Feature on Money.com
Lawrence Alexander chats with Money.com about how BIPOC high school students can find a college that values diversity and antiracist policies.
ReadDespite significant changes in hiring processes over the past year, implicit bias remains. However, as Search Consultant Brandon Jacobs explains, it can be mitigated.
Read MoreIn this new normal, our DEIB Practice Group consultants make the case for a more economical, dynamic, and inclusive virtual hiring process.
Read MoreAfter spending the summer working with college admission offices, consultant Lawrence Alexander offers his advice to other institutions considering evaluating their admissions processes.
Read MoreAs the leader of CS&A's DEIB Consulting Practice, Lawrence Alexander reminds us not to forget about the leadership transition needs of one particular group.
Read MoreCS&A's Lawrence Alexander explores where history will find independent schools standing as conversations about DEIB and justice are pitted against academic rigor.
Read MoreLike many Directors of Diversity, Lawrence Alexander wasn't hired to do this work. He shares his school's journey of building a more equitable community.
Read MoreCS&A draws from our more than 40-year history of working with schools and educational organizations to offer consulting services in the important and ever-growing area of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) work. Wherever your organization may be in terms of its cultural competency work or its diversity and inclusion efforts, we welcome the opportunity to facilitate a deeper level of understanding and growth with your team.
Services include:
Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Consulting Practice is led by consultant Lawrence Alexander, a leader in and passionate advocate for DEIB work in independent schools.
At Carney, Sandoe & Associates, we are committed to the importance of increasing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging – both within our own organization and among the educational communities with whom we partner.
Cognizant of our ability to reach a wide variety of schools, teachers, and educational leaders, it is our goal to provide educators with resources that help foster diverse and inclusive environments. We aim to facilitate continued learning and to encourage valuable networking opportunities.
Lawrence Alexander chats with Money.com about how BIPOC high school students can find a college that values diversity and antiracist policies.
ReadOn The PilotEd Podcast with Kyra Kellawan, Lawrence Alexander talks about how schools and educators need to start actively practicing allyship in order to eradicate structural racism.
ListenLawrence Alexander was a guest on WBUR's "All Things Considered" discussing how schools and companies are responding to conversations on racial injustice and what leaders can do to better address race issues.
ListenLawrence Alexander and Brandon Jacobs explain how to identify barriers to access in the virtual environment for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and how schools can create a more inclusive virtual evaluation process.
ListenLawrence Alexander joined WBUR's Morning Edition host Bob Oakes to talk about overcoming implicit bias in college admissions.
ListenLawrence Alexander talks with the hosts about how schools should begin DEI work and how to successfully hire a Director of DEI.
ListenPart 2 of Matt McGee and Michael Lomuscio's conversation with Lawrence Alexander on hiring a Director of Diversity.
ListenJoining Jen Cort, a DEI education consultant, Lawrence Alexander discusses how to focus on diversity in the hiring process.
ListenGood morning Devereaux,Ria Maxwell See More Success Stories
I hope you will indulge me by allowing me to share a story about my hiring experience this year.
Yesterday our President/Head of School asked me to speak to the Parent Diversity Committee about our hiring season and our plan to recruit a diverse faculty. This conversation began last October when we hired over 20 people in July to expand our Lower School in order to socially distance. Of those 20 hires, there were very few who were people of color. This was not a statistic that pleased our community.
As I prepared to share information about this hiring season, I reflected upon why we were able to hire, to date, 5 people of color out of 9 filled positions. It has always been a goal of mine to diversify our faculty. It is not new for me. It has been difficult because I found limited numbers of candidates.
Yesterday I credited you, Carney Sandoe, and your team with our capacity to find a broader range of candidates. I explained that you are the most effective recruitment firm for education. I also said that I work with a few recruiters who specialize in diverse candidates, and have not had the same results as I have found with Carney Sandoe this year.
I was able to point to the trailblazing work you have done in the field of DEI. I showed your website and the links you have. I shared my experience at the Diversity Hiring Conference. I also said your commitment is so dedicated that you have a team in place, including Lawrence Alexander (who has national recognition as a leader in this field), to help schools with these issues.
I know that every independent school in the country has the same goal, and I know how busy this keeps your team. I never feel like I do not have your colleagues’ full attention and commitment throughout the process.
I know that our school is known and the people I work with help make the right match.
John Faubert and Rice Bryan were so helpful in securing our two new division directors – even working throughout the winter holiday break.
Lawrence Alexander is a true partner in our work. He is a compassionate listener yet a truth-teller and strategist.
DZ [Diana Zito] has been incredibly helpful with our tech hires. She asks the best questions and really understands who is best suited for each position we have filled.
Liam Gluck visited our campus (prior to the pandemic) and still is able to tell candidates about our campus and culture with first-hand experience.
Kim Garner – a magician and diplomat!
The list goes on and on.
All this to say, thank you. Every year that I approach the hiring season, I feel like I am reconnecting with old friends. I have seen the growth and adaptability that your leadership has brought to your organization, and I am truly grateful.
Lawrence Alexander presented his keynote address titled "What Now!? Our Critical Response Theory" during the event on April 27-29.
Read MoreLawrence Alexander, Practice Leader of our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Practice, served as keynote speaker at the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC) Annual Conference on April 27-29 in Chicago.
Lawrence presented “What Now!? Our Critical Response Theory.” As the national theatre calls the critical work of college admission professionals related to anti-racism into question, how are they strategizing their professional response and responsibility? If the profession is dedicated to equity, access and inclusion for all, how do they include all? Does the profession have an answer and if so, how well are they articulating it? Participants learned the core issues facing the profession regarding anti-racism and developed practical tools to create systemic change. Participants also learned language that will help them enter into courageous conversations within their communities
Several CS&A team members are presenting at the virtual MCRC@ADVIS DEIJB Conference on April 4 and 5.
Read MoreSeveral CS&A team members are presenting at the upcoming MCRC@ADVIS DEIJB Conference on April 4 and 5.
Brandon Jacobs, Search Consultant, and Kim Garner, Chief Operating Officer, Placement Group, and Director of Conferences, will be presenting “You Have a Story – Now Tell It: How BIPOC Candidates Can Show Your Best Self in Your Cover Letter, Resume, and Interview.”
Lawrence Alexander, DEIB Practice Leader, and Brandon Jacobs are presenting “Around the Table from Around the Work: A Roundtable Discussion about the Trends, Themes, and Impact of DEIJB Efforts in Independent Schools.”
CS&A is proud to be an underwriter of the event.
Brandon Jacobs and Lawrence Alexander were panelists at a virtual roundtable at part of the Peabody Independent School Leadership Master's Program.
Read MoreOn March 9, Brandon Jacobs, Search Consultant, and Lawrence Alexander, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Practice Leader, were panelists at an Independent School Virtual Roundtable at part of the Peabody Independent School Leadership Master's Program at Vanderbilt University.
In this virtual session titled “Cultivating a DEIB Lens in Our Schools: Avoiding the Glass Cliff,” Brandon and Lawrence discussed promising practices for transitioning from a framework of DEIB programming organized by a school practitioner, to cultivating a school-wide collective lens of DEIB. Independent school practitioners from more than 26 states, 46 schools, and 6 independent school association groups attended the session.
Bob presented an on-demand session as part of the Leadership Development track.
Read MoreDuring the 2022 NAIS Online Annual Conference March 2-4, Bob Vitalo, Vice President for Search and Consulting Services, presented an on-demand general workshop session in the Leadership Development track.
The state of independent school leadership is under intense scrutiny. Research done by NAIS has shown that there is high turnover and shorter tenures. Fewer educators are expressing interest in securing headships.The pressures from parents, boards, and students make the job less attractive. Thankfully, capable, committed, and qualified people are still being called to take up these challenges. While that is encouraging, schools are also being pressed to diversify their hiring. Schools would be better served by greatly increasing the number of women and people of color as school leaders.
Titled “Getting Schools the Leaders They Need and Deserve,” the session explored why schools need to invest in developing more diverse leaders. Attendees learned how to promote new leaders and aid schools in the hiring process. Job seekers learned how to best package their skills and qualifications to get the job.
Bob was joined by Tekakwitha Pernambuco-Wise from The Wyndcroft School (PA) and Christopher Seeley from Saint Thomas Choir School (NY), both recent CS&A appointees, to discuss their experiences.
Lawrence was one of two keynote speakers at FCIS' Winter Symposium: Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Read MoreLawrence Alexander, Search Consultant and Practice Leader of our DEIB Practice, was the keynote speaker on day two of the Florida Council of Independent Schools' (FCIS) Winter Symposium which took place February 16 and 17 at Miami Country Day School.
Lawrence closed the event by discussing “What Now!? Moving from the Performative to the Transformative (Equity in Action),” invoking attendees to apply what they have learned at the event to their own school communities. How are you moving your school community from the performative responses in the comments sections to the transformative action in your strategic plans?
The Search and Consulting Group was a proud sponsor of the online conference which supports school leaders and trustees through workshops vital to independent schools.
Read MoreOn January 30, the Search and Consulting Group was proud to sponsor the 2022 California Association of Independent Schools' (CAIS) 2022 Trustee/School Head Online Conference.
The Trustee/School Head Conference provides new and experienced trustees, school heads and religious leaders workshops and sessions on a wide variety of topics vital to independent schools attracting more than 900 participants.
Bob Fricker, Practice Leader of the Domestic Head of School Practice, and Karen Whitaker, Search Consultant, were both in attendance. Bob was featured in a pre-recorded video introduction of the afternoon keynote speakers.
Brandon presented a breakout session on creating and executing a strategic DEI plan.
Read MoreHeld this year January 25-27 in Charlotte, NC, the Southern Association of Independent Schools' (SAIS) Diversity Practitioners Institute brings together those doing the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion at independent schools.
On January 26, Brandon Jacobs, Search Consultant in our DEIB Practice, facilitated a breakout session titled “How to Build, Foster, and Execute a DEI Strategic Plan.” In his workshop, he covered how a school can build, foster, and execute a diversity, equity, and inclusion plan from beginning to end.
Heather was a session leader and keynote moderator at AISNE's 2022 Heads' Retreat and Annual Association Meeting.
Read MoreHeather Flewelling, Chief Talent Officer and Search Consultant, was a session leader and keynote moderator at the Association of Independent Schools in New England's (AISNE) 2022 Heads' Retreat and Annual Association Meeting which took place January 25-27 in New Castle, NH.
On January 27, Heather led a session titled “The Head of School and DEI Director Partnership: How to Navigate and Lead in the Face of Challenges and Opportunities,” indentifying ways in which the HOS/DEIB Director partnership is central to schools’ successful navigation and growth of inclusive excellence and becoming the communities of belonging they aspire to be.
Later in the day, Heather drove a conversation with keynote speaker Gish Jen. In an engaging discussion with Heather, Gish made connections between her nonfiction and fiction work, her upbringing, her experience with public and private schools, and her life as a Chinese American.
Barbara Daush and Lucinda Lee Katz delivered a virtual session for attendees on coaching and mentoring.
Read MoreAs part of our efforts to support women in becoming school leaders, two Senior Consultants were part of the California Teacher Development Collaborative's (CATDC) 2022 Women + Leadership Conference on January 21.
Barbara Daush and Lucinda Lee Katz delivered a virtual session on coaching and mentoring, titled “The Pathway to Headship: Women Learning Through Sponsorship, Mentoring, and Coaching.” In the session, they outlined the differences between and advantages of these three distinct practices for self-growth and highlighted how women can begin or continue their journey into leadership.
Carney Sandoe is also proud to have been a gold sponsor of the event.