Jamie Estes is a Consultant with Carney, Sandoe & Associates’ Search & Consulting Group.

Before joining Carney Sandoe, he served as Director of Search at Southern Teachers Agency, an independent school search firm focused on the Southern region, from 2007 to 2025. Over his career, Jamie completed close to 300 retained administrative searches, including approximately 130 head of school searches. His work has included head searches for Hilton Head Preparatory School (SC), Loudoun Country Day School (VA), The Village School (TX), Carolina Day School (NC), and Memphis University School (TN), as well as senior leadership searches for Porter-Gaud School (SC), Nichols School (NY), Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School (GA), and Cary Academy (NC).

Jamie’s search work is grounded in a deep understanding of independent school culture, leadership needs, and the factors that help leaders succeed in a particular school community. He has extensive experience using personality assessments in the search process, helping schools assess how a candidate’s strengths, values, and experience align with both the current moment and the institution’s long-term needs. He has also presented at numerous national and regional conferences, including the NAES Biennial Conference, VAIS Heads Conference, TAIS Heads and Trustees Meeting, Society of Classical Schools Winter Symposium, NCAIS Heads and Trustees Meeting, SAIS Annual Conference, and PAIS Annual Meeting.

Earlier in his career, Jamie spent six years at Rocky Mount Academy (NC), where he served as Head of Upper School and taught English. He began his independent school career as an English teacher at Fork Union Military Academy (VA). At both schools, he also coached varsity soccer, experiences that shaped his interest in student development, school culture, and the relational dimensions of leadership.

Jamie earned his M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Union Institute & University, Vermont College, and his B.A. in English from Washington & Lee University. He is also a graduate of St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, Virginia.