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Board Advisory Services

Bringing Proven Techniques and Best Practices to Each Board

Why Board Advisory Services?

An Investment in the Success of a Leader is an Investment in the Success of an Organization

The health of a school is inextricably linked with the health of its Board. Our team of former Heads of School and governance experts is uniquely equipped to shepherd your Board of Trustees through its critical work. We offer a full range of customized consulting, designed to support Boards in all facets of their leadership.

Services We Provide

We know that different schools are in different stages of governance development, and we customize our governance and board support work for each school.

  • Board and Head evaluation and goal-setting
  • Succession planning and transition support
  • Executive coaching for Head and Board Chair 
  • Dynamic Strategic Planning
  • Mission, marketing, and messaging
  • Crisis management assessment
  • Board education and governance best practices 
  • Head of School compensation assessment 

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our SERVICES

Unlock the Full Potential of Your Board

Board and Head Evaluation and Goal-Setting

Good evaluation must start with mutually agreed-upon goals against which performance can be measured. Not only does this help a Head understand his/her objectives, but it also forces the Board to get on the same page and speak with one voice. By keeping it simple and focusing the evaluation on those vital few items that really matter, evaluation can be more effective and can also form the basis for the next year’s goals. 

Succession Planning and Transition Support

New Heads arrive at their schools with the positional authority granted by their Boards but are largely uninformed about the details of their schools and without the trusting relationships that are necessary for the Head’s success. During the critical transition period, an outside consultant can be invaluable in anticipating potential issues and guiding the transition chairs to respond with sensitivity and attention to detail. Each school is unique, but the patterns that emerge during transitions are similar. The strongest schools recognize the symbolic import of every move and approach the transition proactively and not reactively, providing critical support during what is inevitably an ambiguous period.

Executive Coaching for Head and Board Chair

Empirical research has shown that equipping a leader with a strong support system is the best way to ensure success. A coach at CS&A serves as a confidential sounding board, offers an objective point of view steeped in leadership experience, and helps identify areas of difficulty or leadership blind spots that benefit from a fresh perspective. We frequently provide one-on-one coaching for Heads and have also found that coaching Heads and Board Chairs as a team can pay rich dividends in that important working relationship, especially when either the Head or the Board Chair is new to the role.

Dynamic Strategic Planning

We believe that an outcomes-focused, flexible approach is far better than a “canned” process, when paired with a system that assigns accountability for results, metrics for success, and expectations for timelines. While the basic steps of an inclusive information-gathering process and a representative committee deciding among options remain central to getting good buy-in for the strategic priorities, each project must adapt to meet the outcomes and the timetable for each school. 

Mission, Marketing, and Messaging

Every school must be crystal clear about who they are and who they are not; whom they serve and whom they do not serve. They must define themselves not by how they go about educating students, but rather by the student outcomes they produce. It takes discipline and an objective outsider to help a school articulate a mission that is unique and compelling, outcomes-oriented and inspiring.

Crisis Management Assessment

In today’s world, schools must be fully prepared to handle the inevitable crises that affect their communities. Effective crisis management requires proactive anticipation and preparation well before challenges arise, as every moment counts in critical situations. CS&A provides a comprehensive evaluation of a school’s crisis readiness and the steps needed to achieve best practices in this area. We also support school leaders, particularly Heads of School and Board Chairs, in navigating complex and volatile circumstances. 

Board Education and Governance Best Practices

Our fresh set of eyes—informed by a deep understanding of good governance—allows us to first understand where you are, then help you decide where you want to be, and finally work with you to devise a path from here to there. There are essential principles of good practice that are time honored and have proven, even in this rapidly changing landscape, to be worthwhile. Even the best Boards can get better, and even the best schools sometimes have Boards that can use help.

Head of School Compensation Assessment

As the job of an independent school Head of School has become increasingly more complex and demanding, Heads’ compensation has increased significantly both in terms of total dollar amount and variety of compensation options. In this highly competitive market for talent, Carney Sandoe provides independent school Compensation Committees and Boards of Trustees with comparative data from its annual Head of School compensation survey, as well as 990 research and DASL data, all of which provide clarity and confidence that schools are competitive in attracting and keeping top leadership talent, while staying within the bounds of what is reasonable.

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A Fresh Set of Eyes, Informed by a Deep Understanding of Good Governance

Our team members all have deep experience in all kinds of situations in both U.S.-based and international schools. If you have any issue related to governance, from board-head relationships, to evaluation, to strategic planning, to board and committee configuration and structure, we can help.

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John Allman

Senior Consultant, Coach

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Mark Davis

Senior Consultant, Coach

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Julia Eells

Senior Consultant, Coach

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Susanna Jones

Practice Leader, Leadership Coaching Practice; Senior Consultant

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Skip Kotkins

Senior Consultant

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Allison Gaines Pell

Senior Consultant, Coach

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Insights from Our In-House Experts

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A Proven Approach to Support and Guide the Board of Directors/Trustees

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Leading with Purpose: A President's Guide to Effective Board Leadership

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The Hidden Advantage: 5 Reasons to Invest in Executive Coaching

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Strengthening the Practice of Enrollment Management: The Importance of Having the Director of Admission/Enrollment Be Part of the Big Table Discussions

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The Importance of the Head of School Compensation Benchmarking Process

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We Are Here to Help

Whether you’re seeking your next career move or searching for your next school leader, we are here to connect you with a team member that can address your specific needs.

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Our Insights 

Learn more about trends and career insights through our resources. Stay informed with our latest articles and thought leadership pieces.

Explore Insights
Explore Insights
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Contact Us to Begin Your Executive Search

Ready to find the perfect leader for your educational institution? Get in touch with us today. Our team is here to assist you in every step of the executive search process.

617-542-0260 Recruitment@carneysandoe.com
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Expertise You Can Trust

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Personalized Support

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Making the Match

Contact Us- school inquiring about a high-level search and/or consulting
Icon of three abstract human figures in a circle, symbolizing a group or community concept.

Expertise You Can Trust

Icon of two hands supporting a person symbol, representing care and support.

Personalized Support

Icon of a person inside a circle with two arrows forming a loop around it, symbolizing user interaction or feedback.

Making the Match