Teaching & Learning
Teaching and learning are at the heart of independent schools. Academic Leaders guide skilled faculty in shaping mission-driven programs, ensuring that practices, curricula, and innovations create exceptional learning experiences. This focus area delves into best practices, emerging trends, challenges, and strategies for fostering dynamic environments that support faculty growth while aligning pedagogy with the school’s mission and values. The Association’s resources equip Academic Leaders with the tools and insights to lead with intention, purpose, and impact.
Peer Learning Opportunities
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Competency-Based Learning: A Primer for Academic Leaders
Gain a foundational understanding of competency-based learning. Designed for Academic Leaders, this course offers practical insights and strategies to initiate meaningful conversations within your school community.
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Curriculum Mapping: What You Need to Know Before You Start
Plan effective curriculum mapping that honors your school's values and culture. Leave with a personalized plan and timeline, developed from our templates. We'll suggest how AI tools can support and streamline the process.
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Onboarding New Faculty to Your School's Culture and Pedagogy
Ensure long-term faculty success by learning actionable onboarding strategies that align new hires with your school’s mission, culture, and pedagogy.
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Leading a Mission-Aligned Curriculum Audit
Learn to lead a curriculum audit aligned with mission-centered goals. Gain tools and templates for planning an audit within a school year, adaptable for single departments or cross-division competencies.
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Preparing for Schedule Changes
Develop a process to design and implement new school schedules that meet your school's unique needs.
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Instructional Rounds: Fostering Reflective Teacher Practice
Explore instructional rounds as a tool for improving student learning by fostering teacher reflection. Learn to implement a pilot program and develop observation frameworks.
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Academic Leader Cohorts
This popular member benefit, which is included with schools' membership, offers Academic Leaders the chance to gather for informal conversations on topics they have in common with peers in similar roles in schools across the country.
Resources & Insights
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Designing a New Course Proposal Process for Independent Schools
A well-designed course proposal process fosters academic innovation. Discover how independent schools can create an effective, streamlined approach.
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The Case for Instructional Coaching
Discover why instructional coaches guide teachers towards more innovative and effective pedagogies than standard professional development models do. We're making the case for Academic Leaders to create a robust culture of leadership by harnessing the power of instructional coaching.
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What Teaching and Gardening Have in Common
Teaching and gardening share a core purpose—nurturing growth. Explore how educators cultivate curiosity, resilience, and success.
Association Research Assistant
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When you ask the Association Research Assistant a question, you’ll get a brief answer with the big ideas to consider. Plus, you’ll get links to the top Association courses, articles, & videos for a dive into the topic.
Here are a few questions to get you started on this topic:
How can schools identify and train instructional coaches to support pedagogical change effectively? →
How can schools identify and train instructional coaches for their campus? →