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Insight · October 29, 2026
When a Head of School announces a departure, the board's first 30 days shape the whole transition. A week-by-week plan for board chairs: communication, interim decisions, the search committee and readiness.
Insight · March 11, 2026
Internal searches are often framed as work that can be absorbed into existing roles. Heads of School, CFOs, Division Heads, Advancement leaders, and HR staff are expected to layer search responsibilities on top of already full portfolios.
ISC Report · March 3, 2026
Internally managed senior leadership searches routinely absorb $60,000 to $100,000+ in institutional cost. Here is where that cost hides, and how to calculate your school's own exposure.
Insight · January 26, 2026
Why rushing to hire often costs schools more than waiting to prepare In independent schools, leadership transitions rarely announce themselves politely. A resignation lands. A timeline compresses. A committee forms. And suddenly, the instinct is clear: post the role, start interviewing, move fast.
ISC Report · January 16, 2026
Shorter Head tenures, overloaded leadership roles and more selective candidates: the key findings from ISC's 2026 Independent School Hiring Trends Report and what they mean for your next search.
ISC Report · January 16, 2026
Independent schools are entering an era in which leadership transitions are occurring with greater frequency and significantly higher expectations. Boards and Heads of School are navigating tighter timelines, limited candidate pools, and more complex community dynamics. Yet one constant remains: schools that enter a search well prepared experience smoother processes, stronger candidate alignment,…
Everything from ISC
Insight · October 29, 2026
Most executive search firms charge 25 to 35 percent of the new leader's first-year compensation. Here is how search fees work, what is included, what costs extra, and how to compare firms.
Insight · October 29, 2026
When a Head of School announces a departure, the board's first 30 days shape the whole transition. A week-by-week plan for board chairs: communication, interim decisions, the search committee and readiness.
Insight · October 29, 2026
A month-by-month Head of School search timeline for a July 1 start, from the first board conversation to the new Head's first day, plus what to do if you are starting late.
Insight · October 29, 2026
ISC's weekly scan of about 2,870 independent and international schools recorded 3,574 senior leadership postings in the past year, and 35 percent of roles open now have been posted for 90 days or more.
Insight · September 19, 2026
Over the past year, through my work with IndySchool Consultancy, I’ve had the opportunity to lead searches for four very different schools that happen to have mountains at the center of their identities: Killington Mountain School, Talcott Mountain Academy, The Mountain School at Winhall, and The Mountain School of Milton Academy.
Insight · August 17, 2026
"What is your vision for the school?" is the first question every new Head hears. A former Head of School of 18 years on why the best answer starts with listening.
ISC News · July 7, 2026
IndySchool Consultancy is pleased to announce the addition of Scott Kennedy and Brad Bates as Senior Search Consultants, further strengthening the firm's ability to serve independent schools across the country with exceptional executive search and leadership transition services.
Insight · May 26, 2026
How a new Head of School enters a community shapes everything that follows. Ten practical ways to earn trust in your first year, from listening longer to protecting your own sustainability.
Insight · April 9, 2026
The strongest résumé is not always the safest hire. Here are the hidden risks, from relocation to career motivation, that decide whether a new school leader stays, and the questions that surface them.
Insight · March 11, 2026
Internal searches are often framed as work that can be absorbed into existing roles. Heads of School, CFOs, Division Heads, Advancement leaders, and HR staff are expected to layer search responsibilities on top of already full portfolios.
ISC Report · March 3, 2026
Internally managed senior leadership searches routinely absorb $60,000 to $100,000+ in institutional cost. Here is where that cost hides, and how to calculate your school's own exposure.
Insight · January 26, 2026
Why rushing to hire often costs schools more than waiting to prepare In independent schools, leadership transitions rarely announce themselves politely. A resignation lands. A timeline compresses. A committee forms. And suddenly, the instinct is clear: post the role, start interviewing, move fast.
ISC Report · January 16, 2026
Shorter Head tenures, overloaded leadership roles and more selective candidates: the key findings from ISC's 2026 Independent School Hiring Trends Report and what they mean for your next search.
ISC Report · January 16, 2026
Independent schools are entering an era in which leadership transitions are occurring with greater frequency and significantly higher expectations. Boards and Heads of School are navigating tighter timelines, limited candidate pools, and more complex community dynamics. Yet one constant remains: schools that enter a search well prepared experience smoother processes, stronger candidate alignment,…
ISC News · November 21, 2025
IndySchool Consultancy is honored to share the appointments of three exceptional leaders who will guide their respective schools into exciting new chapters. Each leader embodies the qualities that independent schools need in the years ahead: strategic vision, relational leadership, financial and operational acumen, and an unwavering commitment to student-centered excellence.
ISC News · October 22, 2025
We are honored to partner with King School—a vibrant PreK–12 independent day school in Stamford, Connecticut—on the search for their next Head of Middle School (Grades 6–8). King’s mission of helping students “discover who they are and how they learn” is deeply aligned with ISC’s own commitment to purpose-driven leadership. With an enrollment of approximately 700 students and a strong reputation…
ISC News · October 22, 2025
IndySchool Consultancy (ISC) is proud to partner with Hebron Academy, a distinguished independent boarding and day school in Maine, in its search for the next Head of School, to begin in July 2026. Founded in 1804, Hebron Academy stands among New England’s most historic schools—an institution where tradition and innovation intersect in a close-knit community dedicated to curiosity, character, and…
Insight · September 25, 2025
This piece explores why independent schools must think beyond résumés and credentials when building senior leadership teams, and instead invest intentionally in the culture, trust, and collaborative spirit that enable schools to thrive.
ISC News · September 25, 2025
IndySchool Consultancy (ISC) is honored to partner with The Donoho School, an independent college-preparatory school in Anniston, Alabama, in the search for its next Middle & Upper School Head. This pivotal role will oversee grades 6–12, shaping the academic and student life experience for Donoho’s older students.
ISC News · September 9, 2025
At IndySchool Consultancy (ISC), we are honored to partner with schools across the country in identifying, vetting, and securing exceptional leaders who will shape the future of their communities. As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and outreach, we are pleased to share our latest retained searches.
Insight · September 1, 2025
Committee fatigue, candidate attrition, unclear expectations and the confidentiality balancing act: the six problems that stall school leadership searches, and how to fix each one.
Insight · August 11, 2025
By Chris BrueningsenFor all my years as a Head of School, August was a time of focused urgency. The return of faculty, the hum of classrooms coming back to life, the questions from new parents, the energy of students spilling onto campus. It was the music of a school year beginning. I can still hear it.This year, I'm not finalizing schedules or preparing opening meetings. I'm not walking campus…
ISC News · August 5, 2025
At IndySchool Consultancy, we are passionate about connecting exceptional leaders with independent schools that are truly shaping the future of education. We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, as we embark on the pivotal search for their next Assistant Head of School for Program, with an anticipated start date of July 2026. This critical…