Strategic Hiring & Onboarding for a New Reality
Strategic Hiring & Onboarding for a New Reality
SESSION 1: Hiring - January 22, 2027 | 9:00am - 11:30am
SESSION 2: Onboarding - March 10, 2027 | 9:00am - 11:30am
Do you work at an independent school outside of California? Click here for a discount on our non-member registration!
ABOUT THIS VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SERIES
Hiring has fundamentally shifted. Schools now compete directly with remote-friendly jobs, and faculty announce departures or simply leave at any point in the year. The hiring process is a dance, and candidates are evaluating schools just as much as the reverse. Meanwhile, schools face mounting demographic pressures on enrollment, putting pressure on compensation budgets.
This highly interactive workshop equips participants with a practitioner-tested toolkit for this new reality. In Part I, participants will gain tools to clearly define the needs of the role and attract a strong, mission-aligned candidate pool. Leaders will develop effective, equitable interview processes that fit their specific context, from initial screening to visit day, to suss out key skills and highlight the unique benefits of working at your school. We will share tools to leverage a search committee throughout the process to bring in diverse perspectives and build support for the new employee.
Signing a new colleague is just the beginning of the relationship, and retention is as important as recruitment. Part II will focus on welcoming and onboarding to build belonging and help new colleagues understand school culture and practices. Participants will discover approaches for building immediate connections and design their own onboarding process to give faculty the actionable, “just in time” information they need to succeed in the first year. Most importantly, we will plan how to share the unspoken aspects of your school’s culture and practices so that new colleagues feel connection and efficacy.
Participants have the option to register for Part 1 and/or Part 2, and are encouraged to participate in the full series.
LEARNING GOALS
Participants will:
- Craft a position description and design an equitable interview process that rigorously evaluates candidates while showcasing your school's culture and community
- Learn how to leverage a search committee to create equitable and welcoming hiring and onboarding processes
- Gain tools for communicating with candidates and new hires to create belonging and share critical information
- Design an onboarding sequence to foster a smooth transition
AUDIENCE
Any leader who hires, especially division leadership and department heads. Teams are encouraged and will have dedicated time to create materials specific to their own schools and current needs.
PRICING INFO: ATTEND ONE OR BOTH SESSIONS
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
Julie Strong is currently the Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning at The International School of San Francisco, where she oversees curriculum, pedagogy, and student support PK-12 as well as key strategic initiatives in a vibrant multilingual community. She works with her team to hire 20+ educators annually, from division heads to faculty, and oversees new employee orientation and onboarding programs schoolwide. As a leader, she uses compassionate accountability and a systems approach to foster resilient, growth-oriented, inclusive communities. She is an experienced coach, mentor, and facilitator, and has led diverse communities in both the academic and student-life arenas.
Cancellation Policy
Life happens. We understand that there will be times when you cannot attend a workshop that you have registered and paid for. We strive to be as helpful and flexible as possible when things out of your control happen. Please visit our FAQ page for detailed information about our cancellation policy and answers to frequently asked questions about enrollment and membership.