About Us

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

Reimagining Schools

At IndySchool Consultancy, we've witnessed a dynamic shift in the education landscape in recent years. Enrollment, affordability, pedagogy, sustainability, financial models, and leadership have all undergone significant transformations. We understand the imperative for schools and organizations to adapt swiftly and effectively to these changes.

Our innovative approach to leadership search challenges conventional methods. We've revolutionized the traditional process by introducing a school-centric model centered around Competency-Based Hiring. Our aim is not only to match candidates with basic qualifications but to ensure a harmonious fit between the leader and the institution.

We recognize that genuine success stems from aligning leadership with the school's distinct vision, culture, and values. This principle drives our primary focus. Through our pioneering Competency-Based Hiring approach, we meticulously assess the core competencies and skills essential for successful leadership. This enables us to identify leaders who embody the qualities necessary to propel your school forward and achieve sustained success.

Count on IndySchool Consultancy to navigate this new era of educational evolution with you. Let's welcome change, discover the right leaders, and construct a future-ready institution that flourishes amidst the winds of transformation.

What We Do

At IndySchool Consultancy, our purpose is to empower schools and candidates to reach their utmost potential. We achieve this through a distinctive approach that embraces forward-thinking and dares to challenge the status quo.

We firmly believe that thriving in a constantly evolving educational landscape demands the disruption of traditional norms and the reimagination of leadership searches. Our pioneering model for leadership searches liberates us from outdated practices, allowing us to pinpoint visionary leaders who will steer schools toward a vibrant and prosperous future.

However, our dedication to innovation extends beyond this. We apply an inventive and futuristic perspective to all facets of school consulting, ensuring that we deliver state-of-the-art solutions tailored to the specific needs of each institution. Whether it's strategic planning, enrollment management, or financial sustainability, our team of experts harnesses the latest insights and trends to assist schools in navigating the intricacies of today's educational environment.

At IndySchool Consultancy, we are deeply passionate about transforming the educational landscape by cultivating a culture of innovation and excellence. Come alongside us on this exhilarating 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 leave a lasting imprint on the future of education.

Why Choose Us

IndySchool Consultancy's inception stems from a deep-rooted aspiration to revolutionize the realm of educational consulting. Spearheaded by Tim Viands, an accomplished former head of day and boarding schools with extensive expertise across pivotal domains such as admissions, marketing, strategic planning, fundraising, and hiring, we stand poised to redefine the essence of a full-service consulting firm.

Having directly experienced the shortcomings inherent in the traditional consulting approach, we are resolute in effecting impactful change. Our ethos revolves around challenging the status quo and reshaping the landscape of leadership searches. With our innovative methodologies and forward-thinking mindset, we assure the identification of leaders who not only possess the requisite skills but also exude the vision and fervor to propel your school towards eminence.

However, our commitment to transformation extends beyond this horizon. At IndySchool Consultancy, we acknowledge the individuality of each school, each laden with its unique set of challenges and aspirations. This understanding propels us to adopt a concierge approach to our services, tailoring our solutions to suit your specific needs. We champion a personalized experience, collaborating closely with you to apprehend your vision and objectives, and devising strategies that will elevate your institution to unprecedented pinnacles.

IndySchool Consultancy transcends the conventional role of a consulting firm; it embodies a dedicated partner in your quest for success. Allow us to shepherd you towards a radiant future, where bespoke service, innovation, and transformative change underpin every facet of the journey. Together, let's liberate ourselves from convention and forge 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. Tim felt there was a better way in which firms interacted with their clients. Much of IndySchool Consultancy’s search model is based off of the frustrations Tim and countless heads of school had when working with search firms.

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