How To Successfully Work With A Consultant For Your Private School [Podcast]

Chris Pryor, Gowan Group
@Kim Byrne Photography

Chris Pryor is president and founder of The Gowan Group.

As a lifelong educator, strategist, and thought leader, Chris is in his third decade of independent school leadership. He has held leadership positions at independent schools such as Harbor Country Day, The Independence School, Hackley, Rye Country Day, and Tuxedo Park School and was actively involved with NYSAIS.

Chris is a well-known speaker on topics such as social media, marketing, admissions training, crisis management, professional development, and board training.

With The Gowan Group, Chris realizes his vision for an educational consulting organization that serves the needs of independent schools on every front–from Admission and Enrollment Management to Advancement and Fundraising, and from Strategic Planning to Leadership Development. Gowan Placement’s exceptional team advises and guides families through a comprehensive and personalized approach to school placement. To accomplish this, Chris assembled a stellar group of nationally renowned consultants who have the passion, experience, expertise, and resources to help independent schools turn every challenge into a growth opportunity.

chris pryor, lead team partners

Chris Pryor is the Founder and Principal of LeadTeam Partners. Following a 20+ year career in independent schools, Chris developed his school partner search practice to support school administrators by finding the right consultant, coach, facilitator, speaker, or vendor for their needs.

Prior to LeadTeam Partners, Chris served as Assistant Head of School for Advancement and External Affairs for Congressional School (VA) and as a Director of Business Development for Independent School Management (ISM). 

Informed by how private schools and consulting firms operate, Chris seeks to manage the search process for busy school leaders so that they can focus on the day-to-day operations of their school. 

Chris and Chris Quoted

“The tuition payer, the parent, and even the student, are really in charge.”

 “Before it was just kind of insert them into a K-12 school, and then they'll graduate from that school. Now I think there's a lot more … looking… at what's … down the street to ensure that their child gets the best experience possible.”

“[Post-COVID there is…] a constant need to converse with, respond, and engage, your constituents, your parents, and I think that's why some school leaders…were just exhausted…And they said, ‘I want to I want to take a break, and try and go out on my own.’ I think that's why you've seen an exodus of school leaders, based on the daily demands of school leadership today.”

 “The other thing that is really driving heads out of the office is the current political state of our country. The Head of School is a very heated position, a very political position.”

“A lot of schools would love to engage outside counsel. I mean, one of the best things that we did when I was at one school, was we hired Turnaround Marketing Communications, and you guys came in and helped us figure out what to lean into and the school's enrollment has grown ever since.”

 “I think school leaders recognize that outsourcing is a good thing.”

 “EMA and AISAP and other organizations have helped elevate marketing professionals to get a seat at the table and reporting directly to the head of school.”

“It's very rare that we see a school now being as siloed as they used to be and that's great. There's tremendous teamwork, synergy, and building teams is a real thing.”

“Schools underestimate the time commitment involved to support a consultant so that they're going to be successful.”

What you’ll learn

• How and why heads of school are burnt out.

• How silos are becoming a thing of the past.

• What heads of schools should not say to a consultant.

• How to waste your school’s money in hiring a consultant.

• Why arrogance impedes school success.

• Why the independent school business model is strange to outsiders, board chairs, and trustees.

• How to get the most out of your consultant.

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