The Finney Search Group is an intentionally small, highly personal search firm serving independent schools nationwide. We work through long-standing relationships with student-centered leaders and take pride in presenting candidates who are thoroughly vetted and deeply aligned with a school’s mission.
 

Our work is grounded in decades of Head of School experience. Reddy Finney led Baltimore’s Gilman School for 24 years, and his legacy is measured by the lives he touched, the clarity of his calling, and the joy he brought to his community. Those same qualities guide how we assess leadership today. Twelve of his former students and colleagues went on to become successful Heads of School.

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Our partner, Bo Dixon, served as Head of School at three institutions over a 30-year career. Ten of his colleagues also became respected, tenured Heads. This depth of experience shapes our discernment and our ability to recognize authentic leadership.

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Three core values guide every search. First, we believe the strongest candidates are already doing meaningful work in their communities. Our role is to align a leader’s aspirations with a school’s strategic needs. Second, every successful search begins with a deep understanding of a school’s mission, culture, and vision for the future. Third, we partner closely with the Search Committee throughout the process to identify a leader who is the right fit for the community and positioned to serve over the long term.

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Our competitive advantage is not scale, but discernment, and the ability to recognize mission-aligned leadership that will sustain a school for generations.