Vetting and Selection

ISS makes initial contact with applicants and screens to a long-list of candidates or semi-finalists, based on the Leadership Profile. The pace of the process is rapid and qualified, screened candidates are forwarded to the Search Committee as they are vetted. When the right candidates are identified, the process will move to on-site visits with stakeholder review and feedback.

"...I found ISS to be knowledgeable, responsive, insightful, professional, and very generous with its time. They presented our Search Committee with over 50 well-qualified candidates." - Tom Northrup, Interim Head, Benjamin Franklin International School, Spain

Applications

To help our clients in its selection process, consistently formatted dossiers are presented, which include:

ISS application form and procedures
Letter of application/interest
Current curriculum vitae/resume
Statement of philosophy and personal statements
Three current, confidential letters of reference from immediate supervisors
A list of 3 confidential reference contacts

ISS Initial Screening

Vetted candidates with completed applications are interviewed via Skype or conference call by the ISS search consultant. Each interview is approximately 45-60 minutes and the school will receive notes and/or audio of each candidate interviewed.

Semi-Finalist Candidates

ISS narrows the candidate pool to a long list (six to eight) of highly qualified candidates. ISS then conducts reference and validation checks of semi-finalist candidates, matching their stated achievements with their application information.

Candidates are required to submit three current written references of those who have acted in a supervisory capacity. Through extensive reference checks, utilizing the team’s extensive network of contacts in overseas schools, an in-depth assessment of the candidates’ qualities is validated.
Reference checks are thorough and go beyond the three written recommendations of the candidate dossier. Reference checks are shared with the Board.
Further reference and background checks are conducted once candidates emerge to the finalist stage. Results of telephone interviews and reference checks are the property of the Board.
The Search Committee is now ready to interview key and highly qualified candidates

Finalist Candidates

Finalist candidate(s) are invited for a site-visit to the school. ISS recommends that stakeholder voices are heard in the process.

With assistance from ISS, the client plans and advertises on-site forums for finalists.
Finalists go through a comprehensive schedule of meetings with teachers, students, community members, parents, administrators, support staff, city officials and business leaders (if applicable).
Feedback forms are developed based upon the Leadership Profile. This approach results in candidates assessed against criteria rather than one another—thus avoiding a win-lose perception among stakeholders.

Final Selection

Feedback forms are collated and shared with the Board and used in the final decision. The Board is now prepared to select the new Head of School.