Independent School Search Firm

We provide counsel to independent schools and educational organizations to make their schools, their people and their processes more flexible, adaptive and agile. As a leading independent school search firm, we assist schools with a variety of services from specific consulting projects to executive and leadership searches, including head of school search and senior administrative search.

Our search process is comprehensive and tailored to each school's unique needs. We start by understanding the school's requirements, culture and goals. Then, we use our extensive network to recruit and screen candidates through formal interviews and background checks. Final candidates undergo rigorous assessments, including in-depth interviews and reference checks, ensuring they meet the school's criteria. We’re your private educational consultant, supporting your school through the final selection and onboarding to ensure smooth transition and successful integration of new leadership.

Tailor made consulting and executive search services that meets your needs.

Search Services

As a top independent school placement agency, our comprehensive search services provide the best match between independent schools and candidates. We understand your school's requirements, culture and goals, and leverage our extensive network to recruit and screen candidates. The rigorous vetting process includes in-depth interviews, background checks, assessment batteries, and reference checks. Our expert independent school consultants follow these with detailed evaluations and support through final selection and onboarding.

We stand apart from other private school executive search firms with a transparent pricing model that does not include membership fees, initiation fees or search commissions. Our flat-rate structure, based on the type of search, offers complete clarity. Using our competency-based approach, we’re an independent school recruitment agency that focuses on making the right fit for both the school and the candidate. We bring exceptional leadership to your institution.

Consulting Services

As your dedicated independent school recruitment agency, we provide consulting services in areas of strategic planning, educational programming for the future, identifying alternative revenue streams, strategic enrollment management, marketing and communications, as well as tailor made engagements that meets your school’s needs.

Find the Right Fit

We’re an independent school search firm that understands every school has a unique mission and vision. Our expertise and experience in the education sector enable us to identify and attract candidates who align perfectly with your school's values and goals. With a deep understanding of independent schools and their specific needs, we ensure that the leaders we place are not only highly qualified but also resonate with the culture and aspirations of your institution. 

Our founder, Tim Viands, brings over 30 years of experience in school leadership and consulting. He provides invaluable insights into the complexities of educational administration. Under his guidance, our team is dedicated to supporting schools in finding the right fit for their leadership roles, from heads of school to other key positions. We take pride in our ability to match schools with leaders who will drive success and foster a positive, dynamic environment for students and staff alike.

By partnering with our independent school placement agency, you benefit from tailored school consultancy services that prioritize understanding your school's unique mission. At IndySchool Consultancy, our commitment to excellence makes us one of the most esteemed private school executive search firms. We find leaders who are skilled, experienced and passionate about making a meaningful impact on your school community. 

What People Say

  • "It was a pleasure partnering with Tim and IndySchool Consultancy to fill our Athletic Director position. From the very start, Tim showed care and concern for our mission and culture, taking time to learn as much as possible about us. He was always available to chat whenever I had questions and he provided frequent updates throughout the process. He presented me with traditional and non-traditional candidates, both from the high school and collegiate level. I highly recommend Tim and IndySchool Consultancy to any head of school seeking a true partner to assist them with filling senior administrative positions."

    Fr. Scott Brown, President of TMI Episcopal School in San Antonio, Texas

  • "IndySchool Consultancy and Tim Viands provide a unique approach and outstanding level of service and attention that produces great results for our school. Tim is a consummate professional with a deep understanding of the opportunities, challenges and complexities of the field of education today. I strongly recommend IndySchool consultancy to any school with personnel needs."

    Rabbi Ed Harwiz, Head of School, The Weber School (Atlanta, GA)

  • "THANK YOU! We couldn't be more excited about what the future holds for our amazing school. Thank you for your guidance and your support throughout this entire process. I have no idea what we would have done without you! Thank you for always taking our calls and texts, for jumping into countless meetings and for being so helpful and responsive. We are immensely grateful for the impact you've made on our community. "

    Jenn Hoffman, Chair of the Board of Trustees

    St. Michael School (St. Louis)

    Head of School Search

  • "Tim runs an efficient search process. He is highly knowledgeable about the landscape in independent schools and was able to quickly identify and articulate the areas of highest priority for me upon acceptance of the position I was ultimately offered. Tim is prompt, accessible, and has excellent follow-up. I highly recommend Tim’s services. "

    Jessie Daniels, Placed as the next CFO at Hebron Academy (Hebron, ME)

  • "Your innovative, authentic and value-add approach to conducting searches is crucially important at a time when school leadership matters more than ever."

    Megan Murphy, Global Executive Director, The International Coalition of Girl Schools

  • "I am delighted to offer my highest commendation and endorsement for the exemplary services provided by IndySchool Consultancy and their exceptional President and Founder, Tim Viands. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and thoroughness throughout our recent recruitment endeavor have exceeded all expectations. What truly sets Tim and IndySchool Consultancy apart is their unwavering commitment to engagement and their acute ability to discern the specific needs of our institution. From the onset, Tim demonstrated a remarkable knack for asking the right questions, enabling us to pinpoint precisely the type of candidate our school for students with learning differences truly required. Beyond his professional acumen, Tim embodies a genuine friendliness and warmth that makes collaborating with him an absolute pleasure. His approachability and positive demeanor have made the recruitment process not only efficient but also enjoyable—a rare feat in the realm of talent acquisition. I wholeheartedly recommend IndySchool Consultancy and Tim Viands to any organization seeking unparalleled professionalism, responsiveness, and a thorough approach to recruitment. Their dedication to understanding and meeting the unique needs of their clients is second to none."

    Anabelle Morgan, Head of School, Commonwealth Academy

  • "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 by IndySchool Consultancy as Director of Development at Washington Episcopal School

  • "We are very excited about our new CFO and thank you for rounding out the candidate pool and being so wonderful and flexible to work with."

    -Megan Harlan, Head of School, Fountain Valley School

  • First, kudos to your team. I have experience working with Carney Sandoe and Atoms and this application packet does far more to champion your candidates than they do. This is good stuff!

    Kabe ErkenBrack, Head of School

    Evergreen Country Day School (Colorado)

  • "It was a pleasure working with Tim. He spent the time to get to know me and made great suggestions on how to improve my resume and make it more appealing for head of school searches. I recommend Tim to anyone who is looking for someone to take a sincere interest in their success."

    Karen Kuse, Head of School, Adjunct Professor and Independent School Consultant

  • "Charlie and Tim at IndySchool Consultancy were very kind to do the search for us. I can’t believe the amount of work they did. They’ve learned a great deal from the search and we got Beth. It worked out all around. "

    Jan Jacobi

    Search Committee Member

    St. Michael School (St. Louis) Head of School Search

  • "I had an outstanding experience working with Tim Viands at IndySchool Consultancy. He is professional, creative, responsive and has intuitive knowledge of the private school landscape. As a candidate conducting a job search, Tim was an indispensable partner in my search. His communication is unmatched. He updated me throughout every step of the hiring process. My emails and questions were answered immediately. After a few conversations together, Tim did a deep dive into my professional experience and made recommendations to the school to expand their original job posting to better accommodate what they truly needed. I feel like my new position and my past experience dovetail perfectly. It could not have been an easier, more seamless process. "

    Megan Hayes

  • An outstanding consultant and the right job is what you will get with Tim!”. I had the pleasure of working with Tim Vlands during my job search. Tim's expertise in education and his ability to understand my needs was instrumental in helping me secure the perfect position. He offers strategic guidance, providing invaluable insights into each career opportunity that gave me the edge over my competition. Tim is professional yet personable, genuinely caring about finding the right "fit," while his communication is supportive, frequent, and relevant. For anyone seeking career guidance, I highly recommend Tim for personalized, expert assistance in your job search.

    Antoine Hart, New Director of Enrollment & Tuition Assistance at The Kew Forest School

Our Recent News

Featured
IndySchool Consultancy to Lead Director of Middle School Search at Academy of Notre Dame de Namur
IndySchool Consultancy to Lead Director of Middle School Search at Academy of Notre Dame de Namur

IndySchool Consultancy is pleased to announce our partnership with the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Villanova, Pennsylvania, to lead the search for their next Director of Middle School. The anticipated start date for this position is July 2025.

IndySchool Consultancy Expands Global Reach with Appointment of Paul Grisewood as Managing Director of International Schools Practice
IndySchool Consultancy Expands Global Reach with Appointment of Paul Grisewood as Managing Director of International Schools Practice

IndySchool Consultancy, a leading search firm specializing in placing exceptional leaders in independent schools, today announced the appointment of Paul Grisewood as Managing Director of its newly established International Schools Practice. Grisewood brings over two decades of experience in international education to this role, having served as Head of School at prestigious institutions across the globe.

IndySchool Consultancy to Lead Search for Chief Financial Officer at The Landon School
IndySchool Consultancy to Lead Search for Chief Financial Officer at The Landon School

ndySchool Consultancy, a leading search firm specializing in placing exceptional leaders in independent schools, today announced that it has been retained by The Landon School to lead the search for its next Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The position is expected to be filled by July 2025.