Based on my internship experience at The British International School of New York and my studies at New York University, I have learned that a school's flexibility with budgeting and finance is heavily dependent upon the type of institution it is.  As I interned at a private, for-profit school, I quickly learned that it operated quite differently than other public organizations with which I had previously worked.

Therefore, understanding the nuances of your school's monetary system is crucial to being a successful education leader.

I believe that is it essential for school leaders to either obtain the competency of managing a school budget or surround themselves with those that can.  This will allow them to understand the nuances of the school’s finances and better enable them to manage it in such a way that can support achievement of educational goals and objectives.

It is important to remember that where school leaders give the school’s money – or get money for their schools - shows what they care about.

My Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the College of Business at Ohio University included numerous programs in accounting, finance, and program management.

Then, my work as a business management consultant provided me with further insight into short- and long-term budget management.

However, it was my internship at The British International School of New York (BIS-NY) that allowed me to see the nuances of budget and finance management in schools...and under extreme circumstances. 

During my time as an administrative intern at The British International School of New York (BIS-NY), the school sustained damages caused by Hurricane Sandy. One part of the school affected by the storm was the lower playground, which is adjacent to the East River promenade.  Almost all equipment was either lost or destroyed, and was inaccessible to students for a number of weeks.  I was asked by the Headmaster and Early Years Coordinator to coordinate the redesign the lower school playground used by the students in Nursery through Year 2.   

I began the task by interviewing teachers.  Then I discussed the vision, budget, and logistical constraints with school leaders, such as the Headmaster, Early Years Coordinator, Chief Financial Officer, and Building Manager.  Once I gathered and made sense of the various goals and objectives, I mapped out a diagram of the new design and presented it for approval.

Below you will find documentation of that process.