Heather Daly
Each month RG175 does a "deeper dive" to get to know one of our Independent School colleagues. This month, we feature Heather Daly. Heather began her independent school career at Santa Catalina School in California, as an admission officer and resident faculty member. Over the course of the next 13 years, she held numerous additional leadership roles on campus, including Director of Admission and Director of Financial Aid. From there, she began a decade-long tenure at Hawken School in Ohio, culminating in her role as Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management. From there, she became Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at St. Andrew’s School in Delaware, where she worked for four years. In her current role as an Associate Head at Laurel School in Ohio, she works with the leaders of a broad array of programs, serves as a thought partner to her current Head of School and works to steer the implementation of their current strategic plan. She has presented at numerous conferences on topics related to enrollment, financial aid, and leadership practices in schools offering experiential education. She also currently serves as the Chair of the NAIS Financial Aid Advisory Task Force.
What’s your connection to RG175?
I’ve been fortunate to work with RG175 on several searches over the years, including two this fall—one of which led to my appointment as the next Head of School at Pomfret School in Connecticut.
Can you summarize your experience working with RG175?
In each of the searches I’ve undertaken with RG175, I’ve consistently appreciated the consultants' professionalism, genuine interest, and meticulous attention to detail. They invested time in understanding me—my experiences, my educational philosophy, and my unique perspective—to assess how my background aligned with the searches they were leading. Throughout the process, they provided thoughtful insights and guidance to prepare me for each stage, along with constructive feedback when I didn’t advance.
If you had one thing to recommend to other candidates, what would it be?
Approach the search process authentically, asking thoughtful questions to gain deeper insights into a school, its values, and the qualities they seek in the role you’re considering. Take time to evaluate your strengths and identify areas for growth, ensuring you have a clear understanding of how your skills align with the key attributes outlined in the position description.
What do you enjoy most about your job as it pertains to Independent Schools?
A significant portion of my career in schools has been dedicated to enrollment work, where I’ve worked to create possibilities for students who might not otherwise afford to attend. As the scope of my roles have expanded and evolved, I’ve loved working to help make the schools I’ve served a better version of themselves on behalf of students and colleagues.