Bob Vitalo is the firm’s Vice President of Search & Consulting Services, and Practice Leader for Head of School searches. In these roles, Bob selects consultants to partner with our client schools. He works to make sure that schools will be well served by search consultants who have the required school experience, the necessary recruiting expertise, and the bandwidth to make each school a priority.

Bob served as Head of School for over 34 years at three different schools – first at Media-Providence Friends School, Media, PA  (PK-8), then Fairfield Country Day School, Fairfield, CT (all boys, K-9), and finally Berkeley Carroll School (coed, PreK-12, 980 students) in Brooklyn, NY. At each of his schools Bob has been integrally involved in strategic planning, capital campaigns and curricular innovations. Due to his work at Fairfield Country Day School Bob was one of the founding trustees of the International Boys School Coalition. While at Berkeley Carroll, NAIS selected the school as a “School of the Future” and subsequently hosted visiting educators from around the world.

In addition, Bob has led accreditation committees in PA, CT, and NY, served as the Vice- Chair of the NY State Association of Independent Schools Commission on Accreditation and served as a trustee for the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, Friends Council on Education, the New York City Guild of Independent Schools and the Independent School Admissions Association of Greater New York. Twice Bob was elected President of the Fairchester Heads group.

Bob brings a deep knowledge of the national independent school landscape and has extensive experience working with schools across the country, all of which he brings to his clients to help guide Search Committees on defining next steps as they contemplate new leadership. Bob has been a frequent presenter at NAIS, ISACS, CAIS, NYSAIS, NBOA and CASE on the issues confronting leaders in today’s challenging environment.

In addition to his leadership responsibilities, Bob continues to lead head of school and senior administrator searches nationwide for schools with a wide range of missions. A recognized thought leader in independent school governance and leadership transitions, he has authored numerous articles on topics including head of school transitions, leadership development, and goal-setting behaviors for school leaders. His writing reflects a deep commitment to helping schools navigate change, cultivate effective leadership, and achieve long-term success. Explore his thought leadership using the links below.

Bob earned his bachelor’s degree in education from New York University and a master’s degree in psychology from Columbia University.