Leading Insights
Perspectives and Strategies for Academic Leaders
Welcome to Leading Insights, the blog of the Association for Academic Leaders. Here, our staff and members share diverse viewpoints and practical strategies to support the essential and evolving work of all Academic Leaders.
Generative AI Is for All of US
Bob Weiman, Associate Head of School at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School (SSSAS), and his colleagues realized quickly that the wide availability of Generative AI was going to be "transformational in a way that other forms of technology haven't been--and this is going to change teaching and learning."
Is a Teacher Ready to Become an Academic Leader? Identifying Top Talent On Campus
Independent schools and Academic Leaders often pride themselves on spotting talent. They look for it in students, colleagues, potential recruits, and rising leaders - and especially the last. When hunting for leadership talent within your school, it's crucial to look beyond resumes and responsibility, and instead focus on transferable skills.
One School's Journey with Generative AI
I can remember my husband and me at our kitchen island, him on his laptop, us laughing, as he fed questions into ChatGPT like, Why can’t my wife load the dishwasher correctly? This was the date ChaptGPT was “born,” and like many seismic cultural events, it created a flashbulb memory for me.
Prepare for Hiring in 2023
The COVID pandemic has upended the labor market in all industries tremendously. Employees are continuing to reassess their goals, motivations for work, and life priorities. And, employers needs are changing. To prepare for the upcoming hiring season, Academic Leaders should take the next few weeks to focus their efforts in four areas that will make a difference.
From Apprehension To Empowerment: The importance of collaboration when learning about Generative AI
An interesting phenomenon I’ve noticed is that we teachers extol the virtues of collaborative learning in the classroom, but rarely have time for it ourselves. Busy schedules can make it difficult to set aside time for partnerships on projects or professional development that are seen as outside the scope of typical unit planning.
Parent-Guardian Education Needs to be Rethought
I’ve sat through a lot of family education presentations, both as an educator and as a parent. A few of those talks were transformative, giving me a perspective that changed the way I approached working with young people (whether they were my own kids or my students). Many more, however, felt like I was listening to a canned speech that had already been delivered dozens of times.
Embracing Empathy: Navigating Challenging Interactions with Parents and Guardians
Navigating interactions with worried or frustrated parents or guardians is a vital skill set for Academic Leaders. As school leaders, we understand that these conversations have two facets.
Why Teacher Expertise Will Always Still Matter More than Artificial Intelligence
Decades ago, I attended one of the first Anytime, Anywhere conferences at which a few tech companies promoted the idea that soon, every student would have a personal laptop for daily use in school. As I watched videos of Australian children walking into school toting their laptop bags, I had a sense that I was seeing something momentous at its beginning.
The Power of Professional Cohorts: Unlocking Growth and Connectivity
If you want to be an Academic Leader who thinks ahead, it's crucial to look beyond your own campus and build strong networks in the independent school community. One strategy that's been generating a lot of buzz is forming professional cohorts.
When an Apocalypse Isn’t the End of the World: Generative AI in Schools
In his much-shared article “The Homework Apocalypse,” Ethan Mollick opens with the assumption that “Not enough educators (and parents) are preparing for the Homework Apocalypse that is coming this Fall.”
Exploring the Potential of Generative AI in Education: Personal Insights and Experiences of a School Leader
As a school leader, I am constantly seeking ways to enhance efficiency, foster creativity, and stay informed about the latest advancements in education. Recently, I have been exploring the potential of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and the potential for it to have an impact on my work.
Course Excerpt: Wellness for Academic Leaders
Rest is the work we do to restore–to come back to wholeness. During the Academic year, it’s all too common for Academic Leaders to decide they can put their own rest on hold until they solve others’ problems.
Marking the Moment 2023: Artificial Intelligence and the Student Experience at the Association for Academic Leaders
Right now, everyone knows they need to talk about AI–and they’re not sure where to look. The Association for Academic Leaders is making sure that members have the resources they need to tackle top-of-mind issues and lead conversations with confidence and knowledge.
Conversations Around Artificial Intelligence at the Association for Academic Leaders
Academic Leaders are continuing to have important conversations around AI on campus and with peers in other schools. When the advisory council met to generate ideas around the topics that would be included in this year’s Marking the Moment, there was unanimous support for including AI, not just once, but twice: there’s teaching and learning about AI, and then there’s educator use of AI.
Why An Association for Academic Leaders?
Why join? Because the Association for Academic Leaders is here to support educators whose work is strategically focused on teaching and learning beyond a single classroom. We built the Association by listening to educators, and creating the resources and programming that can make a difference in their work.
Love Where You Work
The Great Resignation continues. 21 million Americans left their job in 2021, with more than 4.5 million leaving last November alone, and trends continuing into 2022.
Ursuline Case Study: Insights on Recruiting, Engaging, and Retaining Faculty in 2023
It is no secret that schools across the country are facing some of their toughest staffing challenges in recent memory. While teacher shortage varies state-to-state, across districts, and in public and private sectors, it is nonetheless concerning.
What Can You Do To Keep Your Community Healthier?
As the academic year begins to wrap up, educators are tired. Academic Leaders are tired, themselves–and they still need to help colleagues find the energy to make the end of the year productive, rewarding, and joyful.
Navigating the 2023 Hiring Landscape
This spring and summer are shaping up to be the most challenging hiring environments in a generation. On the road this winter and spring, I have heard reports of increased difficulty in hiring teachers with options outside of education (computer science, math, science, and language teachers).
What Teaching and Gardening Have in Common
Harvest season is a time for reaping what we’ve sown. What is better than coming back to school to discover that the young teacher in the classroom next door has found her legs and is well-prepared for the new year?