SAIS Roundtable


Devereaux McClatchey and Marsha Little host a session on hiring trends and predictions.
Read MoreSenior Consultant and longtime former head of school Bob Vitalo discusses weighing buy-in and consensus against progress and a school's mission.
Read MoreHow can schools support a leader hired to implement significant change? Longtime former Head and Senior Consultant Bob Fricker shares his approach to lessening community resistance to change.
Read MoreWith nearly 50 years of experience in education, former Head of School and Senior Consultant Barbara Chase shares her advice to women seeking school leadership roles.
Read MoreAggie 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 the annual FORUM/Diversity 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. We also hold an annual Women’s Institute, bringing together women educators from all over the country, and world, to provide discussion, panels, coaching, and lasting mentorship.
Building Inclusive Communities – To support schools and organizations in creating hiring processes that support a more diverse talent pool, all head of school searches include the option of engaging in implicit bias training for search committees at no extra cost.
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
Devereaux McClatchey and Marsha Little host a session on hiring trends and predictions.
Read MoreOn February 18, president Devereaux McClatchey and search consultant Marsha Little hosting a roundtable discussion for members of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). The session, “2021 Hiring: Opportunities, Challenges, and Trends,” reviewed insights into the recruiting and hiring season and shared predictions for the upcoming year, both in terms of faculty and staff and leadership hiring.
Senior consultant Mike Mersky is holding two sessions for aspiring heads of school.
Read MoreIn support of the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS), senior consultant Mike Mersky will be holding two upcoming webinars for aspiring heads of school on February 18 and March 2. The two-part series hopes to inspire and inform future school leaders through a comprehensive review of the leadership best practices and foundations for success.
Lawrence Alexander presented on how to recruit, hire, and retain diverse faculty and staff.
Read MoreLawrence Alexander was a featured speaker at the SAIS virtual event February 9 and 10. As lead consultant for our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practice, Lawrence's session focused on how to recruit, hire, and retain diverse faculty and staff.
Three consultants presented a session in the Governance Track of the conference.
Read MoreOn February 26 during the virtual 2021 NAIS Annual Conference, consultants Bruce Dennis, Burke Zalosh, and Robert Vitalo presented “Take a Deep Breath: Manage Leadership Transition and Not Have It Be a Crisis” as part of the Governance Track. Their session focused on models for conducting a head of school search successfully. Click here to read a synopsis of their session.
Marlene Shaw participated in a panel about women in leadership searches during the Annual Conference.
Read MoreSenior consultant Marlene Shaw was part of a panel discussion about women in leadership searches during The Heads Network 2021 Annual Conference on January 28-29.
The Annual Conference offers a forum for discussing innovation, trends, and peer reflection in a collegial atmosphere of diversity and intimacy. With a thought provoking array of speakers featured each year, the membership is continually challenged by leaders to remain engaged in all aspects of life.
CS&A sponsored the TABS Conference, Lawrence Alexander was a spotlight speaker, and Devereaux McClatchey led a panel.
Read MoreAs a TABS Boarding School Alliance Partner, we were proud to sponsor the 2020 TABS Annual Conference from December 7-10 and present during several sessions.
Lawrence Alexander, lead consultant for our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practice, was a spotlight speaker presenting “Racial Justice and Inclusion in Boarding Schools: Engaging the Conversations We're Not Having.”
CS&A President Devereaux McClatchey served as a panelist in the Head's Forum session “The State of the Boarding School Headship: Designing for Sustainable Headship in a Time of Crisis.”
Consultants Karen Whitaker and Jennifer Christensen are leading an ongoing program for women in education.
Read MoreConsultants Karen Whitaker and Jennifer Wong Christensen are facilitators of an ongoing program hosted by the California Teacher Development Collaborative (CATDC). “One Another: Cross-Generational Women's Leadership” is a series of six sessions for female educational leaders interested in gender and leadership.
Carney Sandoe was also happy to sponsor the CATDC Women + Leadership Conference on January 21, 2021.