Aggie Underwood, Vice President of the Search & Consulting Group
A search for a new leader is likely to be one of the major legacies of a school board. While a good search can take you from point A to B in an expedient fashion, a great search travels from status quo—through reflection, assessment, and discovery—to affirmation, renewal, and even transformation. The Head of School Practice of the Search & Consulting Group has a long record of partnering successfully with institutions of learning all over the world to find the right leader.
Here are few ways in which we provide compelling value:
Just the Right Size – Our size provides our clients with the intimacy and immediacy of a small bespoke experience, while offering the resources, technology, market insight, and network of a globally-connected firm.
Stakeholders in Independent and Like-kind Education – We are stakeholders in independent schools, and as such, our searches do not compete for resources among hundreds of much larger organizations. Likewise, our firm possesses resources that independent school-focused firms cannot match.
Flexible Approach – During our years serving independent and like-kind schools we have learned that a flexible approach to a search–that takes into account the unique qualities of the school, the specifics of the departing leader’s tenure, and the sentiments of the wider community–is the best way to work.
Consultants as Well as Recruiters – We embrace that we are consultants as well as recruiters. We bring to bear our experience and understanding as life-long educators to all matters pertaining to a search. We understand the various constituencies at play, and we appreciate how challenging it can be to run an independent school.
The End of the Search is Just the Start of a Successful Appointment – CS&A understands that the appointment is just the beginning of the hard work for a successful transition. That’s why our consultants remain a resource for schools well beyond the hire. We commit not only to consulting actively during the transition, but also to coming back to campus 100 days into the headship to meet with stakeholders and keep the transition on track.
Committed Allies – CS&A hosts an annual Diversity Forum in Philadelphia. The two-day conference, attended by over 1,200 educators, provides professional development to aspiring leaders of color and facilitates increased diversity hiring among PK-12 schools. CS&A also holds an annual Women’s Institute in Boston. The event brings together women educators from all over the country, and world, to provide discussion, panels, coaching and lasting mentorship.
I have worked with many recruiters in other sectors over the years, and I’ve never encountered anyone who puts so much care into his client’s future and well-being as Bob. He visited our campus on multiple occasions, spent dozens of hours in conversation with every facet of our community, and became deeply invested in our success. He advised us not only on our search process, but on our vision and strategy. He became part of our team. It is no exaggeration to expect that, in 10 years, FAIS may look back and see Bob’s role in our Head's hire as pivotal in our school’s evolution.Matt Donegan French American International School See More Success Stories
This summer, CS&A is focusing on an area we believe that schools and leaders should invest more time and energy into: the transition phase of leadership.
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The announcement is out, the search has ended – time to celebrate and call it a day? Celebrate, certainly, but a growing body of research shows that the most important work should just be getting started.
This summer, as schools are preparing to welcome their new leaders, we are sharing thought leadership around an area we believe that schools, and school leaders, would be well-served to invest significantly more time and energy into: the transition phase of leadership.
Check out the full series here and come back often as we continue to add stories and articles from industry and education experts.
Several schools and universities are welcoming Lawrence Alexander to lead training around DEI and implicit bias this summer.
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On July 31 and August 1, Lawrence Alexander, CS&A Search Consultant and our Director of DEI, ran an implicit bias training for the admissions office at Texas Christian University. Together, they explored bias through a systems approach with the goal of creating a more inclusive process.
At Palmer Trinity School (FL), Lawrence will lead two days of training in early August on facilitating courageous conversations around diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion. One day of training will be with faculty and the other will be with student leaders.
Clark University will also be welcoming Lawrence over the course of the summer to train its admissions counseling team around disrupting bias in the application reading process.
CS&A was proud to be a sponsor of NCGS in late June where we facilitated a pre-conference workshop for aspiring heads.
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CS&A was delighted to be a Diamond Sponsor of the 2019 NCGS (National Coalition of Girls’ Schools) Conference, Dream, Dare, Do: Girls as Makers, Inventors, Engineers, & Entrepreneurs, at Westridge School in Pasadena on June 24-26.
On Monday, June 24, several members of CS&A’s Search and Consulting Group led a compelling and interactive three-hour pre-conference workshop designed to prepare and empower emerging female leaders and aspiring school heads to pursue administrative positions in their schools. The workshop, Answer the Rising Call for Women’s Leadership in Independent Schools, was be facilitated by Bill Christ, Ann Teaff, Jennifer Christensen, Karen Neitzel, and Karen Whitaker.
Additionally, members of CS&A's Search and Consulting Group presented at several others sessions during the conference. Check out the full story here.
CS&A shined a spotlight on women in leadership, featuring stories from former and current female heads of school.
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This spring, CS&A shined a spotlight on women in leadership. Members of our Search and Consulting Group, as well as current female heads of school, shared their stories of leadership, mentorship, and their professional journeys. We hope educators everywhere are inspired and motivated by these individuals and that schools continue to nurture, attract, and retain female leaders. Click here to explore the feature.
Senior Consultant Skip Kotkins led a training session for the new ADVIS board chairs and clerks.
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On June 8, Senior Consultant Skip Kotkins led a training session for the new board chairs and clerks of the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS). Kotkins often leads training of this type for schools and other educational organizations.
CS&A has launched a survey designed to further understand the experience of new heads of school.
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CS&A has launched it’s third-annual Newly Appointed Heads Transition Survey. This survey is designed to better understand the support that newly appointed heads receive when being onboarded to schools and integrated into their new communities. It also seeks to understand what elements of the head of school job cause the most consternation among appointees.
Alexander, CS&A Director of DEI, will be leading breakout sessions at the MCRC@ADVIS Cultural Competency Institute in August.
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Lawrence Alexander, CS&A Search Associate and Director of DEI, will be leading afternoon breakout sessions at the MCRC@ADVIS Cheryl Irving Cultural Competency Institute on August 22 at The Episcopal Academy (PA). The event is designed to help schools to build a strong common language and understanding around the importance of developing cultural competence and inclusive practices in their communities. This year's featured keynote speaker is Rosetta Lee of Seattle Girls' School.
Senior Consultant John Clark presented to NYC directors of development representing a variety of schools.
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On May 2, Senior Consultant John Clark presented to a group of 25 New York City directors of development representing a variety of schools, including Friends Seminary, Packer Collegiate, Poly Prep Country Day School, The Browning School, and St. Bernard’s School, among others. The group, NYC DoDs, gathers quarterly to network, information share, and discuss topics related to their work in schools. John spoke about using search firms, hiring in the independent school community, and job seeker advice.
Lawrence Alexander conducted implicit bias training for the admissions office at Brown University.
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On May 9, Lawrence Alexander, CS&A Consultant for DEI Services, held an implicit bias training for the admissions office at Brown University. Together, they explored bias through a systems approach with the goal of creating a more inclusive process.
