting your own school or non-profit.
