Onboarding Resources

Effective onboarding programs can make new employees and trustees feel welcomed, valued, and prepared for the new school year. These resources offer guidance, checklists, samples, recordings, and more to help schools design their onboarding programs.

Board of Trustees

• Are You Ready to Serve on a Board? Harvard Business Review
  Five types of board intelligences: financial, strategic, relational, role, and cultural.
• Better Orientation for Small School Board Members Acies Strategies
  Information to share with new board members about the school and the board.
• Don’t Forget Purpose: Yours and Your School’s Greenwich Leadership Partners
  The purpose of education is essential context for how boards create conditions for success.
• Effective Board Governance Videos SAIS
  Topics addressed include an overview of effective boards, effective board rooms, handling complaints, and sample case studies.
• New Trustee Orientation by the CFO NBOA
  Advice from an experienced business officer on how bring new trustees up to speed.
• The Conversation Every Board Chair Should Have With a New Trustee RG175
  How new members can contribute to the school’s success and how trustees with the best of intentions sometimes do more harm than good.
• To Be or Not Be a Trustee Greenwich Leadership Partners
  Identifying what a trustee is NOT is just as important as defining what a trustee is.
• Trustee Orientation: From a One-Time Event to a Thoughtful Ongoing Process NAIS (log in required)
  One school’s process includes a personalized approach that can include a campus tour, financial overview, and a review of the school’s strategic documents.
• Understanding Board Committee Structure BoardSource
  The role, structure, and limits of a board’s executive committee.
• Webinar Recording – Trustee Tune-Up – The Fundamentals of Independent School Trusteeship SAIS (member login)
  Previous SAIS President Debra Wilson offers insights into how independent school boards work, the fundamentals of trusteeship, and challenges and opportunities facing today’s schools.
• What Do Board Members Need to Know About Giving Trends Today? Gail Perry Group
  Key information board members need to know: giving, influence, values, and economy.

Faculty

• Adult Learning Principles for Effective Faculty Onboarding ASCD
  Recognizing what adult learners need, establishing the “why”, and dividing the learning experience into information, instruction, and implementation are just a few strategies outlined.
• Big-Picture Reflections to Inform Your Faculty Onboarding (Re)Design SAIS
  Leaders from four different schools share their philosophies for faculty onboarding that include respecting adult learners, giving choice, and remaining flexible.
• Investing in Early-Career Teachers Meera Shah
  Meera shares the benefits of investing in new teachers in greater retention, improved student learning, and a healthy school culture.
• New Hire Orientation and Opening Days Schedule NBOA (member login)
  Sample schedules and preservice agendas.
• Now That You’ve Hired Great People, Offer Them Great Pre-Onboarding ISM
  Tips in this monthly timeline include sending a welcome gift package and social media announcements.
• Onboarding Can Be a Powerful Teacher Retention Strategy SchoolCEO
  This article looks at both the technical and the social side of onboarding and what schools can do to create an effective program.
• Planning Ahead: How Independent Schools Can Leverage the Summer Months to Best Prepare for the Next School Year Venable
  Venable shares advice on background checks, new employee training, and employee handbook policies.
• Promoting Teacher Retention Through Mentoring Edutopia
  A strong mentoring relationship within a supportive induction program can make all the difference.
• Webinar Recording – New Hire Onboarding SAIS (member login)
  This recording and accompanying resources provide sample checklists and timelines for faculty and staff onboarding throughout the first year.

School Leaders

• Inboarding Versus Onboarding: Know the Difference to Help Your Leaders Succeed ISM
  This article offers advice on how to differentiate your process for an internal hire moving into a new role.
• Leadership Transition Resources SAIS
  Collected resources and checklists for various school roles to facilitate a smooth leadership transition.