This Side of the Bridge
The work of strengthening schools doesn't stop when an engagement ends. Neither does our curiosity.
Every conversation, campus visit, leadership meeting, board retreat, and conference gives us another opportunity to notice patterns, challenge assumptions, and keep learning. Some of what we see affirms what we've long believed. Other experiences cause us to think differently.
This Side of the Bridge is our ongoing collection of observations and practical ideas inspired by our work alongside independent schools.
We’re not interested in publishing just to add more content to the world. When we have a perspective we think is useful, a question worth asking, or an idea that might help a school see something differently, we share it here.
Latest Bridge Notes
What Enroll26 Revealed About the Work Ahead
The EMA, now E3n, conference (Enroll26) felt different this year. Conversations about schoolwide enrollment, communicating value, and using AI pointed toward a shared need: better questions, stronger partnerships, and more support for the people leading the work. Here’s what I noticed and what it might mean for schools in the year ahead.
Think New Software Will Solve All Your Problems? Give Me Five Minutes.
Before your school invests in another software platform, make sure you understand the problem you’re trying to solve. The answer might be better training, a clearer workflow, stronger connections between departments, or genuinely new technology. The right questions can save time, reduce frustration, and lead to smarter investments.
Are You Making Progress, or Just Doing More?
Independent schools are busy places, but a packed calendar and a long task list don't necessarily mean you're making progress. Sometimes the most useful thing a team can do is step back and ask whether all that activity is actually moving the school forward.
What I’m Listening for in Leadership Meetings
If you really want to understand how a school operates, spend some time in its leadership team meetings. The issues on the agenda matter, but the way a team talks, makes decisions, navigates disagreement, and tackles recurring problems can reveal even more.
When an Enrollment Problem Isn’t Really an Enrollment Problem
When enrollment falls short, the admission office is often the first place schools look. But the real problem may be positioning, pricing, program, retention, leadership, or the family experience.
Let’s continue the conversation.
This Side of the Bridge is where we share what we’re seeing, questioning, and learning alongside independent schools. Sometimes those ideas lead to a bigger conversation.
If your school is navigating an important decision, wrestling with a complex challenge, or looking for a strategic partner to think alongside you, we’d welcome the conversation.