Leadership Search
Leadership matters. Let’s find the right one.
Every school deserves a leader who fits its mission—on paper, in personality, and in spiritual alignment. NextEd helps Christian schools identify and hire exceptional, faith-aligned leaders—from Heads of School and Superintendents to principals, executives, and key department leaders. Every search is prayerful, relational, and tailored to the school, the position, and the season you are navigating.
More than a résumé match.
Leadership searches are about more than finding someone who can perform the responsibilities listed in a job description. The right person must also understand your mission, lead within your culture, build trust with your community, and demonstrate the spiritual maturity necessary to serve your school well.
That’s why our search process goes far beyond candidate sourcing.
Each engagement is relational, prayerful, and tailored to your context. We work closely with your board or leadership team to understand not only what’s needed — but who is needed.
Every search we lead is grounded in our core values of listening, truth, angles and motion. You won’t get recycled résumés or generic candidates. You’ll get a thoughtful process, transparent communication, and trusted counsel from former Heads who’ve led Christian schools for decades.
What sets us apart?
- 170+ years of combined school leadership experience.
- We've hired thousands of employees in our own Christian schools and have placed dozens of leaders in Christian schools across the U.S. through NextEd.
- Every search is supported by the full NextEd Team.
- We provide consistent, honest communication throughout the entire search process.
- Grounded in biblical truth, guided by integrity, and committed to your outcome.
- Our ultimate goal is to help your school reflect Christ in its leadership.
One search approach, built around your school.
No two schools are exactly alike. Neither are their leadership needs.
A Head of School transition requires extensive stakeholder engagement, board alignment, and a nationwide executive recruitment strategy. A director or division-level search requires coming alongside the Head and HR team to supplement their own hiring process with a national outreach and extensive networking beyond their own reach.
That is why NextEd offers one integrated Leadership Search service with flexible tiers. Every engagement — from Head of School to key director-level roles — receives the same high-touch NextEd process: mission alignment, customized profiling, active national and regional sourcing, and trusted counsel culminating in a placement fully vetted for leadership excellence and spiritual maturity.
Investment in your search is scoped to your specific situation — the role, your school’s size and budget, and the scope of the search. No generic price list, no one-size-fits-all package. The difference between tiers is the complexity and scope of the engagement—not the quality of our care or commitment to the outcome.
Our search process.
Elevating roles. Finding fits.
Leadership roles we help schools fill
From Heads of School to key director-level roles, we help institutions identify and attract leaders who align spiritually, culturally, and operationally with their mission, including:
- Head of School / Superintendent
- Assistant/Associate Head of School
- Principals and Division Directors
- Directors of Admissions/Enrollment Management
- Directors of Advancement/Development
- Directors of Finance/CFO
- Directors of Technology
- Human Resources leadership
Have a position that is not listed? Let’s talk about what your school needs and whether NextEd is the right partner for the search.
Recently filled positions
Head of School
Banks Academy – Birmingham, Alabama
Head of School
Foothill Christian School – Glendora, California
Head of High School
Des Moines Christian School – Urbandale, Iowa
Lower School Principal
Hyde Park Schools – Austin, Texas
Chief Advancement Officer
Briarwood Christian School – Birmingham, Alabama
Middle School Principal
San Antonio Christian School – San Antonio, Texas
Assistant Superintendent
Gilbert Christian Schools – Gilbert, Arizona
Head of School
Vail Christian High School – Edwards, Colorado
Head of School
Allen Academy – Bryan, Texas
Head of School
Augusta Christian Schools – Martinez, Georgia
Executive Director
Lenawee Christian Ministries – Adrian, MI
Upper School Head
Briarwood Christian School – Birmingham, Alabama
Chief Development Officer
Trinity Christian Academy – Addison, Texas
Head of School
Coastal Christian School – Pismo Beach, CA
Superintendent
Cascade Christian Schools – Puyallup, Washington
Director of Human Resources
Greater Atlanta Christian School – Norcross, Georgia
The proof is in the people.
[NextEd] were incredible partners in our search for a new Head of School. Their wisdom and experience were obvious to our entire Board very early in the process, and the manner in which they conducted the search and coordinated our interactions with candidates made both us and the prospective leaders very comfortable.
Board Chair
In NextEd, we found a partner for this search who listened and fully took the time to understand our needs, as well as the level of excellence in a Head of School for which we were searching… We could not have asked for or retained a better Christian based search firm for our needs.
Board Chair
As our board at FCA embarked on our first Head of School search, we needed a trusted partner that could help us stay true to our organizational mission while managing a truly complex process. NextEd had the network, the experience, and the commitment to guide us to a great outcome for our community. We are grateful for their guidance in securing our next Head of School … and we are happy to call Kurt and Gary friends of FCA.
Board Chair
I was continually impressed by NextEd’s heart for Christian education and their integrity throughout the search process. Their experience brought calm and confidence to everyone involved — teachers, parents, board members, and me as a candidate. So much so that after being hired, I asked the board to keep NextEd on for executive coaching — and I’m thrilled they did.
Head of School
Working with NextEd was a blessing. It was more than just making sure I was a qualified candidate for the position. They worked at a deeper level to ensure that the placement was a fit for me and the organization.
Head Elect
If it hadn’t been for the professional presentation and communication of NextEd, I may never have discovered this opportunity. From the very first call to the final interview, they had a firm grasp on whether I was the right fit for Oakbrook—and whether Oakbrook was the right fit for me.
Head Elect
I’ve worked with a number of consultants and search agencies in my career, and I can confidently say that my experience with NextEd was second to none.
Head Elect
NextEd exceeded my expectations — expertly guiding us through simultaneous searches for principal and assistant principal, validating our top internal candidate, and even attracting that same pool of principal finalists to the AP role. Thanks to their professionalism and cultural insight, we secured two strong leaders for 2025–2026 — double the value I couldn’t have achieved alone.
Head of School
The best candidates don’t always come from a job posting—they often come from being in the right place at the right time.
Follow NextEd on LinkedIn to:
- See new opportunities as they launch.
- Stay informed on current searches.
- Apply to jobs as they launch.
Ready to find your next leader?
Let’s talk about your school’s next chapter—and the kind of leader who will carry it forward.
