Independent Schools

School administration is a specialty of AdminService! We are experienced in all realms of school administration such as enrollment, outreach, business operations, fundraising, faculty training and support, parental involvement, and board development. As an organization grows, people naturally become more specialized, but continuing to add staff is costly and not always the answer. Many areas can be addressed on a short term basis, and we are ready and able to come and work along with you on specific projects. It is our goal to train, support and strengthen your administrative staff, recognizing the reality that people who own the problem, need to own the solution.

Our services encompass the following areas:

Over the course of several visits to your school, we will gather information through individual interviews and written questionnaires that will enable us to assess the overall strength and effectiveness of the business operations and administrative functions of your school. We focus on people: their abilities, responsibilities, and interactions with colleagues. We listen, obtain an overview, and present back to you impartial, objective recommendations for improvement. Focusing on individuals, our human centered approach conveys to your staff that they are heard, appreciated and integral to your school.

• Is your enrollment where you wish it to be?
• Is low enrollment impacting the programs you are able to offer?
• What is the public perception of your school?
• Do you have a long term plan for enrollment stability?

Continuing to attract new students, as well as retaining your current students, is essential to the future of your school. A solid enrollment is a corner stone of a successful school. We can assist you in evaluating the effectiveness of your enrollment strategies, creating a detailed, well defined plan for student outreach.

• Does your board need to move from involvement in day to day operational issues to strategic planning?
• As volunteers, what are the expectations for a board member?
• Do your board members understand their legal liability?
• Has your board participated in a self evaluation?

A strong board fully understands their role, as part of the foundation of the school. We will work with your board to identify goals for board development and training, and enable them to accept and embrace their role in fundraising, long term strategic planning and governance issues.

• Does your school have a clearly defined plan for fundraising?
• Do you maintain a data base of donors?
• Is there an understanding that friend raising is as important as fund raising?

A multi faceted approach is often the key to successful fundraising. Involving parents, reaching out to the wider community, special events, participation in community events, timely acknowledgment letters, and publications overflowing with positive messages that reflect the heart of the school will all combine together for success in fundraising. We can present you with an objective view of how others see your school and the impact that has on your fundraising strategies.

• Is your school seeking accreditation?
• Do you have sufficient personnel and resources to undertake this process?

Now that your faculty, board, staff and parents are excited about seeking accreditation, how will you achieve it? The volumes of paperwork require a major time commitment, dedication to the end result and knowledge of the process. An experienced professional from AdminService can assist, advise, and guide you on this worthwhile endeavor. We will be by your side, on site, to support you throughout the entire process from the completion of documentation to the visit from the accreditation team.

This mentoring service includes periodic on-site visitations, phone and Skype supports, regional workshops with a cohort of other non-public administrators. In a number of non-public schools it is often the case that their Administrator has not received formal cousework in Administration, let alone formal training under the auspices of that particular school movement. The complexity of school leadership is such that a lack of training in administration can add to the challenges that the administrator already faces. In addition, lack of training and support for the school's administrator can spell the difference between the continuation of the school or its demise.

We offer on retainer phone consultations for identified School contacts (such as the Administrator or School Counselor, respectively) on pressing (but not crisis) issues and questions related to School staff or student problems. Phone calls will be returned by the next business day. HR presenting problems requiring complex legal guidance could be referred to the AdminService attorney.

• Independent Schools
• Small Business
• Strategic Planning
• Temporary Support
• Templates