An brief report-out on results of the ICG's 2015 Academic Leadership Survey as presented at the Fall 2015 Academic Leaders Retreats. Focus is on role-specific issues for leaders and "middle managers" in schools

1. The ICG Survey on
Academic Leadership
INSTRUCTIVE DATA?
Peter Gow
The Independent Curriculum Group
Fall 2015

2. SURVEY BACKGROUND
• Summer of 2015
• 220+ respondents
• 90.5% independent schools
• 67% day schools
• ≈ 80% work with secondary
• ≈ 75% work with middle school
• ≈ 60% work with pre-K – elementary
Fall 15 2

3. RESPONDENT
CATEGORIES
• Work in school, not admin or T 51
• Head or principal 45
• Academic administrator 70
• Non-academic administrator 25
• Academic department chair 14
• Classroom teacher 20
• Non-school-based 7
•Fall 15 3

4. SCHOOL DESCRIPTORS
• “Progressive” 35%
• “21st-century” 40%
• “Deeper Learning” 12%
• “Traditional” 28%
• Faith-affiliated 32%
• Other 19%
Fall 15 4

5. CONNECTIONS I
I meet with my supervisor irregularly and I
wish it were more often.
•Non-T, non-admin 12%
•Academic admin 16%
•Non-academic admin 0%
•Academic department chair 31%
•Classroom teacher 28%
Fall 15 5

6. CONNECTIONS II
I meet with my supervisor irregularly, but
it’s enough.
•Non-T, non-admin 22%
•Academic admin 6%
•Non-academic admin 4%
•Academic department chair 0%
•Classroom teacher 33%
Fall 15 6

7. CONNECTIONS III
I meet with my school head irregularly and
seldom, or never unless there is an issue.
•Non-T, non-admin 41%
•Academic admin 10%
•Non-academic admin 17%
•Academic department chair 39%
•Classroom teacher 56%
Fall 15 7

8. CONNECTIONS IV
As a school head, do you meet with
individual teachers at least once each year
as a matter of policy?
• YES 46%
• NO 41%
• NO, but I always intend to 14%
Fall 15 8

9. STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
On a scale of 1 to 6 (sixth is most), how
tuned in are you to your school’s
articulated strategic directions?
RATED 2 to 4; bulk of remainder 5 – 6
•Non-T, non-admin 49%
•Academic admin 32%
•Non-academic admin 43%
•Academic department chair 54%
Fall 15 9

10. CULTURE OF
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
On a scale of 1 to 6 (sixth is most), how would
you rate your school as having a culture of
professional learning and growth?
RATED 2 to 4; bulk of remainder 5 – 6
•Non-teacher, non-admin 51%
•Academic admin 49%
•Non-academic admin 44%
•Academic department chair 36%
•Classroom teacher 55%
•School head 33%
Fall 15 10

11. BARRIERS TO CHANGE:
Lack of Material Resources
• Non-teacher, non-admin 31%
• Academic admin 34%
• Non-academic admin 52%
• Academic department chair 0%
• School head or principal 53%
Fall 15 11

12. BARRIERS TO CHANGE:
Lack of Time
• Non-teacher, non-admin 53%
• Academic admin 66%
• Non-academic admin 80%
• Academic department chair 79%
• School head or principal 62%
Fall 15 12

13. BARRIERS TO CHANGE:
Lack of Administrator Will
• Non-teacher, non-admin 22%
• Academic admin 20%
• Non-academic admin 12%
• Academic department chair 14%
• School head or principal 9%
Fall 15 13

14. BARRIERS TO CHANGE:
Lack of Department Chair
Will
• Non-teacher, non-admin 16%
• Academic admin 29%
• Non-academic admin 8%
• Academic department chair 7%
• School head or principal 7%
Fall 15 14

15. BARRIERS TO CHANGE:
Lack of Teacher Will
• Non-teacher, non-admin 39%
• Academic admin 43%
• Non-academic admin 36%
• Academic department chair 29%
• School head or principal 20%
Fall 15 15

16. BARRIERS TO CHANGE:
Lack of Clarity in Goals,
Process
• Non-teacher, non-admin 41%
• Academic admin 31%
• Non-academic admin 48%
• Academic department chair 50%
• School head or principal 27%
Fall 15 16

17. BARRIERS TO CHANGE:
Lack of Administrator
Capacity
• Non-teacher, non-admin 26%
• Academic admin 24%
• Non-academic admin 12%
• Academic department chair 36%
• School head or principal 24%
Fall 15 17

18. BARRIERS TO CHANGE:
Lack of Teacher Capacity
• Non-teacher, non-admin 24%
• Academic admin 40%
• Non-academic admin 28%
• Academic department chair 29%
• School head or principal 33%
Fall 15 18

19. BARRIERS TO CHANGE:
Lack of Learning/PD
Resources
• Non-teacher, non-admin 18%
• Academic admin 21%
• Non-academic admin 32%
• Academic department chair 21%
• School head or principal 22%
Fall 15 19

20. IDEAL CONDITIONS
Fall 15 20

21. IDEALS—OF NOTE
• “right people on the bus”
• “faculty voice”
• “AP programs defeat us all”
• “phased expectations”
• “not top-down”
• “empathy for teachers”
• “evidence that the change will work”
Fall 15 21

22. CHALLENGES TO CHANGE
Fall 15 22

23. CHALLENGES—OF NOTE
• “Earning the trust of faculty members not
in our departments”
• “tyranny of urgency”
• “fighting the culture of achievement”
• “Having a leadership role but sometimes
not being included in the decision-making
process”
• “what’s innovative v. what’s trendy”
Fall 15 23

24. SOME NOTABLE
DISCONNECTS
Fall 15 24

25. ON HIRING TEACHERS
Who
Importance
(Quite +
Extremely)
Confidence/Pr
eparation
(Not +
Somewhat)
Heads/principals 85 20
Academic admin 57 21
Department chairs 86 29
Fall 15 25

26. ON EVALUATING
TEACHERS
Who
Importance
(Quite +
Extremely)
Confidence/Pr
eparation
(Not +
Somewhat)
Heads/principals 65 20
Academic admin 63 26
Department chairs 71 14
Fall 15 26

27. BEING A THOUGHT
LEADER
Who
Importance
(Quite +
Extremely)
Confidence/Pr
eparation
(Not +
Somewhat)
Department chairs 72 29
Fall 15 27

28. STUDENT PROGRESS
Who
Importance
(Quite +
Extremely)
Confidence/Pr
eparation
(Not +
Somewhat)
Department chairs 65 43
Fall 15 28

29. ST./FAM. ACADEMIC
“STUFF”
Who
Importance
(Quite +
Extremely)
Confidence/Pr
eparation
(Not +
Somewhat)
Academic admin 52 23
Department chairs 64 29
Fall 15 29

30. ADVOCATING RESEARCH
Who
Importance
(Quite +
Extremely)
Confidence/Pr
eparation
(Not +
Somewhat)
Heads/principals 64 33
Fall 15 30

31. DEALING WITH DATA
Who
Importance
(Quite +
Extremely)
Confidence/Pr
eparation
(Not +
Somewhat)
Heads/principals 84 27
Academic admin 83 24
Department chairs 65 43
Fall 15 31

32. Note, please, that
Department Chairs
appeared in 6 of the 7
“Disconnect” slides
Fall 15 32