From April 13 to 14, 2023, Deerfield Academy hosted the annual Eight Schools Association (ESA) Spring conference. Heads of Schools and numerous board members and trustees from ESA member schools gathered at Deerfield to discuss the current state of private boarding schools.
A primary topic in this spring’s conference was the future of boarding school teachers. Dr. Austin commented that this subject was “especially important for Deerfield” and questions such as “How can we invest in faculty?” and “How can we sustain, deepen, and renew the high engagement model of teaching, coaching, advising and mentoring?” allowed for a fruitful discussion. Other matters, such as supporting student health on campuses, the excessive attachment to social media, and the financial challenges that schools face, were also discussed. Dr. Austin mentioned that numerous schools were interested in Deerfield’s implementation of the cell phone policy, hinting at the possibility that other schools may consider enacting similar rules.
The ESA is a collaborative association of eight private college-preparatory boarding schools in New England. The association consists of Deerfield Academy, The Hotchkiss School, The Lawrenceville School, Northfield Mount Hermon, Phillips Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, St. Paul’s School, and Choate Rosemary Hall. Though it was founded in the 1973-1974 school year, 2006 marked the first appointment of a president and an executive director. According to the ESA’s website, the association is “devoted to the exploration of new research and trends in education, and we shall consider together any issues and challenges common to their school and faculty.”
The ESA holds two meetings each year, one during the winter and the other during the spring. The winter meeting is held in New York City; it is exclusively for the eight Heads of Schools and features guest speakers. Head of School John Austin described the meeting as an “informal fellowship” among the heads.
Past speakers have included Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America and author of Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All, and Jeffery Salingo, an expert on college admissions and author of College (Un)Bound: The Future of Higher Education and What it Means for Students. Each speaker applies their expertise to the setting of boarding schools. For example, Nossel presented on the importance of protecting free speech on campuses. At the same time, Salingo diverged on the upcoming supreme court case on affirmative action, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, and its implications on the college admissions process. Dr. Austin commented on the winter meeting, saying, “Being a head of school can be challenging at times, so it’s great to get together with your colleagues and talk about how you’re doing and what the challenges your school might be facing.”
The spring meeting is more inclusive in its participants. The location of the meeting rotates between the campuses of the eight schools. The Heads of School and a couple of board members and trustees from each school attend the conference, unlike the winter meeting.
When the COVID-19 pandemic called for social distancing and smaller groups, the ESA adapted and continued the bond between the schools even during the pandemic. The bi-annual conferences were held virtually, and the Heads of Schools met weekly over Zoom to discuss how to handle the pandemic, especially in a tight-knit boarding school community.
Dr. Austin noted that the Zoom discussions fostered helpful conversation that he could apply to his role as Deerfield’s Head of School, saying, “One of the upsides of the pandemic was I was able to spend a lot of time, over Zoom, with the other heads.” Even after COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, the school leaders within the ESA continue to meet online once every two weeks to discuss the “joys and difficulties” of being a Head of School.
The conversations held during ESA meetings will play a role in the lives of Deerfield students. Dr. Austin said, “[The meeting affects students] indirectly. We tend not to bring decisions to that group, but we often share practices among schools. There is definitely an impact on various campuses.”