Visit the NYSAIS and Mohonk Sites for More Detailed Info

ASSISTANT HEADS ASSOCIATION A H A VOLUME II, ISSUE 1 FALL 2006

AHA—WHO ARE THEY? They are “people like you” across the country! The national Assistant ( and Associate) Heads Association is a group of independent school Assistant Heads who share ideas, concerns, and camaraderie. We communicate electronically through a list serve, meet at NAIS for an interest group breakfast or afternoon reception, and gather annually at our Mohonk Mountain House conference in New Paltz, NY, (January 24-26 2007). In addition, part of our mission is to encourage you to develop regional support groups in your area for Assistant Heads, people like you who do your job and could benefit from such a professional gathering. Your annual dues entitle you to membership in the list serve where you can connect with others in your position, ask questions, get feedback, information, and counsel. You are only an email away from the wisdom, support and assistance) of this fine group. We are looking forward to continuing the conversations many of us have begun about topics and concerns we face daily. Please do not hesitate to contact any of the AHA officers with questions or if we can help you in any way. Membership form on last page

As I read over last year’s news letter and attempt to “freshen it” I realize that although stale for some, the information here is of valueNOTEA to noteFROM our fromnewTHE PRESIDENT members the president and potential members. Thus I view this publication as a member recruiting tool. I would love to have members submit articles, opinions, summaries of the conferences and feedback to me which I could then use to produce an actual Issue #2. In fact after receiving this please feel free to send me any comments you feel appropriate for The News Letter. I have also been asked about the benefits of being a member- some Assistant and associate Heads have to answer to a higher authorityPresident, when Davey spending West, money – my answer initiallySecretary, is C’mon Autumn it’s only Adkins 50 bucks – but I understand the real benefits need to be stated. The Queen Anne School, MD Friends Seminary, NY I didn’t realize at the time I joined that I had gotten involved in a group that would provide me with a wealth of support and [email protected] solving ideas. While this help has been [email protected] primarily through the list serve I cannot speak highly enough of the conference held at the Mohonk House each year. The conference is run in conjunction with the NYSAIS organization and is excellent. What AHA would really like to see would be membershipTreasurer, expanded Maureen nationwide Sweeney, by extending invitations to join to all the area associations. In Maryland it is the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS). Each year I send an AHA letter to encourageVice President, Assistant Heads Julia to Gabriele join AND attendThe the conference Windward at Mohonk. School, The NY most common statement I hear from Assistant Heads St. Luke’s,is that it is CT a bad time of the year to [email protected] In my experience, I have not found any “good” time of the year to leave for 3 days—so c’mon you guys take a chance and leave school for a few days to relax, learn and refresh. It is a REALLY good [email protected] OFFICERS Once Mohonk has been attended you’re hooked for life.

MOHONK ’07 PREVIEW

Visit the NYSAIS and Mohonk sites for more detailed info – For Mohonk conference info -http://www.nysais.org/page.cfm? p=4&verbose=160&month=10&start=01/01/07 www.nais.org www.nysais.org www.mohonk.com

In addition to the beautiful setting, and opportunities to hike, cross country ski, skate, read and reflect, there are numerous interest group meetings in addition to the main speakers. BUT one of the most valued benefits of attending the annual conference at Mohonk is the collegiality and “hobnobbing” with each other. It is always refreshing to find out that there is usually some one who can top your current school horror story. And the food is great!

Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson is a psychologist, school consultant, and author or co-author of seven books, including the New York Times bestseller, “Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys,” “Speaking of Boys: Answers to the Most- Asked Questions about Raising Sons” and “Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children.” At present he is at work on a new book for parents of boys entitled “It’s a Boy!” A dedicated speaker and traveler, Dr. Thompson has appeared on the Today Show, the Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC 20/20 and CBS 60 Minutes. He was the co- author, host and narrator of a two-hour PBS documentary entitled “Raising Cain: Focus on Boys” which aired in January of 2006. Visit the "Raising Cain" website on PBS. http://www.michaelthompson-phd.com/

Peter Cobb http://www.cobbandassociates.com/html/index.php

Peter Cobb has spent his life in independent education. He attended Moses Brown School in Providence, RI. He taught religion and served as Dean of Students at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York and Head of Upper School at the Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas. He spent fifteen years as the headmaster of the Nichols School in Buffalo, New York and of Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. He has served for six years as the Executive Director of the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education.

Mr. Cobb received his B.A. degree in Political Science from Knox College, the M.A. degree in International Relations from American University, and the M.Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary.

He is married to Carolyn Nichols Cobb, LMSW. He has two grown children both of whom attended independent schools. He is widely regarded as a speaker and facilitator on issues of the moral climate of schools and the moral and spiritual education of students.

Mr. Cobb has recently been recognized as the author of an article in the 2002 winter issue of Independent School, which received a Gold Award for Outstanding Feature Article by the Society of National Association Publishers. He is the editor of a forthcoming book to be published by Peter Lang on spirituality and Pre-K – 12 education in America. Robert Greenleaf http://www.greenleaflearning.com/ Robert Greenleaf currently serves part time as a professional development specialist at the Education Alliance at Brown University. Having taught in all grades K-12, he has 20 years experience in public education ranging from superintendent of schools to assistant superintendent of schools, elementary school principal, teaching principal, teacher, and special education assistant. He served as adjunct professor at Thomas College in Maine. President of Greenleaf Learning, a human resource development company he founded in 1987, Bob specializes in educational strategies for understanding behaviors, building esteem and achievement, and brain-based learning. Bob is the author of six instructional books, the creator of two double-sided albums and publishes a bi-monthly newsletter. He is the 1991 recipient of the "Outstanding Educator Award" from the Waterville Public Schools in the state of Maine. Bob holds a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University, a masters in educational administration from Southern Maine and a bachelor's degree from Nasson College in psychology. A past member of the National Speakers Association and Toastmasters International, he won several area and district speech events in the 1980's

February 28 - March 2, 2007 Colorado Convention Center Denver, CO, USA

People, Planet, Purpose: Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future Program Information

The NAIS Annual Conference is the largest gathering of independent school leaders, administrators, and teachers. The conference provides for the 4,000+ attendees opportunities for invaluable personal and professional networking, and for the attainment of practical skills and tools. In addition, it strives to be an event that spurs forward-thinking dialogue about the future that faces independent schools. We hope to inspire such dialogue by providing a theme on which major speakers and workshop presenters can focus.

The 2007 theme continues the exploration of the concept of sustainability in schools. Technological advances, increased mobility and networking, and the liberalization of trade and investment policies have led to an increasingly interdependent world. Schools have the opportunity — and responsibility – to educate students to become leaders in this interconnected world. NAIS believes that to do so, schools need to address five dimensions of sustainability:

Demographic Sustainability: becoming more inclusive and representative of the school-age population and less unapproachable financially and socially

Environmental Sustainability: becoming more “green” and less wasteful

Financial Sustainability: becoming more efficient and less costly

Global Sustainability: becoming more networked internationally and less provincial in outlook.

Programmatic Sustainability: becoming more focused on the skills and values the marketplace of the 21st century will seek and reward – and less narrowly isolated in a traditional disciplines approach to teaching and learning.

In 2005, the conference theme Educating for Sustainability: How Far Will You Go focused primarily on environmental sustainability. In 2006, the theme Opening the Doors to the Global Schoolhouse focused on global sustainability. The 2007 theme People, Planet, Purpose: Leading the Way to a Sustainable Future attempts to bring the discussion back to the intertwining of all of the aspects of sustainability. And it encourages schools to lead the charge, to take steps in every aspect of school life to “lead the way” to a sustainable future.

“People.” This aspect of the theme ties in closely with demographic sustainability, a focus on the individuals that make up our student body and faculty/staff. It also suggests another underlying “P” word: “partnership.” Increasingly, schools are finding strength by working together. Partnerships may be in the form of schools working together to strengthen the public perception of independent schools. Or it may be the Challenge 20/20 partnership of a school in Pennsylvania and one in India – working to find a solution to a global problem. The conference itself is a venue for partnership and shared learning.

“Planet.” This aspect of the theme touches on two elements of sustainability – global and environmental. A globally sustainable school helps students become good citizens not only of their local community, but of the world… the planet. Environmental sustainability encourages an understanding of one’s daily impact on the earth’s physical resources, an awareness of the footprint are we leaving behind on our planet.

“Purpose.” This aspect of the theme ties in with all the dimensions of sustainability. It is about what makes independent schools unique – that is each school’s mission-driven existence. Each school has a purpose. And as community, independent schools serve a larger purpose as an important member of the educational community.

We are fortunate to host the 2007 Annual Conference in Colorado, a land of mountainous beauty and diverse wildlife. We hope this setting will strengthen our connection to the earth’s natural resources. The state’s many outdoor enthusiasts provide symbols of endurance and team work – the rock climber’s reliance on her partner at the other end of the belay; the hiker’s work navigating the terrain, clearing the path, and “leading the way” for those who come after him; the cycling team’s precision formation around steep curves, learning into the curve and accelerating one another forward. Independent schools must stretch and lead and team, likewise, to build sustainable 21st Century schools. Please encourage Membership in you local school association – I usually contact them and get an e-mail list and send the news letter to all assistant and associate heads.

YOUR MESSAGE HERE

AHA Membership --- Sept. ‘06 – Sept.’07

School: ______Address: ______

Name: ______Title: ______

Email: ______

Phone #: ______

Fax #: ______

FEE: $50 Check Payable to: Maureen A. Sweeney c/o Windward School 13 Windward Avenue White Plains, NY 10605-5398 [email protected]