FAQs

Since we started in 1998, Connor Associates has served hundreds of primary and K-12 schools of all sizes and types in 26 states and on 4 continents. Our clients are also state, regional, national, and international organizations that serve independent schools.

The Lead Consultant is President Mike Connor, and he will be personally involved in all aspects of our work together. Once you appoint the person on campus who will oversee and coordinate our work with you, your day to day relationship will turn toward Emily Griffiths, Director of Market Research and Client Relations. Emily ensures we all stay on track, including our research associates who become your confidential eyes and ears. For work that involves digital and social media evaluation and placement, digital and print communication audits, or financial expertise, we bring in our strategic partners . However, Mike is the go-to and lead on every project.

Truth is, “expert” is more a verb than a noun. Experts don’t tell you what to do and move on. Experts collaborate. They respect the client, but aren’t afraid to be truth-tellers. Experts bring out the best in others by listening objectively and comprehensively. Experts are action-oriented and results driven.

The educational sector is undergoing change on a massive scale, so anyone who calls him or herself an “expert” must be in continuous learning mode. Clients choose us over our competitors because of our customized approach, our attention to innovative strategies, and our long-term commitment to results and the client’s success. Equally important, we know how to have fun and get the job done!

Mike’s performed well in nearly every leadership position in independent schools, including teaching. He understands how great schools are interdependent: success in teaching leads to success in enrollment leads to success in philanthropy. A virtuous cycle. Everyone is responsible for everyone’s success.

Of course. Some schools have historic and trusted relationships and we honor that.

Some schools have told us they benefited the most from our partnership just prior to institutional strategic planning, or an accreditation self-study. Please see what Dr. Barnett and Andrew Deyell had to say on such matters in our case studies. That has the advantage of tying our work with your institutional goals. It also helps you set a vision with informed strategy and the tactics to attain it. But it’s not necessary to wait for big school events to derive the benefit of a partnership now.

Any time you notice a decline in enrollment, retention, or philanthropy is also the time to call—and the sooner the better, before it becomes a trend. From our first conversation, we discuss factors that may be at play, and provide a roadmap to the best possible solution. We see every client as a collaborative partner, and we get great work done that way.

Not for us, as we have pretty much worked all over the inhabited world! Though we always prefer face-to-face interaction, we make up for that with various online conferencing systems. We’re still working on the Millennial equivalent of the Vulcan Mind-Meld.

Don’t let it prevent you from having a conversation with us. We can work it out in baby steps—first with a call and then, perhaps, with the starter package.

Although there is no prep work needed before our initial conversation, here are some questions that our clients find helpful to consider:

• What is it you want to be and do? (The larger purpose of the school)

• What are you doing well that is helping you get there? (Self-awareness)

• What are the constraints that are preventing you from moving forward? (Internal/External blocks)

• What will you do differently tomorrow that will help you meet your challenges? (Personal motivation, institutional will to change)

• How can we help, and where do you need the most help?

For what we call the “starter package,” a few days. For comprehensive services that guarantee the best results, six to nine months. But we work with you to create a plan that will ensure long-term success, and make the most of our work together.

That’s great! You’re doing better than most. Still, by studying yourselves (we respectfully call this “internal navel-gazing” or “trying to read the label from inside the bottle”), you may be missing improvement opportunities that are better identified and substantiated by an experienced, objective, no horse-in-the-race expert. Mike would welcome a consultation call to discuss how we might merge our resources with yours and avoid re-inventing the wheel.

Glad you asked. Our starter package.