Department chairs occupy a curious place in independent schools. Almost everyone agrees the role is important. Few schools are entirely satisfied with how they have it structured.

Drawing on original research and interviews with Academic Leaders and Department Chairs across independent schools, Designing the Middle: Department Chairs and the Future of Academic Leadership offers practical insights, compelling examples, and fresh thinking about how schools can successfully support the meaningful work of Department Chairs.

The report shows what’s possible when schools stop assuming their leadership structures are fixed. Rather than prescribing a specific model, the report offers five recommendations to support schools in taking a new look at their department chair structures and includes invaluable, concrete examples of how schools nationwide have redefined their department chair roles to be reflective of both their specific needs and of the role’s distinct schoolwide position.

For any school adding responsibilities to an already full role or wondering why their leadership structure doesn’t always fully deliver, Designing the Middle offers the research and the process to get to a better solution.