Learn to Embrace Continuous Improvement
September 2026 marks the two-year anniversary since the remnants of Hurricane Helene devastated our hometown of Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding Western North Carolina area. Although there is still a lot of recovery and rebuilding happening, there is a sense of normalcy returning to areas that were completely flooded and destroyed.
During a recent family road trip, which included driving on Interstate 40 through the Tennessee mountains, I was reminded of how small, incremental and intentional actions can have a lasting impact. If you have not traveled through the area, the Tennessee and North Carolina Departments of Transportation are in the midst of a $2.9 billion rebuild of the interstate near the N.C./T.N. state line. It is a project that is so large it will be years until it is completed, and they’ve already been working on it since the fall of 2024. However, as we passed the massive earth-moving machinery, I was reminded that each of those dump truck loads of materials were going to eventually get the job done. In our schools, we don’t face projects of this scale, but as I was driving, it was a good reminder of one of our core values at 38 House: Continuous Improvement.
As school leaders, here are a few ideas, areas, and ways that we see schools successfully embrace continuous improvement.
1. The On-Campus Visit Experience
Some of the most successful heads of school obsess over the customer experience for their current and prospective families. Often, they review and revise every aspect of the physical campus. They perfect signage and ensure no family feels confused the first time they visit campus. They create paver walkways over the areas that students and families cut across the grass and wear it to dirt. They add seating areas in intentional places on campus so that admission tours can pause and constituents can rest.
On a daily basis, they pick up trash, pull a loose branch out of a tree, and clean dirty glass on a door. In last month’s article, we wrote about how small details play a huge part in making up the brand of your school. Make time to dig into the details and make sure that your families are experiencing the best version of your school.
2. Gather Data and Feedback From Families
It’s not always comfortable or fun, but conducting organized exit interviews with families is key to knowing how and where you need to improve. In a similar vein, you need to ask prospective families who chose not to enroll about their decision making process. Perhaps most importantly, gathering that data needs to be more formal than happenstance phone calls or emails. If possible, send those families a survey that asks the same questions and provides you with actionable data.
At 38 House, we gather feedback from our clients constantly. Sometimes that takes the form of formal surveys. After every project, we note what we could have done differently. The goal is to make every project better than the last, and your goal should be to make every family’s experience better than the last.
3. Professional Development Opportunities
Conference season is around the corner, and schedules and breakout sessions are starting to be released. Make plans to find areas where you and your team can sharpen your skills and hear from experts. So many of the state, regional, and national associations are working hard to put together great lineups for their conferences. In between sessions, brainstorm with your friends at other schools. Where have they been able to find ways to improve?
Beyond conferences, podcasts, books, and similar resources can be invaluable. Ask your colleagues and friends what they’re listening to and reading. Often, we find inspiration in sources that aren’t directly related to schools or education.
On the podcast front, I’ve been listening to “The Economics of Everyday Things” and “Acquired.” I love learning about products and businesses with the goal of finding what might translate to 38 House or our school partners. As for what I’m reading, I just started reading editions of The Golfer’s Journal. Unique stories from the world of golf, and a beautiful publication!
In Conclusion
Improvement over time doesn’t happen by accident. You need to embrace a mindset, be open to feedback, and commit to learning and making changes. What tools do you use to empower and embody continuous improvement? Send us an email at info@38house.com. We’d love to hear about it.
