successful Webinar

On April 5th The Gowan Group hosted a webinar with four panelists to share their experience with “newish” heads. This information was so helpful to the attendees we wanted to share it with all of you.

Here is a brief description of the topic:

Late winter/spring presents heads with a set of complicated yearly tasks to complete before students and teachers leave for summer break. Getting these things done makes it possible for the Head and leadership team to maximize time for reflection and strategy during the summer and for the board to largely stand down until the fall. When left to lag over into the summer, these tasks become messy and inefficient; some are even impossible to do and pile up into the next school year. The consequences have a compounding negative effect: institutional ineffectiveness and a loss of political capital for the school’s leaders. 

The Head of School Panelists were:

Ann Klotz, Head of School, Laurel School, all girls, ECC-12, day, Cleveland

Will Webb, Head of School, Salisbury School, all boys, 9-PG, boarding, Salisbury, CT

Rose Helm, Head of School, The John Thomas Dye School, coed, K-6, day, Los Angeles

Stuart Gulley, Head of School, Woodward Academy, coed, PK-12, day, Atlanta

We Are Hiring a Director of Student Placement and four Placement Officers!

The Gowan Group establishes Independent School solvency, using our Innovative Strategic Thinking Process, Enrollment Management, Admissions and Development Audits, in-depth data driven research, Governance Retreats, and Head of School Searches. Our process swiftly moves schools away from traditional, outdated practices and increases interest in schools from the local, national, and global levels. Through comprehensive research, strategy, consultation, and implementation, The Gowan Group works alongside schools ensuring future success. The Gowan Group also leads families through the school selection process from beginning to end. We specialize in placement at independent K-12 schools, boarding schools, and schools designed for students who learn differently. We also assist athletes in their search for the perfect athletic choice for them.

We are seeking a qualified Director of Student Placement to lead the Gowan Placement Division. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in independent school admissions and placement practices. Preferably they are a former Director of Admissions or Placement Director. They will have particular strengths in interviewing, essay writing, and identifying the unique match between student and school. They should have knowledge of all types of schools: boarding and day, single sex and coed, sectarian and secular. And they will possess outstanding communication skills both written and verbal, strong financial acumen, and they will embrace an entrepreneurial spirit. This is a full-time position.

Ideally, The Gowan Group will hire four additional placement officers in the next month. They will report to the Director. Each professional will be responsible for helping grow the company by securing client families, increasing revenue, and managing reputation. They should be very comfortable prospecting for clients on a regular basis. Each candidate may work remotely from anywhere in the country but available for light travel. The Gowan Group employees serve as independent contractors and earn income on a commission basis. The placement officer position could be either full or part-time. If experience allows, there is also opportunity for consulting projects with schools.

The Director of Student Placement is an incredible opportunity for perhaps either a newly retired or active school leader to get involved with a vibrant and innovative consulting firm working closely with independent schools and families worldwide.

Position starts July 1, 2023 or earlier.

Interested candidates should email or call Chris Pryor at cpryor@thegowangroup.com or 917.284.1676 for a confidential, initial discussion.

                                                      The Gowan Group Placement

Strategic Planning at John Thomas Dye School

The Gowan Group led JTD’s recent strategic planning process. Below you can view an incredible video describing the process. This was a fabulous project and an even better school.