About NEAR

About: 

Founded in 2020 by Olaf Jorgenson (Almaden Country Day School) and Zaq Roberts (Gateway School), NEAR is a coalition of nonprofit school leaders seeking to address the enrollment epidemic impacting our schools. According to DASL data, half of NAIS member schools currently struggle with enrollment decline, and many lack the resources to get help (e.g., paying for fee-based workshops, consultants, etc.). 

Some of us have successfully discovered ways to combat decline, but we’re working in isolation, and the odds against us remain steep, given demographic trends. NEAR was established to enable sharing and collaboration, fortifying our efforts while helping others better address their challenges. Our school communities can benefit from NEAR at no cost beyond our time.

Mission: 

NEAR has two purposes...

• To convene a series of meetings (roundtables) to discuss the critical challenges we’re facing, ask questions and share ideas. Member schools will be invited to submit topics/questions, from which the most heavily subscribed will form the roundtable agenda. The first roundtable was held in 2021. 

• To establish a network of NEAR schools for ongoing dialogue and resource exchange. We have within our own schools the expertise and ideas necessary to address the enrollment epidemic. If we unite and collaborate, we propagate best practices and help one another thrive.