Educators’ Collaborative:
The Perfect Team to Conduct Your Search for a Head of School or Senior Administrator
Counsel from Experienced Heads of School
Educators’ Collaborative is a consortium of experienced heads of school with extensive backgrounds in all phases of schoolwork. Educators’ Collaborative Partners have run schools in all sections of the United States, including Cambridge, MA; Rome, GA; Tulsa, OK; Lake Forest, IL, Houston, TX, Greenwich, CT, and major cities such as Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis.
Two Experienced Partners Assigned to Each Search
Educators’ Collaborative routinely assigns two partners to each search. While one serves as the lead consultant, both partners share responsibility for all aspects of the search. Thus, a school essentially contracts with two consultants from the firm, a hallmark of the EC approach. The firm finds that working in tandem increases the network of candidates personally known to EC partners, doubles the prescreening of candidates (through phone and personal visits with candidates and others), augments the ability to use experienced consultants to check references, and ensures continuity and reliability of service as the search process progresses.
Commitment to Personal Communication
Throughout the search process, the partners assigned to the search will be in regular communication with both the search committee and the candidates under consideration. Educators’ Collaborative is committed to matching “the right candidate to the right school.” To accomplish this, partners take time personally to know and inform the candidates they present for review. Educators’ Collaborative partners present only candidates who are sincerely interested in the opening and are worthy of consideration for the position as defined by the qualifications outlined by the search committee.
Educators’ Collaborative partners also take time to know the school they represent. In order fully to represent the interests of the school, early in the process, the assigned partners will spend time on campus interviewing faculty, staff, students, trustees, parents, and alumni. Throughout the search process itself, partners will participate in regular meetings and make themselves available for phone consultation on all aspects of the search process. They will regularly initiate communications with the search and advisory committee chairs.
Strengths of an EC Search
We believe the uniqueness of our services flows from the depth and breadth of our backgrounds as school leaders. Our commitment is to responsibly represent and coordinate the needs of both clients and candidates. Working with us means choosing consultants whose strengths and experience can become a valuable asset for your organization:
- We know through experience what it takes to run a successful school.
- We routinely double team assignments to ensure breadth of experience and service.
- We understand school communities and can quickly and comfortably deal with all the constituents involved in the selection of a new head: faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and members of the board of trustees.
- We seek to develop a flexible schedule and process that fits the unique ethos of each school but also understand the equal importance of deadlines within the overall search calendar.
- We provide candidates with extensive and detailed information about the school; candidates repeatedly praise the EC Information for Candidates Reports.
- We recognize the importance of thorough, personal reference checking in order to recommend only candidates fully qualified to meet the school’s expectations and needs.
- We are committed to a search process that not only identifies the right candidate for a school but also positions the head-elect and the school for a smooth and successful transition.