School Exec Connect
School Exec Connect is a private educational consulting firm that provides executive search and advisory services to school boards and districts nationwide, specializing in superintendent, administrator, and principal placements supplemented by governance, evaluation, and strategic planning consulting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersOak Park, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What School Exec Connect does
School Exec Connect is a private educational consulting firm headquartered in Oak Park, Illinois, founded in 2004 and operating with 51-100 employees. The firm provides executive search services to school boards and districts seeking superintendents, central office administrators, and principals, complemented by a broader suite of consulting offerings including board governance workshops, goal setting, superintendent evaluations, communication assessments, mentoring and executive coaching, teambuilding, succession planning, and strategic planning. Its core technology is a web-based Online Application System that allows candidates to submit applications and track search progress; there is no proprietary AI or data platform. The business model is professional services fee-based, with consulting fees plus actual expenses per engagement, structured around multi-year contracts that include a 24-month replacement guarantee and an anti-poaching guarantee on placed superintendents.
The firm is led by a seven-partner team of retired superintendents and university faculty, supported by a network of Senior Associates and Associates spanning Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, and other regions. Go-to-market is sales-led and consultative, with direct engagement of boards of education from initial contact through face-to-face presentations, supplemented by client referrals, professional association memberships, website presence, LinkedIn, and email newsletters. The firm has completed 400+ superintendent searches across at least 12 states, indicating a Midwest-rooted base with stated nationwide reach across public, private, charter, technical, and special education organizations. All identified customers are public-sector or non-profit education entities, and pricing is not publicly disclosed.
School Exec Connect firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- School Exec Connect
- Legal name
- SCHOOL EXEC CONNECT
- Website
- https://schoolexecconnect.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- School Exec Connect is a private educational consulting firm that provides executive search and advisory services to school boards and districts nationwide, specializing in superintendent, administrator, and principal placements supplemented by governance, evaluation, and strategic planning consulting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
School Exec Connect industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Executive Search & Consulting
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Direct Hire (Teachers/Administrators) (BPACAFAI)
Keywords
Where School Exec Connect is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oak Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
School Exec Connect business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Executive Search Consulting: Full-service executive search consulting for school districts seeking superintendents, central office administrators, and principals. Revenue generated through consulting fees associated with search engagements, with actual expenses charged separately. The firm also offers guarantee-based pricing where additional candidate slates are provided for actual expenses only if initial candidates are not selected.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom consulting engagement with fee plus expenses |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
School Exec Connect product offering
Product offeringCore offering
School Exec Connect is an educational executive search and consulting firm that helps boards of education and school districts recruit, vet, and place qualified school leaders, including superintendents, central office administrators, and principals. The firm's core offering is full-service executive search supported by guarantees such as a 24-month replacement guarantee and a non-recruitment protection clause. Complementary consulting offerings include board governance workshops, superintendent evaluations, strategic planning, succession planning, executive coaching, and teambuilding workshops.
Product overview
School Exec Connect is an educational leadership search and consulting firm offering a unified service portfolio centered on executive search for superintendents, central office administrators, and principals, complemented by advisory and professional development services. The core offering is Executive Search Services, supported by an Online Application System for managing candidate submissions and tracking. Consulting services include Board Governance Workshops, Goal Setting Workshops, Superintendent Evaluations, Communication Assessments, Mentoring and Executive Coaching, Teambuilding Workshops, Succession Planning, Strategic Planning, and Customized Workshops—all delivered by a network of partners and associates with nationwide reach.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Search Services Comprehensive superintendent and school administrator search services for boards of education and school districts, including candidate recruitment, screening, background checks, and placement. Includes a 24-month replacement guarantee, continued candidate slate at expense-only billing if the first slate is not selected, and a non-recruitment clause for the placed leader's first two contracts.
- Online Application System Web-based platform for candidates to apply for open positions, store applications, and track search progress through individualized calendars.
- Board Governance Workshops Workshops addressing operating principles for board members, understanding individual skills and personalities, and teambuilding to strengthen school district culture.
- Goal Setting Workshops Guided workshops for district and superintendent goal setting resulting in clear direction for accountability and progress.
- Superintendent Evaluations Comprehensive superintendent evaluation process providing clear and helpful feedback for superintendent growth and success.
- Communication Assessments Communication audits within districts to assess the effectiveness of differing levels of communications.
- Mentoring and Executive Coaching Mentoring for new administrators and individualized coaching plans to improve and enhance school administrators' leadership skills.
- Teambuilding Workshops Teambuilding workshops that bring out the best in teams through deeper understanding of colleagues and progressive strategies.
- Succession Planning Assistance with succession planning allowing internal candidates to be considered, with support for newly appointed administrators.
- Strategic Planning Comprehensive planning process including community engagement, goal setting, oversight, and assessment of progress.
Quantifiable outcome
- 24-month guarantee: If placed superintendent leaves within 24 months, conduct new search at no additional consulting fee (only actual expenses)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use School Exec Connect
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
School Exec Connect technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
School Exec Connect partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
School Exec Connect competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Education Practice serving K-12 districts, higher education, and education nonprofits — competing for high-profile superintendent and education-leader searches.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with an Education, Nonprofit, and Social Enterprise practice that places senior K-12 and higher-education leaders — competing for high-end superintendent and chancellor searches from a much larger resource base.
- Witt/Kieffer: Large executive search firm with a dedicated Education Practice serving colleges, universities, and K-12 districts — overlapping on K-12 superintendent searches but operating from a much broader, multi-vertical and higher-volume platform.
- Korn Ferry: Largest global executive search firm with a dedicated Education sector practice placing K-12 superintendents and other senior education leaders — competing with School Exec Connect on large or high-profile district searches, with materially larger scale and research infrastructure.
Direct peers
- Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA): One of the largest U.S. K-12 executive search firms, conducting superintendent and central-office administrator searches nationwide — overlapping directly with School Exec Connect on customer (boards of education), service (superintendent search), and delivery model (partner-led, relationship-based searches).
- BWP & Associates: K-12 executive search and consulting firm specializing in superintendent and administrator searches for school districts — overlapping customer base and service portfolio with School Exec Connect.
- McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C. Long-established K-12 executive search firm offering superintendent and central-office administrator searches to school boards across the U.S. — competing head-to-head with School Exec Connect for the same district clients and candidate pool.
- Ray and Associates, Inc. Iowa-based K-12 executive search firm conducting superintendent searches for school districts nationally — directly comparable in service model, customer segment, and Midwest geographic concentration.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
School Exec Connect social profiles
Digital presenceSchool Exec Connect financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
School Exec Connect leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
School Exec Connect funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
School Exec Connect M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about School Exec Connect
What does School Exec Connect do?
School Exec Connect is an educational executive search and consulting firm that helps boards of education and school districts recruit, vet, and place qualified school leaders, including superintendents, central office administrators, and principals. The firm's core offering is full-service executive search supported by guarantees such as a 24-month replacement guarantee and a non-recruitment protection clause. Complementary consulting offerings include board governance workshops, superintendent evaluations, strategic planning, succession planning, executive coaching, and teambuilding workshops.
Is School Exec Connect a public or private company?
School Exec Connect is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was School Exec Connect founded?
School Exec Connect was founded in 2004. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is School Exec Connect based?
School Exec Connect is headquartered in Oak Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does School Exec Connect make money?
One revenue line is on record: executive Search Consulting.
Who are School Exec Connect's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, Witt/Kieffer and Korn Ferry. Direct peers are Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), BWP & Associates, McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C. and Ray and Associates, Inc..
Does School Exec Connect have an API?
No public API is recorded for School Exec Connect.
What industry is School Exec Connect in?
School Exec Connect's product category is Education Executive Search & Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAFAI, Education Direct Hire (Teachers/Administrators). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 7361.