We are excited to announce the completion of the strategic plan for Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York. “Redefining Excellence: Learning Beyond Boundaries” is Hackley’s contribution to the national conversation on the changing nature and future of education. Learn more by reading the innovative and bold plan here.
Revisiting Bedford Falls & George Bailey
Most people believe the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a story of good overcoming evil. It is a heartwarming story of community building, family life, and good old American values.
And, if you are me, you also believe it is a story of vision and relevance, the real stuff of strategy.
Most of us know the story all too well. In the famed holiday movie, It's a Wonderful Life, we witness a classic battle of good and evil. George Bailey has grown up in Bedford Falls and wants desperately to leave, to start a new life, and get on with living, just like his older brother. But, we learn quickly in the movie that George Bailey is perhaps the only person in Bedford Falls uniquely qualified to save the city from the dreaded Mr. Potter. Foregoing a honeymoon and a fresh start in a new city, George saves the bank - and the community - from collapse on that dreaded day when there was a rush on the bank.
But, what would have happened if George would have left? What if he had not used his honeymoon money to save the bank, keeping it open, and creating true competition in the marketplace against Mr. Potter? Later in the movie we had a chance to see what that would look like, when George had a dream - or a nightmare - of what would have happened if his life had not been lived. And, as the dream unfolded, Bedford Falls had turned into Pottersville - a community of low-life villains. It turns out that George Bailey was perhaps the most uniquely qualified person in a community to bring about transformational change and forward movement. And, without him, there was no catalyst to face Mr. Potter.
If George Bailey did not exist, Bedford Falls would likely not exist.
We can learn a lot from It's a Wonderful Life. What would happen if you drove up to your school, college, or non-profit and it was gone tomorrow? It was a life never lived. It never existed. Who would be the bigger losers - the current faculty and students - or the larger community?
Independent schools and colleges do not have a divine right for existence. They must continue to inspire and be relevant to changing times, making valuable contributions to the outside world through their work. And, an extraordinary and inspiring vision is necessary to do this.
An inspiring vision must be relevant. It cannot be about the organization, but rather about contributing to the greater community a valuable solution to a unsolved problem. Most of the world's greatest organizations are effective because they have extraordinary visions. Consider these examples:
—Google - To organize all the worlds information and do no harm in the process.
—Apple - To constantly challenge the status quo.
—Southwest Airlines - To open the skies.
There is a lot we can learn about our organizations by applying The George Bailey Test. It gets right down to heart of relevance. And relevance is ingredient number one in creating a great vision.
The Importance of Our Work
I am feeling a bit nostalgic today as I remember the wisdom and philosophy shared to the world by Peter Drucker. There is nothing like a Peter Drucker quote to remind us of the importance of our work. The late management guru understood how the world worked and the role of the nonprofit in that context. In one simple but prophetic quote he inspired me at 38 years old to be about the business of leading schools, colleges, and nonprofits for the rest of my life.
“The 21st century will be the century of the social sector organization.The more economy, money, and information become global, the more community will matter. And only the social sector nonprofit organization performs in the community, exploits its opportunities, mobilizes its local resources, solves its problems. The leadership, competence, and management of the social sector nonprofit organization will thus largely determine the values, the vision, the cohesion, and the performance of the 21st century society.”
Ian's Keynote from MISBO
Ian keynoted last week at the annual MISBO Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina. His talk, focused on answering “Three Critical Questions for the Future”, included the following questions:
What is the role of education in the future?
What should “high quality” education cost?
How should education be delivered?
The talk focused on practical answers to these questions. In the course of the keynote, there was strong discussion around the topic of educational institutions moving from the knowledge acquistion industry to the skills acquisition industry. The PDF file from the talk can be downloaded here.
Epilepsy Foundation Selects ISA
The Epilepsy Foundation has selected Ian Symmonds & Associates as a partner to develop the next strategic plan. Our work will commence with a national meeting in Scottsdale this month with leaders across the nation. We will continue to work with the Foundation and partners through the fall, winter, and spring. We are excited to welcome the Epilepsy Foundation to our client community.
The Epilepsy Foundation is the only national organization dedicated to helping people pursue seizure freedom.
“The Mission Of The Epilepsy Foundation Is To Lead The Fight To Overcome The Challenges Of Living With Epilepsy And To Accelerate Therapies To Stop Seizures, Find Cures, And Save Lives.”
The Epilepsy Foundation, a national non-profit with over 50 local organizations throughout the United States, has led the fight against seizures since 1968. The Foundation is an unwavering ally for individuals and families impacted by epilepsy and seizures. They work to prevent, control, and cure epilepsy through community services, public education, federal and local advocacy, and supporting research into new treatments and therapies. They work to ensure that people with seizures have the opportunity to live their lives to their fullest potential.
Waterford Rising!
Waterford School in Sandy, Utah has just launched their new strategic plan. “Waterford Rising” is a bold strategic plan that builds upon the past and inspires an innovative future. Waterford School is led by Andrew Menke, head of school, and is located in the greater Salt Lake City area. Click on the above image to learn more about the strategic plan on their website.
Since its founding in 1981 by Nancy and Dusty Heuston, Waterford School has boldly pursued the idealism of an educational experience that prepares students to lead lives of meaning and purpose. In a world more interdependent and interconnected then at any time in human history, our new strategic plan – Waterford Rising: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future – affirms our commitment to the breadth of the liberal arts experience and its profound durability to stimulate intellect, ignite passion, shape character, and inspire a life-long love of learning.
High Mountain Institute Selects ISA
High Mountain Institute (HMI) in Leadville, Colorado has selected Ian Symmonds & Associates for strategic planning services. Our work will commence this highly unique organization this fall. We are excited to welcome HMI to our client community and family.
HMI is both an academic school and a wilderness programs provider. As a fully-accredited independent school, HMI brings high school juniors and seniors from all over the world to their campus in Leadville, Colorado for a single semester of place-based academics and wilderness expeditions. In this environment, students can connect with their best self and become more engaged learners, community members, and citizens.
As a summer programs provider, HMI offers courses for middle and high school students with an emphasis on backpacking in the Colorado Rockies, intellectual inquiry, and experiential education—all to spark a desire for exploration and growth, and to set students on a path of self-discovery.
Finally, as a gap year provider, HMI leads high school graduates on three-month traveling courses through Patagonia and the American West where students pursue outdoor adventure while gaining experience in the field of environmental conservation. By taking this time for exploration, students are set up to make the most of college and beyond.
Shout Out to Kent Bicknell and Recent Book "Stepping Stones"
If you are looking for a relaxing and thoughtful read to finish your summer, check out "Stepping Stones", available on Amazon here. Good friend and colleague Kent Bicknell has just released a book that outlines the history of Sant Bani School in. central New Hampshire. We got to know both Kent and the school very well several years ago as we completed a comprehensive strategic plan for Sant Bani School. Kent served as the founding head, long-time leader, and resident historian.
According to Amazon, "Stepping Stones narrates the fascinating history of Sant Bani School and its rapid growth into a dynamic educational day program in central New Hampshire. With a focus on the early years (1973-1978) founding head Dr. Kent Bicknell offers an in-depth account of the spiritual and educational roots of the school as it developed a curriculum based on the understanding that all life is connected. Along with a description of the relation of the school to two spiritual teachers from India, Dr. Bicknell provides a link to the educational theories of the 19th century Transcendentalists, Henry Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Alcotts. Contemporary newspaper articles and photographs from the initial years help bring the story to life. Be prepared to wonder, to laugh, to learn – and to be drawn to visit the school's vibrant campus today (www.santbani.org)."
If you are a school historian and enjoy the challenges, chronicles, and journey of founding a new school and building an educational philosophy, check out "Stepping Stones". It is thoughtful and in-depth account of a vital school in the central New Hampshire region.
St. Mary's Academy in Portland, Oregon Selects ISA
St. Mary's Academy in Portland, Oregon has selected Ian Symmonds & Associates for research and consulting services. Our work will commence in August and continue throughout the fall. We are excited to welcome St. Mary's Academy into our client community and family.
St. Mary’s Academy is Oregon's oldest continuously-operating secondary school. A nationally recognized school of excellence, St. Mary's is an established Catholic all-girls college-preparatory high school that readies students for the future. With a more than 150-year tradition of educating young women, St. Mary's continues to serve a diverse school community and offer a challenging academic program that fosters the development of the whole person. St. Mary's is large enough to provide a wide variety of experiences, yet small enough to focus on the individual needs of each and every student, as we have done for 10,000 young women since 1859.
St. Mary's urban setting in downtown Portland enhances the school's curriculum with unique access to enriching educational and cultural opportunities that complement the classroom experience. The school enjoys many partnerships with companies, educational and artistic institutions, nonprofit agencies, and local and global leaders expand the experiences and impact of our students every day.
Teton Science Schools Select ISA
Teton Science Schools in Jackson, Wyoming have selected Ian Symmonds & Associates for research and consulting services. Our work will commence in the fall and continue throughout the year with this innovation ecosystem of learning institutions. We are delighted to welcome Teton Science Schools to our client community and family.
Teton Science Schools inspires curiosity, engagement and leadership through transformative place-based education. TSS is an organization in northwest Wyoming and Idaho comprised of seven program areas sharing a common vision of education. TSS has been teaching about the natural world and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem since 1967.
TSS is deeply rooted in the outdoors as place anchors and enriches our understanding of the world. The organization has educated, trained and inspired thousands of children, youth and adults, bringing them together through the study of nature and place-based education. TSS serves students from across Wyoming, the Intermountain West, the nation and around the world.
Revisiting Education, Children, and Poverty in Mississippi
The Mississippi Children’s Museum (MCM) was born in 1994 from the urgent need to improve the health, literacy and well-being of Mississippi’s children. Recognizing a vital need for innovative, creative and engaging educational resources for Mississippi children and their families, and inspired by the success of children’s museums across the country, a visionary group of community volunteers began the extensive process that led to MCM.
Six years ago, ISA completed the first ever strategic plan for the Mississippi Children's Museum in Jackson, Mississippi. This initiative was an early effort of our #JustCause campaign. We are excited to announce that we will be building upon the heritage and success of the museum by joining with them to build a new strategic plan for the future.
We believe education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world and solve extreme poverty. ISA launched the #JustCause campaign in 2011 to raise public awareness and empower organizations using education to solve systemic poverty. #JustCause has three focus points:
- We promote education throughout our industry as the gold standard strategy for overpowering poverty;
- We consult with select organizations on a pro bono basis which use education as their primary strategy to overpower poverty;
- We invest financially in organizations that empower promising young people toward higher education attainment.
We are truly excited to be headed back to Jackson this year to partner with this extraordinary organization. We will be working alongside their board and administrative leaders to build a plan that will empower the next generation of children in the state.
The Haverford School Selects ISA
The Haverford School in Haverford, Pennsylvania has selected Ian Symmonds & Associates for strategic planning. Our work will commence in the fall and continue throughout the year. We are excited to welcome this exceptional school to our client family and community.
The Haverford School is a vibrant, private day school for remarkable boys, pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. Their campus is located in the heart of Philadelphia's main line. The Haverford School is a leader in educating boys, and our boys are at the heart of all they do. They are talented scholars, artists, and athletes – and so much more. Their extraordinary educators and best-for-boys teaching methods challenge and inspire every student, while their intentional Character and Citizenship program builds men of strong empathy, integrity, and courage.
What if We Created Plans and Didn't Share Them?
Education is a pretty predictable industry. It tends to follow similar calendars, cycles, processes, and systems. Sometimes that is a very reassuring attribute. And, sometimes it can lead us away from thinking differently about our circumstances.
Most schools and colleges spend an average of 9 months to create a strategic plan. They gather lots of data and input, engage their stakeholders, and then create a set of priorities that were formed from the feedback. At the end of the process, they build a communication program and launch the new strategic plan to great fanfare. Hopefully, they follow the plan and implement as intended, communicating with their people all the way. Five years later, they will probably do it again. Pretty predictable cycle, right?
What if we created strategic plans and then didn't share them? No kidding. Not with anyone. Instead, we just decided to DO them. Like major companies do. Think about Google for a moment. They don't need a keynote presentation to share their new software. They quietly engage us for our advice and then, one day, a new product designed just for us emerges. Some of the new products delight us and others dismay us and they fail. But, regardless, they are dedicated to the act of DOING, not SAYING, what they are going to do.
Actually, I am not advocating that we stop communicating about our strategic plans. Good communication plays an important role in closing the feedback loop with our tribe of support, creates a foundation for a campaign, and builds trust in the community. But, I have noticed that schools and colleges love to tell the world where they are going yet tend to be very slow and inflexible in living out their plans. Wouldn't it be an interesting exercise to finish a strategic plan and not communicate it with anyone? And, then, after a couple of years of implementation, go back and ask stakeholders what they think the school or college priorities are at the moment. That would give us a good sense of whether our actions were speaking for us.
Let's focus more on DOING than SAYING. We all know that action speak louder than words. Excellent communication is an important goal in itself. But, let's not confuse activity with meaning. People care about what we do, not what we say.
Please Don't Say the "I" Word - Think Twice Before You Use "Innovation" as a Marketing Strategy
We hear a lot of folks talking about educational innovation today as if it were an educational philosophy or platform unto itself, like Montessori education, Jesuit learning, or single gender teaching. It is not. Innovation is not an educational platform, it is a mindset, and it has been around in every industry from the beginning of time. This is not a new idea.
According to our good friends Wikipedia (an innovative entry itself), here is the definition of innovation:
"Innovation is the application of better solutions that meet new requirements, inarticulate needs, or existing market needs. This is accomplished through more effective products, processes, services, technologies, or ideas that are readily available to markets, governments, and society. "
So, to learn what innovation means to the future of education, let's review what innovation has meant to other industries.
- Innovation breeds choice. Most good innovations provide customers with more choice and an increasing stratification of offerings.
- Innovation decreases price. Most good innovations find a way to live out Blue Ocean Strategy, giving consumers more choice with less cost.
- Innovation enhances the experience. Most great innovations make the product experience better for the end user, the customer.
- Innovation produces integration. At the end of the day, most great innovations end up living within an ecosystem of products, with mixed price choices and mixed delivery options. Innovation rarely remains a stand alone product category.
The future of education is not about innovation that eliminates everything we know to be true about our industry: the four year college degree, clear educational outcomes, real world and work training, or global preparation for the future. I think we need to start looking at innovation at the way it will play into our ecosystem by driving more customer choice, better price, and stronger integration into our product lines. Unless we want to argue with history, I think we are safe to say that placing innovation in context might be useful to our campus conversations.
The Robert Louis Stevenson School (NYC) Selects ISA
The Robert Louis Stevenson School in New York City has selected Ian Symmonds & Associates for research services. Our work will commence in the summer and continue through the fall. We are excited to welcome the school to our client community.
The Robert Louis Stevenson School was founded in 1908. The school is located in an historic brownstone on West 74th Street off Central Park West – a short walk to the Park, Lincoln Center, The American Museum of Natural History, and the vibrant life of the Upper West Side. Stevenson serves students in grades eight through twelve. Seventh grade applicants who are ready for college preparatory coursework may also be considered. The student-to-staff ratio is 4:1.
Understanding a Generation of Broken Promises
Much of our research with private schools and colleges is littered with references of parents who are controlling, anxious, and overly involved in their children's lives. They often have very high expectations for service and also expect to be involved in detailed school or college decisions and the communication about them. Their behavior almost seems bizarre to experienced school or college administrators and beyond the norm of traditional parenting.
But, if you examine their behavior from an historical context, in light of generational trends, it makes complete sense. I call this current and upcoming chapter of consumers "The Generation of Broken Promises". This is a generation that has witnessed first-hand the downfall of major American institutions. Think about it for a minute.
From an education perspective, they were told to go to a great school and college and your life would be set with plenty of good jobs and income. Then came the global economic crisis and all of those bets were off. The overall role and value of education is currently under review in popular culture.
From a financial perspective, they were told to invest wisely in traditional retirement programs and trust banks and employers, Then came the financial crisis and with it the loss of great wealth and a long-term change in the average age of retirement.
From a housing perspective, they were told to buy a big house as it was always a great investment. Then came the housing and lending debacle and the fall of big banking.
From a safety perspective, they were told we would never have a terrorist attack on American soil and that we were always safe in our country. Then came the 911 attacks and mass shootings in their schools and movie theaters.
From a religious perspective, many were raised in a faith tradition and expected to do the same with their own children. Then came the downfall of many churches, with mainline denominations struggling to stay above water, and crisis in the Catholic Church.
The list of broken promises could go on and on, but the reality is that this generation of young parents and young adults have been conditioned to not trust bureaucratic organizations and the grown ups in charge of them. At nearly every turn, their life has been disrupted by harsh realities that have never been experienced by previous generations, and the adults in charge were always one step behind.
Is it any wonder why they respond with greater anxiety, control, and need for information and input on decision-making?
At their very core, they have trust issues. They are still working on trusting that this investment will pay off.
And, they are seeking investments that will endure in this new normal. In a world where so much has failed, they look to private education as a potential safe bet, but they still have their reservations.
So, while it is easy to get impatient or frustrated with their behavior, try to place it into a little bit of historical context. And, learn to work with them, providing new avenues for input, discussion, dialogue, and result with sharpened communications. I don't know if this is the new normal in private education, but I think it is the norm for awhile. As an industry, we might be wise to use this opportunity to become more client-focused, sensitive, and better at communicating, which happen to be some of our own weak spots.
Mississippi Children's Museum is Moving Forward
Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of our work is to see formulated strategy come to life. It is especially exciting when the strategy is designed to advance education to overcome poverty and increase access to learning, sharing our vision for our #JustCause program. Roughly five years ago ISA completed a strategic plan for Mississippi Children's Museum as part of our #JustCause effort. Among their many ambitious strategies was to consider expanding their ecosystems of children's museums to underserved regions of Mississippi well outside of the Jackson area. Check out the video below and learn more about their progress on design for Meridian, Mississippi.
Paralysis by Analysis
In a world that values research, data, and metrics, we sometimes underestimate the amount of time and energy that further analysis might take before we make a valuable strategic decision. In the end, we assume, the time spent researching an issue will help us make a more informed and effective choice about the future. And, for many organizations, this process serves them well, as they create a culture of data-driven decision making and drive forward as a result.
However, our experience with the education industry provides some insight into another danger of analysis. It turns out that we find many schools and colleges use analysis as an informal yet culturally acceptabale means to delaying an important decision. We find that some organizations would rather study something to death rather than commit to making a decision. That gives them the illusion that they are working on an answer and making progress toward a goal. But, we all know that failure to act is the larger issue.
Since research rarely jumps off the page and tells you what to do or where to go, it is important to remember that it is the informed action that matters, not the analysis. Research is intended to give an organization informed choices so that it can make more effective and efficient decisions about strategic direction, resource allocation, or identity choices. Remember not to give way to the idea that just because you are studying a problem you are making progress on it.
Aspirations to Operations > MISBO 18
I am deeply looking forward to joining my colleagues at the MISBO Fall Conference in October. I will be keynoting the conference which will focus on the theme of the conference is "Aspirations to Operations". I am dedicating a portion of my summer writing to some key questions in preparation for the conference.
For the past several years independent schools have been asking some big questions. Are we still relevant in today’s world of ever-changing education? What will the students of tomorrow need, and how do we anticipate those needs? Do we have the right mix of programs, facilities, faculty, and technology to support those needs?
These are all excellent questions that need answers - and good ones. From my vantage point, there are three questions that are so pressing - so urgent - so relevant - that the independent school has to answer them soon...and get the answers right. They are:
- What will be the role of education in the future?
- What should “high quality” educational models really cost?
- How should education be delivered to the consumer?
I will delve into each of these questions throughout the summer as part of my writing journey up to the conference. I invite you to join us in the critical conversation by 1) following and contributing to this blog series and 2) registering for the conference. You can learn more about the conference and register online at https://www.misbo.com/events/fall18.
ISA Welcomes First-Ever Summer Intern
Ian Symmonds & Associates is pleased to welcome our first-ever summer intern. Evan Harrison is joining the Ian Symmonds & Associates team for the summer beginning June 1st. He is currently heading into his senior year at Gonzaga University where he is studying marketing and public relations. He is looking to gain some real world marketing experience and is excited to contribute to the team in whatever ways he can.
While Evan spends most of his time in Spokane at Gonzaga University, he enjoys returning to his hometown of Portland, Oregon for the summer. In his free time you can find him snowboarding, cheering on the Gonzaga basketball team, and exploring the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest. Evan will be working on project management, conducting some research in the form of demographic and qualitative data gathering, and participating in the outset of some strategic sessions with our steering committees via video conference.