Adam Peichert
Each month RG175 does a "deeper dive" to get to know one of our Independent School colleagues. This month we are spotlighting the newest member of the RG175 family, Adam Peichert. Adam grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and was a “lifer” at St. Paul’s School for Boys before attending Wake Forest University as an undergrad. Adam has been working in the Independent School world since 2002, working with thousands of educators, providing support services to school leaders and leading administrative candidate recruitment and search efforts, placing almost 100 administrators–primarily in the roles of dean, division director, and assistant head of school–in southern private schools. Adam continues to work with emerging and rising administrators, and helps to guide schools through senior administrative searches.
What are you looking forward to most about being a consultant in the search?
In each search, I have the responsibility of the opportunity. I have an obligation to the students, families and entire school team to learn who they are and what they want to be as a community. Once I have that in hand, I get to meet each applicant and learn about their journey and vision. The part I most look forward to in a search is when that person’s vision aligns with the school’s aspirations. While the two will never fit perfectly, when they are closely aligned I can be confident that the leader and school can successfully grow together.
What are you looking forward to most about being a mentor?
I look forward to continuing to learn and develop. I take something from each school administrator that I meet and each school that I visit—a story, a program, the concept for a big idea. For me, being a mentor is gathering all of these seeds, storing them, and then sharing them with other emerging and rising leaders. I most look forward to the conversations because it gives us the chance to mentor one another. I have the chance to hear where each leader has been and what they have accomplished and then we can discuss what they are wrestling with to get to the next stage. A win for me is when I can offer that leader something I’ve gathered along my journey that helps them break through to the next level.
What are some of your former achievements/most proud of?
I have had the opportunity to work with many school leaders and to help dozens find their next professional adventure. I have been enriched by each of these connections. I cherish the value of these relationships. I was already operating from a platform of privilege—educated in private schools through graduate school and then earning the opportunity to do work that fulfills and energizes me. I work hard to be present in each conversation and search and share something that helps lift up the person or group that I’m working with. I bring that mentality and approach to my professional work, volunteer experience and family life.
Why did you choose RG175?
I am honored that RG175 chose me. I am blown away by the immensely talented leaders that I now call colleagues. What I hoped for, and found is true in just the short time that I have been a part of the group, is that as accomplished as the team is, RG175 is driven by a growth mindset. I was seeking a team that was both supportive and motivating. I think that approach is the same one a good search consultant brings to each search and school. I have been working with schools in this capacity for a decade. When I was seeking a new professional home, I was looking for a group that was working with the best private schools and was pushing these schools to be even better by embracing each search as an opportunity to present the community with a diverse and talented pool of candidates. This can be hard work for schools and candidates. What I found in RG175 is a group that understands how important this work is for all involved, doesn’t shy away from the difficult conversation, and is committed to supporting the search implicitly.
What are your thoughts on the search process?
I believe filling a leadership opening in a school is one of the most important jobs of the school community. A poor hire will set the school back immensely and, ultimately, it is the students who suffer that failure. The right appointment to the leadership team raises the stakes at all levels. Even if everything at the school is on a positive trajectory, the promotion of new leadership brings diversity to the conversation. However big or small the change might be, a successful search will lead to growth for the organization, and the students and community will be better off for it.
Why are you doing this? Concerned with leadership in independent schools?
I am not concerned about the state of leadership in independent schools. I think there are many magnificent Heads leading schools. I believe, because of this strength at the top, the pipeline of emerging and rising leaders is strong. In the time that I have been working with schools, I have seen this pipeline become more inclusive and diverse. I think that as we continue to see this knowledge trickle down and the experience grow up, that independent schools will continue to be led by visionary leaders who can maintain the health of their schools. I am doing this work so that we continue on this trend. I also believe that, regardless of the strength and talent in this group of future leaders, everyone needs support and encouragement. I think everyone needs to be in a place where they are happy and fulfilled. My concern grows when I see the people and systems experience stress. As people, we can’t be well-adjusted when we are misplaced and if we aren’t well-adjusted then the team and community suffers. I am doing this to alleviate as much of this stress—from the search process, the candidate, and the community—as possible so that we can all continue to be prosper.