As a search consultant, Highley Thompson had led searches for head of school, division head (upper, middle, and lower school), athletic director, enrollment management, college counseling, and association executive director. He has partnered with schools and their search committees in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

Highley spent 30 years in independent schools as a teacher, coach, and administrator before becoming a search consultant. Right out of college, he returned to his alma mater (Severn School, MD) to begin his career as a middle school math and Latin teacher, while coaching soccer and lacrosse. Over the course of his sixteen years at the school, Highley transitioned to the upper school, where he taught English and algebra, and became dean of students, academic dean, and eventually the Upper School Head. After a stint as Head of the Upper School and Assistant Head of School at Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia (now Springside Chestnut Hill), Highley moved to Thayer Academy in Braintree, MA, where he served as the Upper School Director for twelve years. While in schools, Highley especially loved building community and attracting excellent teachers to his schools.

Highley earned a B.A in English from Princeton University, where he was also a four-year member of the men’s lacrosse team. He later earned an M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from the University of Virginia.

Residents of Charlottesville, VA, Highley and his wife Anne enjoy spending time with family, cooking, traveling, hiking, and enjoying the amenities that the Charlottesville and UVA community offers.