Discover the Impact of DovetailED

LET US FIND YOU A UNICORN.

Discover the impact of DovetailED's customized and cost-effective search model for recruiting educators, administrators, staff, and school leaders. Trusted by independent schools nationwide, we excel in handling critical searches, even under challenging circumstances and tight deadlines. Our dedicated team provides unparalleled customer service to our school partners, ensuring that every new hire receives the attention they deserve.

Expertise in the Unexpected

At DovetailED, we partner with a wide range of independent day and boarding schools across the country. We understand that great schools constantly face unpredictable situations. Our expertise in problem-solving and working through complexity allows us to overcome any challenge and build a strong pool of top talent, no matter what. Whether it's dealing with accelerated timelines, unexpected leadership changes, schools in crisis, or difficult locations, we thrive under pressure and excel at managing all types of issues. In addition to leadership searches, our areas of expertise also include admission and marketing professionals, CFOs and business office staff, versatile teaching faculty members, outstanding coaching staff, wellness and learning specialists, and skilled advancement and fundraising personnel.

Partnership Journey

  • Step 1 | Journey Begins

    Experience personalized searches with DovetailED. We work closely with schools to uncover the unique requirements and goals for each job opening. By completing a simple online intake form and providing a detailed position description, our partners help us create personalized search parameters and targeted outreach messages.

  • Step 2 | Candidate Discovery

    Uncover the power of DovetailED's innovative talent acquisition model. By blending traditional and non-traditional sourcing methods, we create a dynamic pool of candidates perfectly aligned with each school partner's mission, needs, and values. We find candidates (a.k.a. unicorns), whether they're in the spotlight or off the radar.

  • Step 3 | Candidate Selection

    Presenting candidates promptly to our school partners is our priority. By quickly identifying and evaluating each candidate, schools can make informed decisions about who to advance for full consideration. DovetailED create exclusive candidate pools for each search, unlike other firms who typically place candidates in multiple searches.

  • Step 4 | Unicorns Found & Hired

    DovetailED empowers our partners to have complete control over the selection, vetting, reference, and hiring process. Once we introduce candidates that meet the client’s criteria, they take the reins. For Head of School and Senior Administrative positions, we offer expert guidance on candidate visits, contract reviews, and seamless transitions.

LET US HELP NAVIGATE YOUR SCHOOL’S SEARCH.

 FAQs

  • At DovetailED, we have decades of experience with independent school hiring. In the 2023-24 hiring cycle, we partnered with 80+ independent schools nationwide and led over 200 faculty and administrative searches. Click to download DovetailED’s Search Practice Overview.

  • DovetailED promises to identify at least three highly qualified, interested, and well-matched candidates within three weeks or you don’t pay anything. In most cases, we provide 5-10 candidates in less than two weeks. Essentially, it’s twice the value for half the price of a typical search firm.

  • DovetailED generates a tailor-made pool of candidates from scratch, built just for your school, and with candidates who perfectly match the needs of your open positions. We will only shift candidates to other searches if you release them.

  • At DovetailED, there are no initiation fees, annual memberships, or search commissions. We offer five tiers of search, each with a three-phased fee structure. Schools first pay a nominal non-refundable listing fee when launching a search, a reasonable sourcing fee upon delivery of a pool of qualified and interested candidates, and a placement fee only if one of the DovetailED candidates is hired.

  • Teacher | Administrative Faculty | Senior Leadership/Director | CFO, CAO, AHOS, Head of Enrollment | Head of School

  • If you still have questions, click here to fill out the inquiry form, and we will schedule an initial call to learn more about you and your organization’s needs. If you are ready to launch your search, click here to complete the DovetailED intake form, and we will be in touch within 24 hours to get started!

MEET THE FOUNDER

Zack Lehman | President

Zack Lehman is the trailblazing president of DovetailED. With a track record of turning dreams into reality, Zack is a dynamic and accomplished entrepreneur. With over a decade of experience as a head of school at a premier U.S. independent school and now leading one of the fastest-growing recruiting startups, Zack's story is one of vision, strategic thinking, and unwavering determination.

An alumnus of Phillips Exeter, Dartmouth College, and Harvard Law School, Zack's education provided a strong foundation for his success. The combination of intellect, magnetic charisma, and life-long connections naturally positions him as a leader and highly sought-after figure in the recruiting field.

Notes of Gratitude

  • DovetailED was easy to work with and very responsive to the needs of our school. Zack was in constant communication with us, sharing information on viable candidates. He had the initial contact with candidates, inquiring on their interest in the school, before referring these candidates to us. At the same time, DovetailED’s flat-fee structure keeps things clean, transparent, and affordable. I highly recommend DovetailED for your school’s search!

    Jennifer Sherman, Dean of Faculty
    St. James School

  • In a boarding school environment where we are trying to find a faculty member that can support various responsibilities for the school, DovetailED was able to find candidates who could fill those needs for us.

    Jessica MacLeod, Dean of Faculty
    New Hampton School

  • DovetailED helped us hire a fantastic teacher who is a great fit for us, but who we would never have known was out there if it weren't for DovetailED.

    Pete Bonds, Associate Head of School
    Kiski School

  • Given the need for schools to hire candidates who are skilled and engaged in multiple areas of school life and possess a range of unique and various skillsets, Zack and DovetailED understand this calculus better than anyone in the business. Working with both the school and coaching their candidate pool, this allows for honest and open conversations, which result in a match for all parties involved. At our request, Zack stayed with our search all the way through the contract negotiation process.

    Chris Bartlett, Director of Enrollment
    Proctor

  • I highly recommend DovetailED. As a seasoned HR Director in an independent school, we have used many types of recruiting sources over the years. DovetailED treated us like we were the only client they were working with, although we knew we weren't. They started the process with a very detailed intake form so they knew what specifics we were looking for in a candidate. Their communication throughout each search process was stellar. The candidates were top-notch, and they knew about us as a school. We weren't just sent "resumes", we were sent actual candidates who wanted to be considered. We had success with two positions this year, and we plan to continue our relationship with DovetailED for next year's hiring season.

    Danielle Nordyke, Director, Human Resources | Mercersburg Academy , Director, Human Resources Mercersburg Academy