Progress & The Flywheel Effect

This year, I have thought a lot about how progress is catalyzed by lots of little steps that combine to shift an institution forward. At the beginning of the school year, I spoke to the faculty and staff about the “Flywheel Effect” from Jim Collins’ book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don’t. He notes that in growing organizations, lots of small positive steps build the momentum of a flywheel to a breakthrough point, after which the flywheel has energy to spin on its own. Work is done, progress ensues, and momentum is accelerated. Since its inception in 1869, StoneleighBurnham School has always been an institution that adapts with the times. And yet, we have always stayed fiercely committed to giving girls the space, the support, and the challenge to grow and learn. As we move through the early days of a new decade, I am reminded of our need to adapt! The world is changing quickly around us, and an educational focus on helping each girl find her own voice and be confident that she will be heard remains at the core of our work. How we achieve that, how we adjust our program to meet the needs of today’s girl, and how we envision a strong future are the underpinnings of our progress. This issue of the bulletin focuses on progress, and wow, are we ever excited about the progress we are making! Our wonderful 150th Anniversary year turned quickly into the first year of our future, and we have been tallying all the ways we have made progress in the last two years. Gifts to last year’s annual fund hit an all-time high. We are nearing completion on three major capital projects:

“We are leading the way among independent schools as we reset our day student tuition and begin to structure a new boarding tuition model. In doing so, we make the power of a Stoneleigh-Burnham education accessible to more girls who will thrive in our program.”

program to meet our purpose. We are leading the way among independent schools as we reset our day student tuition and begin to structure a new boarding tuition model. In doing so, we make the power of a Stoneleigh-Burnham education accessible to more girls who will thrive in our program. Progress also comes in other ways too, but especially in the everyday work that we do with our students. We focus on interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and student voice. Each of these priorities builds strengths for our students as they move on to college and into a world full of amazing opportunities and daunting obstacles. Their future will require them to work with people from all over the planet and to bring ideas from one discipline to another in order to solve our world’s crucial challenges. Our students are nimble and flexible in their approach to problemsolving, and they are ready to make a difference. This issue of the bulletin illustrates just some of the ways that our “flywheel” is gaining momentum. As you read, I hope you’ll be as impressed by these glimpses into the passion, commitment, and generosity of spirit in our community as I am every day.

Geissler Gallery and the arts spaces, the expanded fitness center, and the state-ofthe-art equestrian paddocks. We’ve renewed our accreditation with both NEASC and International Baccalaureate (IB), and while doing so, both groups praised the strength of our community, our program, and our ability to constantly assess and adjust our

Stephanie Luebbers Head of School