About Us

Learn more about IndySchool Consultancy, Our Mission, and Our Principles

Reimagining Schools

In recent years, the education landscape has experienced a whirlwind of change, marked by shifts in enrollment, affordability, pedagogy, long-term sustainability, financial models, and leadership. At IndySchool Consultancy, we recognize the need for schools and organizations to be flexible, nimble, and adaptive in the face of these transformative forces.

Our unique approach to leadership search challenges the traditional, outdated methods of the past. We have disrupted the Stone Age process by introducing a school-centric model that prioritizes a revolutionary concept: Competency-Based Hiring. Our goal is not just to find a candidate who meets the basic qualifications, but to ensure an ideal fit between the leader and the institution.

We understand that true success lies in the perfect match between leadership and the school's unique vision, culture, and values. That's why making this match our number one priority. Through our innovative Competency-Based Hiring approach, we delve deep into the core competencies and skills required for success in a leadership role. This allows us to identify leaders who possess the necessary qualities to drive your school forward and achieve long-term success.

Trust IndySchool Consultancy to guide you through this new era of educational evolution. Together, let's embrace change, find the right leaders, and build a future-ready institution that thrives amidst the winds of transformation.

What We Do

At IndySchool Consultancy, our mission is to empower schools and candidates to achieve their full potential. We accomplish this through our unique approach that embraces forward-thinking and challenges the status quo.

We believe that in order to thrive in an ever-changing educational landscape, it is essential to disrupt traditional norms and reimagine the way leadership searches are conducted. Our pioneering model for leadership searches breaks free from outdated practices, enabling us to identify visionary leaders who will guide schools towards a bright and successful future.

But our commitment to innovation doesn't stop there. We apply an innovative and futuristic lens to all aspects of school consulting, ensuring that we provide cutting-edge solutions tailored to the specific needs of each institution. Whether it's strategic planning, enrollment management, or financial sustainability, our team of experts leverages the latest insights and trends to help schools navigate the complexities of today's educational environment.

At IndySchool Consultancy, we are passionate about transforming the educational landscape by fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. Join us on this exciting journey as we pave the way for a new era of educational leadership and school success. Together, let's unlock the full potential of your school and make a lasting impact on the future of education.

Why Choose Us

IndySchool Consultancy was born out of a desire to revolutionize the world of educational consulting. Founded by Tim Viands, a seasoned former head of day and boarding schools with a wealth of experience in various key areas, including admissions, marketing, strategic planning, fundraising, and hiring, we are here to redefine what a full-service consulting firm can be.

Having witnessed firsthand the flaws and limitations of the traditional consulting approach, we are committed to enacting change that truly makes a difference. We believe in challenging the status quo and reshaping the way leadership searches are conducted. Our innovative methods and forward-thinking mindset ensure that we identify leaders who possess not only the required skills but also the vision and passion to drive your school towards greatness.

But our commitment to change doesn't stop there. At IndySchool Consultancy, we understand that every school is unique, with its own set of challenges and goals. That's why we take a concierge approach to our services, tailoring our solutions to meet your specific needs. We provide a personalized experience, working closely with you to understand your vision and objectives, and crafting strategies that will propel your institution to new heights.

IndySchool Consultancy is more than just a consulting firm; it's a partner dedicated to your success. Let us guide you towards a brighter future, where personalized service, innovation, and transformative change define every step of the journey. Together, let's break free from the mold and create a path to excellence for your school.

Our Mission

Our mission upon which all IndySchool Consultancy’s principles are founded concerns the intentional focus on the compassionate and dutiful nature of every individual involved in the search process.  These guiding principles are:

  • Competency

  • Diligence

  • Empathy

  • Guidance

  • Integrity

  • Transparency

Above all, it is our mission to serve children, educators, parents, and the school community alike, putting these relationships in motion by our team’s goals and objectives, work ethic and follow-up to the satisfaction of our client.

Competency

Our team of consultants have the skills, knowledge, and expertise to provide high-quality guidance and solutions to schools leaders and boards of trustees.  We are committed to providing exceptional services to our clients. We have a deep understanding of independent schools, staying current with the latest trends and best practices, and possessing strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.  IndySchool Consultancy ensures that all team members are aligned with its values and mission, which helps to foster a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and excellence.

Diligence

We are committed to thoroughness, persistence, and attention to detail in providing high-quality solutions and guidance to independent schools. This includes conducting in-depth research and analysis to understand the unique needs and challenges of each client, identifying, and evaluating potential solutions, and developing and implementing effective strategies.

Empathy

We understand and are sensitive to the needs, feelings, and perspectives of our clients schools. We take the time to listen attentively to clients, asking thoughtful questions to understand their needs and challenges, and putting ourselves in their shoes to develop solutions that meet their unique needs. Empathy is essential in building positive relationships with our clients, as it helps to establish trust, build rapport, and create a sense of mutual understanding.

Guidance

IndySchool Consultancy provides counsel and advice to independent schools and leaders to make their processes, systems, and people more agile, adaptable, and flexible. We offer customized guidance and support to help schools achieve their goals and improve outcomes for students.  We believe that every school is unique and has its own set of challenges and opportunities. Therefore, we work closely with each school to understand their specific needs and develop customized solutions to meet those needs.

Integrity

We are honest, transparent, and ethical in all aspects of business operations and interactions with our clients.  We uphold high standards of professionalism, maintaining confidentiality, and acting in the best interest of our clients. This includes being upfront about any potential conflicts of interest, providing accurate and unbiased information to clients, and ensuring that all work is conducted with honesty and integrity.  Our team members are expected to behave ethically and transparently, complying with all relevant laws and regulations, and avoiding any actions that could be perceived as unethical or unprofessional.

Transparency

We are open and honest with clients about all aspects of our engagement.  We provide clear and concise communication, avoiding hidden agendas, and ensuring that our clients have access to information about their projects. This includes disclosing the scope of work, timelines, budgets, potential risks and challenges, and progress updates.  Our team members are committed to providing exceptional services to our clients. This means communicating clearly and effectively, providing accurate and timely information, and being responsive to client feedback and concerns.

Tim Viands is the President of indySchool Consultancy, a firm specializing in consulting and leadership searches for independent schools.

Meet our Founder

Tim Viands

Tim has over two decades of extensive experience in independent schools as a teacher, administrator and school leader.  He has developed innovative models of learning in day and boarding schools in the US and has vast experience in international education.  During that time, Tim has developed an innovative approach to hiring (Competency Based Hiring) and to strategic planning (The d4 Process).

He started IndySchool Consultancy because the Stone Age process of hiring school leaders is broken, with shorter tenures and abrupt departures. As a former head, he founded this forward-thinking firm to make a difference.

What People Say

  • “Storylines is pleased to be working with IndySchool Consultancy to create the world’s first globally traveling accredited school. Having a home aboard our inaugural residential ship MV Narrative guarantees exclusive access to this groundbreaking youth education model in which students learn anywhere and everywhere around the world."

    — Alister Punton, CEO, Storylines

  • Having never worked with a recruiter before, I was surprised to learn how easy the job application process could be. While the typical application process has long, quiet waiting periods and many unanswered questions, Tim was responsive, supportive, and even collaborative. Because of his experience working in schools, he had a clear understanding of the position I was applying to, and he also understood the unique needs of the position for this particular school. After conversations with him, I felt very prepared for my interviews. It was a seamless process.

    -Bronwyn Roy, Placed as Director of Development at Washington Episcopal School

  • We are very excited and thank you for rounding out my pool and for being so wonderful and flexible to work with.

    -Megan Harlan, Head of School, Fountain Valley School