Help One Hundred Schools

About Help One Hundred Schools

Welcome to the “Help One Hundred Schools Podcast,” where education meets inspiration. Join seasoned experts Karl Boehm and Rich Suttie as they navigate the ever-evolving landscape of private school education in America. With a rich background in education and leadership, our hosts delve deep into the opportunities, challenges, and trends effecting private schools. If you’re a professional with any responsibilities for increasing enrollment at a private school then this podcast is your regular haven for insightful discussions, expert opinions, and actionable strategies to help your school grow and thrive! From redefining your value proposition in light of rapid changes to cultivating institutional resilience and brand loyalty, each episode is designed to equip you with the tools to strengthen your school’s identity, value, and resiliency over time. Tune in as we uncover practical resources and practices to lead your school towards growth and excellence.

Publisher

Karl Boehm

Category

education · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Aug 2023

Latest episode

28 May 2026

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 May 2026

   Using Data to Drive Smarter Enrollment Decisions with Pete Upham

   Pete Upham has worked inside schools across multiple functional roles, from admission and development to college counseling, before spending 15 years leading a school association and working with hundreds of institutions. Today he runs his own consulting practice, and about 70% of his projects circle back to the same challenge: enrollment. What draws him to this work isn’t just the analytics. It’s the gap he keeps seeing between the data schools already have and the decisions they’re actually making. Most schools are sitting on years of untapped information. They collect it, store it, and rarely interrogate it. Pete’s work is about changing that, helping schools move from anecdote and assumption to patterns, clarity, and smarter choices. This conversation covers what good data practice actually looks like, where schools most commonly go wrong, and why the schools still standing in 20 years will almost certainly be the ones who took this seriously. What You’ll Learn Why Most Schools Fly Blind on Enrollment How ad hoc data collection and siloed systems leave schools making big decisions based on gut feel, and what it costs them over time. The Assumptions That Turn Out to Be Wrong Pete’s consistent finding: when you run the numbers, 8 out of 10 assumptions schools hold about their own enrollment are accurate. But the other two can be damaging, and nobody even knew to question them. How to Interrogate Your Data, Not Just Store It The difference between summing numbers and actually asking questions of your data, and why that distinction is where real insight lives. Financial Aid as an Untapped Lens Why the second largest line item in most school budgets rarely gets serious analytical attention, and a practical way to change that in a matter of days. Where AI Fits In How enrollment offices can start using AI tools today to query their data, as long as they understand what it can and cannot invent for them. Key Takeaways for School Leaders If you don’t consistently collect and clean your data, analysis becomes nearly impossible. Wherever you are, start somewhere. Most schools don’t connect their data across departments. Admission, financial aid, academics, advancement: they all live in separate silos. The schools doing this best are breaking those walls down. Curiosity is underrated. Schools that only look at data when they have a specific question miss the things they didn’t even know to ask. AI can be a useful entry point for schools with limited analytics capacity, especially for summarizing or querying structured data. But the AI cannot manufacture data you do not have. The schools most likely to thrive over the next 20 years will be the ones that collected better data, asked harder questions of it, and made more disciplined decisions because of it. Resources & Links Connect with Pete Upham: peteruphamconsulting.com (https://peteruphamconsulting.com/) Explore More Episodes: help100schools.com/podcast (http://help100schools.com/podcast) Underwriting Support Help 100 Schools Podcast is underwritten by Spiral Marketing for Schools, a national enrollment marketing agency serving independent schools. Heads of School and senior leadership teams may request a listener invitation for a complimentary 7-Point Enrollment Visibility Analysis. This assessment provides actionable insights into your school’s digital presence, inquiry pipeline, and growth opportunities. Request a listener invitation here (https://schools.spiralmarketing.com/assessment?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=meredith_herrera_episode). Join the Conversation How is your school using data to drive enrollment decisions, and where would you honestly rate your data practice on a scale of 0 to 10? Share your thoughts on social media and tag #Help100Schools Subscribe to the Help 100 Schools Podcast for more conversations on enrollment strategy, leadership, and what it takes to build a school that lasts.

2. 

   21 Apr 2026

   AI Adoption in Schools: From Resistance to Reality with Rich Suttie

   Rich Suttie got into the ChatGPT beta nearly four years ago and hasn’t stopped experimenting since. As a former Navy Top Gun instructor turned school head turned educational consultant, he’s delivered over 50 webinars on AI to private schools across the country. His consistent finding? Most educators still rate themselves a 2-4 out of 10 on AI familiarity. Meanwhile, students are already logged in. This conversation isn’t about whether AI belongs in schools. That ship has sailed. It’s about moving from paralysis to practical strategy: understanding the three types of resistance holding schools back, identifying low-risk starting points that deliver immediate value, and building the policies and practices that let you leverage technology without losing your soul. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or already knee-deep in prompt engineering, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at what AI adoption actually requires and what it makes possible when done right. What You’ll Learn The Adoption Gap Nobody’s Talking About Why most school leaders still hover at beginner-level AI literacy after years of availability, and what that delay is actually costing. Three Patterns of Resistance The real reasons educators avoid AI: time scarcity, fear of the downsides, and concern about dehumanizing education. Plus how to address each one. Where to Start Without Risk Communications, policy drafting, data analysis, and marketing plans where AI delivers fast wins and builds confidence for harder applications. The Task Force Method How to use AI itself to charter a team, build your policies, and create guardrails that align with your school’s mission and culture. Training AI to Know Your School Why feeding your strategic plan, mission, and context into AI transforms it from generic tool to personalized assistant. What Integration Actually Looks Like From browsers to Microsoft Office, AI is already embedded in the tools you use daily. The question is whether you’ll manage it intentionally. Key Takeaways for School Leaders Three barriers dominate: “I don’t have time,” “I’ve only heard negatives,” and “Won’t this just encourage cheating?” Schools avoiding AI aren’t protecting their mission. They’re losing ground while students use it anyway. Start with administrative tasks where bias and accuracy matter less: calendar communications, policy templates, spreadsheet analysis. Different AI tools have different strengths and biases. Training AI is iterative. Feed it your context, correct its assumptions, and it learns over time. Form a multidisciplinary task force. Include parents and teachers who are already curious, not random assignments. The person who embraces AI to improve their performance won’t lose their job. The person who ignores it might. Resources & Links Connect with Rich Suttie: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddsuttie/) Explore More Episodes: help100schools.com/podcast (http://help100schools.com/podcast) Underwriting Support Help 100 Schools Podcast is underwritten by Spiral Marketing for Schools, a national enrollment marketing agency serving independent schools. Heads of School and senior leadership teams may request a listener invitation for a complimentary 7-Point Enrollment Visibility Analysis. This assessment provides actionable insights into your school’s digital presence, inquiry pipeline, and growth opportunities. Request a listener invitation here (https://schools.spiralmarketing.com/assessment?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=meredith_herrera_episode). Join the Conversation How is your school approaching AI adoption, and where do you honestly rate your familiarity on a scale of 0-10? Share your thoughts on social media and tag #Help100Schools Subscribe to the Help 100 Schools Podcast for more conversations on innovation, leadership, and navigating change in education.

3. 

   30 Mar 2026

   Finding the Right Fit — Leadership, Culture, and Change in Independent Schools

   In this episode of the Help 100 Schools Podcast, host Karl Boehm speaks with Highley Thompson, Partner and Search Consultant at Educational Directions, about how independent schools can approach leadership transitions as moments of opportunity rather than disruption. Drawing on his decades of experience as a teacher, coach, division head, and consultant, Highley shares a deeply human perspective on how to find and nurture the right leaders—those who not only match a school’s mission, but also elevate its culture and community. Their discussion explores the intersection of strategy and heart in school leadership searches: why timing, alignment, and authenticity matter as much as credentials, and how teams can use reflection and collaboration to ensure lasting success. Whether you’re a Head of School, board chair, or educator aspiring to leadership, this episode offers invaluable insights into the evolving world of executive search and team development in education. What You’ll Learn The Transformational Approach to Leadership Search Why successful hiring isn’t about filling a vacancy—but about aligning a school’s vision, community, and timing for long-term impact. The Power of Team Dynamics How adopting a coach’s mindset helps school leaders build high-functioning administrative teams grounded in trust, communication, and shared purpose. The Three Variables for a Successful Match Highley’s framework—the person, the position, and the timing—and how these factors combine to create sustainable leadership fit. Embracing AI with Integrity How artificial intelligence is reshaping search processes and candidate preparation—and what both schools and applicants should do to stay authentic in an AI-assisted world. The Future of Independent School Leadership Why the next generation of leaders may come from both within and outside traditional education pathways, and how that diversity can strengthen schools for the long term. Key Takeaways for School Leaders Every leadership transition is an opportunity to clarify mission, culture, and direction. A great search balances skill alignment with emotional intelligence and institutional fit. AI can be a helpful tool—but only human insight can determine true compatibility. Reflecting on team dynamics leads to more cohesive, forward-looking school cultures. Schools that invest in authentic, transparent hiring build trust that lasts beyond the transition. Resources & Links Connect with Highley Thompson: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/highley-thompson/) Educational Directions: https://www.edudx.com (https://www.edudx.com) Email: highley.thompson@edudx.com (mailto:highley.thompson@edudx.com) Explore More Episodes: help100schools.com/podcast (https://help100schools.com/podcasts/) Underwriting Support Help 100 Schools Podcast is underwritten by Spiral Marketing for Schools, a national enrollment marketing agency serving independent schools. Heads of School and senior leadership teams may request a listener invitation for a complimentary 7-Point Enrollment Visibility Analysis. This assessment provides actionable insights into your school’s digital presence, inquiry pipeline, and growth opportunities. Request a listener invitation here (https://schools.spiralmarketing.com/assessment?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=meredith_herrera_episode). Join the Conversation How is your school approaching leadership transitions, and what does “the right fit” really mean in your community? Share your thoughts on social media and tag #Help100Schools Subscribe to the Help 100 Schools Podcast for more conversations on leadership, growth, and building stronger school communities.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

4,134

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 39 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

39

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

27

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.