The Search Group Newsletter

Fall 2011

What accounts for a year like this? We believe that our proactive focus on recruiting a diverse candidate pool in addition to our unique team approach to search sets us apart among our peers. Our team of consultants shares decades of experience as leaders in schools, on boards of trustees, and in the non-profit and corporate worlds. And we strive to stay ahead of the curve within the worlds of executive search and education. For example, we have increased our focus on recruiting 21st Century educators (see below), as more and more boards seek to find leaders who focus on innovation, and creativity.

In this publication you will find several articles we hope will be of interest with respect to leadership, independent school education, and governance. We also hope to connect you further to the work that we do and the dedicated professionals who make it happen. I invite you to be in touch with me if we can help your institution in any way.

Aggie Underwood
Director of the Search and Consulting Group
aggie.underwood@carneysandoe.com

Meet CS&A's Newest Search Associates

For over two decades Sherry has served as a national leader in working to support the hiring and retention of faculty of color. She was the founding director of the Independent School Consortium (ISC) of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, an organization that works to nurture and promote diversity in K-12 schools. She previously worked in school admissions, as well as a classroom teacher in both public and independent schools. Read more...

John has served as a leader in institutional advancement for independent schools for more than two decades. Most recently he served as the Director of Advancement at the American School in London, UK (2008-11). Prior to ASL, he held several positions at Loomis Chaffee in Windsor, CT, including Director of Planned Giving (1991-97), Director of Development (1997-2007) and Director of Institutional Advancement (2007-2008). Read more...

Lifelong Learners

Recruiting Leaders for the 21st Century

The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn. Alvin Toffler

Last week my colleague and I were meeting with a search committee, and one of the trustees said, "We're charting a new course at our school. We need a leader who places a premium on innovation. The old-school 'lecture' classroom is going out of the window ... where can we find someone who thinks about learning differently?"

We're hearing different versions of this story all across the country from boards of trustees and heads of school who recognize the value - some say the urgency - in reforming the learning paradigm for their students and their faculty. They're pushing for more focus on collaboration, integrative studies, problem-based and project-based learning, professional learning communities (PLCs), and qualitative assessment, brain-based research ... does any of this sound familiar? At a meeting this past summer, a search committee chair told me that his board had debated re-naming their Head of School -- "Learner-in-Chief." Read more...

Continue this conversation with Devereaux

Head of School Compensation Survey

Back by Popular Demand!

From 2003 to 2007 the Search Group at CS&A conducted a very successful Head of School compensation survey. The subsequent "Compensation Trends Report" became a valuable resource to both Heads and their boards for determining win-win compensation packages. To this day, we still receive requests for this kind of compensation reporting -- so it is with great pleasure that we announce the launch of our 2011-2012 compensation survey and report.
Read more...

Continue this conversation with Gregory

Searching Outside the Box

While Carney Sandoe has successfully served independent schools for more than a generation (I used the firm many times when I was a school head), it also provides valuable services for related non-profit organizations seeking leaders. I had the opportunity to be engaged in two such searches in the last twelve months and can attest to the firm's capacity and ingenuity when assisting such organizations. Read more...

Continue this conversation with Jake

Every Search a Global Search

Historically, there have been four "generations" of international schools: Missionary schools in Balkans and Middle East (mid- to late- 19th century); US State Department Schools (1960's onwards); Schools established by American expatriate families (1970's onwards); and, "English-medium international" schools for primarily host-country students (recent).

Many of the schools in all four categories list an "American curriculum" among their offerings (in addition, in many cases, to the IB curricula and/or the host country curriculum). With the largest database of American and International educators in the world and with the consultants, staff and technological resources to bring schools and educators together, CS&A is best prepared to serve this market. Read more...

Continue this conversation with Art

Tell Us What You Think

We'd love to hear your feedback about our newsletter. Please let us know what you think and what topics you would like us to explore in future issues.

Contact Gregory Britton, Senior Associate and Director of Research and Development, with your comments, questions and suggestions.