Connecting the Disconnected

The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace after the Great Resignation by Kevin R. McClure
Johns Hopkins University Press, July 1, 2025

Although The Caring University is ostensibly focused on working conditions in colleges and universities, it has far-reaching implications for all educational institutions, particularly independent schools. Starting with his own burnout during the first few months of COVID, Dr. McClure went searching for the "why?" of the disconnect he felt between how hard he was working with how little he felt appreciated by his organization. Weaving together interviews with hundreds of employees and research into the foundations of human resources, McClure offers both a human face to the struggles of schools and a way forward to creating a caring workplace. Organizational change and adaptation is difficult but important as independent schools, like universities, continue to move out of the pandemic while also dealing with new crises. As he states early in the book, "change needs champions and institutions will need forward-thinking leaders who can handle some uncomfortable truths and are prepared to design and implement solutions that go beyond self-care or wellness days.” This book offers real solutions and ideas for leaders at all levels.