Finding the right leader is one thing. Making sure a new leader is welcomed and well-resourced is quite another. In fact, it may be even more important than getting that leader in the door.

Each of us at EC remembers our first year “in the chair” at a new school.

From the culture and the mission to the team and the day-to-day operations, a new position comes with a steep learning curve. It can take months to build a relationship with the board and even more until you finally feel at home.

Guiding you through this transition is part of every search we engage in. Supporting leaders and schools through that first year is one of the hallmarks of our approach.

Sometimes this looks like supporting leaders, chairs and team members through the first quarter, meeting as frequently as once a week to provide targeted mentorship, troubleshooting and encouragement. Other times we are hired to provide more in-depth leadership support over a longer period of time.

The more supported the leader, the board and the search committee feel, the better the health of the school and its entire community.