I don't mean can you speak Spanish or French or Italian, I mean can you speak Admissions, Advancement and Curriculum, and the many other tongues in your school.
Okay, so you've come up through the ranks, become recognized as a master teacher, effective department head, perhaps even an inspiring dean of faculty. You are ready for new responsibilities - you are ready to lead a school. Or are you?
Do you have enough experience with enrollment to talk about the admission funnel? Are you familiar with the financial aid process from the school's perspective? Do you really understand net-tuition revenue, and why it is a challenge for most board members to embrace? Do you know how to read a 990? Do you understand prospect research? Can you explain your personal hiring philosophy?
Can you explain any of this to a search committee when they ask you about it (and they will)?
How many languages of your school do you speak? The search committee will want to know, and each of your potential direct reports will be reassured that you are not a novice when it comes to their area of responsibilities. When you are their leader they are going to rely on you for support and understanding, not the other way around!
You don't have to be an expert in each of these areas - but you do need to be fluent in the languages of your school. Just as in foreign language acquisition, immersion is the best way to learn. But the reality is getting actual working experience in each of these areas is unlikely. So ask yourself this:
How will I become fluent in the languages of school?
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