Building Strong Schools from the Inside Out: How Faculty Collaboration Drives Student Joy

By Dr. Harry Bloom, Founder and President, Benchmarking for Good, Inc.

Benchmarking for Good's research into faculty climate and student satisfaction has revealed an important new insight into school improvement potential: when teachers work together effectively, everyone benefits. A comprehensive analysis of faculty climate and student satisfaction surveys shows that schools investing in collaborative cultures are creating stronger educational environments.

Two Collaboration Champions

Stella K Abraham High School for Girls (SKA) in Hewlett, NY sets the gold standard for faculty collaboration, earning an impressive 4.6 out of 5.0 on collaboration measures. Their teachers consistently report feeling supported by colleagues, sharing resources effectively, and working together toward common goals. This collaborative foundation creates a stable, professional environment that benefits the entire school community.

Bruriah High School for Girls in Elizabeth, NJ demonstrates how strong faculty teamwork translates into student success. With a collaboration score of 4.5/5.0—among the highest measured—Bruriah has built a culture where teachers support each other's growth and share best practices. The result? Students report notably high satisfaction levels, suggesting that the positive energy among faculty ripples directly into classroom experiences.

Why Faculty Collaboration Matters

Benchmarking for Good student survey data reveals that schools with higher faculty collaboration tend to have more satisfied students. What's clear is that collaborative environments offer multiple benefits:

• Consistency for students across different classes and teachers

• Professional growth opportunities that improve instruction quality

• Positive school culture that students can feel and appreciate

• Shared problem-solving that leads to better educational solutions

The Takeaway

Stella K Abraham and Bruriah prove that investing in faculty collaboration isn't just about teacher satisfaction—it's about creating the conditions for overall school excellence. When educators feel supported and work together effectively, it creates a foundation for student success.

For school leaders: Prioritize collaborative planning time, peer mentoring, and shared professional development. The investment in faculty teamwork pays dividends across your entire school community.

For parents: Look for schools where teachers genuinely work together and support each other. These collaborative cultures often indicate strong, stable educational environments where students can thrive.

Your Next Steps

Benchmarking for Good invites school leaders to consider applying for one of our Fall/Winter 2025 No Cost research grants for qualified schools which directly support enhancing faculty culture and student satisfaction. Grant availability is limited but you can get in the queue by completing this Grant Inquiry Form. Dr. Bloom will then be in touch to set up a call to explore the fit between your school’s needs and the grant parameters.  

#strongschools #facultyculture #happystudents #Jewishdayschools

From Communication to Advocacy: What Day School Leaders Must Rethink About Parent Engagement

By Dr. Harry Bloom

In Jewish day schools, reputation isn’t just earned through academics or co-curriculars—it’s built on the strength of relationships. And what is the cornerstone of those relationships? Communication. Renowned day school coach Jane Taubenfeld Cohen believes getting communication "right" between schools and their parents and students is one of the top school challenges.

Furthermore, Benchmarking for Good’s analysis of survey data from 1,400 Jewish day school parents shows that how schools communicate—both responsively and proactively—explains nearly one-third of a family’s likelihood to recommend the school.

The 22.5-point gap between these NPS* scores highlights a real opportunity: schools are doing relatively well in responsiveness but lagging in proactive outreach—especially when it comes to individualized, student-centered communication.

*The Net Promoter score subtracts from the percentage of respondents who are (Promoters) very satisfied the percentage that are on the fence or dissatisfied (Detractors)

🏆 Exemplars of Effective Engagement

Out of the 10 schools studied, two stood out: 

• Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls achieved near parity between responsive and proactive communication. Their outreach feels both timely and deeply personalized.

• JKHA/RKYHS Kushner Academy earned praise for strong responsiveness and solid proactive strategies, striking a thoughtful balance that parents recognize and value.

These schools model what’s possible when communication evolves from reactive updates to relational advocacy.

⚠️ The Downside of Silence

Only 13–17% of families unsatisfied with communication are “very likely” to recommend their school. These quiet detractors can impact enrollment trends and weaken community trust.

✅ The Advocacy Advantage

In contrast, 85–88% of families highly satisfied  with school communications become vocal promoters. Their enthusiasm fuels referrals, retention, and donor engagement—especially when communication is tailored to the child’s unique journey.

🎯 What School Leaders Can Do

• Audit your outreach: How responsive and proactive are you—really?

• Prioritize proactive personalization: Make it about the student, not just the school.

• Use NPS research to guide improvements: Track, compare, and act on data trends.

• Empower faculty: Teachers are your best communication allies.

🚀 Take Action—At No Cost

Benchmarking for Good’s Fall/Winter 2025 Grant Cycle is open—and it’s a game-changer. Qualified and selected schools receive custom research, NPS diagnostics relative to peer schools, and group working sessions to elevate communication strategies and drive parent satisfaction and advocacy.

💡 No cost. No catch. Just pragmatic insight. 📌 Grantee spots are limited and competitive.

📧 To apply, complete this brief Grant Inquiry Form and Dr. Harry Bloom will be in touch with you to set up an appointment to explore the fit of the grants with your school's needs.

#Jewishdayschools #dayschools #JaneCohen #Ma'ayanot #JKHA/RKYHSKushner

How School Leaders Can Earn Enrollment Advocacy from Both Parents and Students

By Dr. Harry Bloom, Founder and President, Benchmarking for Good, Inc.

Jewish day schools thrive when families don’t just enroll—they advocate enrollment to friends and family members. But advocacy isn’t automatic. It’s earned through trust, relevance, and experience. And while parents and students both care deeply, they value different things.

A recent analysis of thousands of survey responses reveals a clear roadmap: if school leaders want both groups to recommend their school, they must understand what drives each—and invest accordingly.

🔍 What Drives Advocacy?

What School Leaders Must Do

1. Elevate the School Climate

The most powerful universal driver of advocacy is a positive, nurturing environment. It influences both student enjoyment and parent trust more than any other factor.

🧮 And here’s the data-driven impact: if families rate this part of school life just one level higher on a typical 5-point satisfaction scale—for example, moving from “Satisfied” to “Very Satisfied”—the likelihood they’ll recommend the school increases by approximately 60%. That’s a massive return on even modest cultural investment.

✅ Action: Focus on warmth, emotional safety, inclusivity, and support across classrooms and leadership interactions.

2. Build Two Dashboards

Parents and students evaluate schools through different lenses. Leaders need separate metrics:

• Parent Dashboard: Communication quality, values formation, family experience, and confidence in student preparation.

• Student Dashboard: Joy, belonging, academic support, and visibility of leadership.

✅ Action: Track both sets of metrics, act on what matters to each audience, and share progress transparently.

3. Make Student Joy Strategic

School enjoyment isn’t fluff—it’s the strongest predictor of student advocacy.

✅ Action: Create student-led councils, run pulse surveys, and recognize peer contributions to foster a joyful, engaged culture.

4. Showcase Readiness for the Next Stage

Parents want to know their children are being set up for success—academically, spiritually, and socially.

✅ Action: Make preparation visible with alumni outcomes, college advising, and intentional values-based programming.

5. Customize Communication

Parents value responsiveness; students value relevance. Messaging must match audience needs.

✅ Action: Use CRM tools, train staff in differentiated communication approaches, and set clear response standards.

🧭 Final Thought: Advocacy Is Built, Not Assumed

The data gives school leaders more than insight—it offers direction. Advocacy grows where experience is supported, values are shared, and leadership is strategic. When schools invest wisely in what matters most to both parents and students, they don’t just inspire satisfaction—they build reputations that last.

How Benchmarking for Good Can Help

Benchmarking for Good’s no cost grants to qualified schools offer insightful research that can provide school leaders with data informed insights that can enable your school to achieve higher levels of advocacy among both parents and students. Achieving this can make your school a destination of choice for parents and students. Contact Dr. Harry Bloom at harrybloom@benchmarkingforgood.org to inquire about how your school can apply for a no cost Fall/Winter 2025 research grant