Businesses have a tendency to favor strategic plans over unauthorized, creative thinking that takes advantage of new realities and technological opportunities. Despite this, "skunkworks" operations flourish everywhere...hustling teams working under the radar screen....succeeding....failing....revolutionizing practices. When the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education brings together a team of five faculty to run a conference called "Constituent Relations in an EWorld," three of us are from Proctor, because our Development Office is a skunkworks operation that gained legitimacy. Here's Jay Goulart speaking to college and university advancement officers in front of Walt and Roy Disney:

A new breed of management theorists, including authors Tom Peters, Seth Godin, Peter Block and Tom Asacker call for horizontally configured task teams that blow the socks off of traditional management by taking advantage of the web, acting fearlessly (ready, Fire!, aim...) and creating customized experiences for customers. Here, former PA Board Chair John O'Connor '79 speaks on donors' perspectives in philanthropy:

It turns out that a little prep school in New Hampshire can teach higher education a lot. At least we're not being held hostage by the arbitrary standards used by U.S. News & World Report to rank colleges. One of these standards favors schools for annual fund participation by alumni. This motivates the college to waste resources trying to squeeze small gifts from those who don't really care for the institution....resources that could go toward customizing relationships with those with the capacity and propensity to advance the school dramatically. Here I am, getting the crowd to see things my way:

Now that I think about it, Proctor--within the universe of independent schools--is something of a skunkworks operation. Below--back in Andover, NH--Steve Wilkins shares with trustees the report of the NEASC visitation team for our reaccreditation.

Their findings include the following: "During the Committee's visit to Proctor, we saw an adult community that reflects faith in the students. There is a shared optimism and belief that students are capable, that they are developing leaders, and that the Academy is moving in positive directions. There is an infectious pride in Proctor's independence from the scripts others might write for a college preparatory school, though there are strong efforts to meet the demands inherent in the charge to prepare students well for college and beyond. "
and
"Students show both loyalty to, and affection for, Proctor. They indicate that the community is supportive of all its members, and that only individuals who are unable to open themselves up to the community fail to thrive here. Students do not hesitate to warmly recommend Proctor to others. Parents and past parents are similarly committed to the Proctor....”