YOUR PEOPLE. OUR PRIORITY.
Hacker Burr - President and Managing Director
7 Years as Head of School
10 Years as Development Director and Major Gifts Officer
7 Years as Admission Director
MBA (The Citadel)
B.A. English Literature (Roanoke College)
Independent School Graduate (Fessenden School and Holderness School)
Former President of the Charleston Tri-County Admission Council
2012 South Carolina Entrepreneurship Teacher of the Year
Innovative leadership featured in What Schools Could Be (Ted Dintersmith, 2014)
Hacker Burr is a people person and a connector. Coming from a long line of independent school educators (St. Marks, Webb School, St. Andrews, Westminster, Nobles, McCallie, GPS), and having started his advancement career at the age of 14--giving tours at Holderness School--he found a natural fit in the advancement world, eventually making him one of the youngest Heads in the country.
Hacker deeply believes that "fit" is everything. He is passionate about leveraging his years of experience to help client schools and the talent we place (in these top-notch institutions) find this "right fit". Ultimately, when placement work is done right, both the people and the organizations we serve will grow stronger.
Over two years working closely with Big Back Pack's Founder Steve Mandell, Hacker has been inspired by the BBP approach and plans to carry Steve's vision forward into the future, building on the tremendous brand that he established over the early years of the company and continuing to deliver the same level of service and care that Steve embodied throughout his career.
Steve had a very simple approach: show-up early, work hard, and care compassionately for others. With a positive, wellness-based approach to employment and operations, schools can truly be great places to teach and learn. This was Steve Mandell's mission when he founded Big Back Pack in 2017. Upon Steve's passing (in May of 2022), after a long and courageous battle with cancer, Hacker acquired Big Back Pack in December of 2022.
Visit Hacker's LinkedIn profile to learn more about his background and outlook.
Email Hacker at hacker@bigbackpack.org.
Paul Baly - Senior Search Consultant
15 Years as a Division Head (at K-8 and K-12 Schools)
South Carolina Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductee (as a Coach)
BA in English from Roanoke College
MEd in English Education from the University of South Carolina
MA in Private School Leadership from Columbia University (Klingenstein Center)
Paul came from a family of educational leaders where the dinner table conversations throughout his childhood involved long debates about the joys and challenges of teaching and leading. When Paul landed his first job at a Boarding School, he was inspired by the way in which Independent Schools invest in student’s overall development, utilizing relationships to help children thrive. Serving in senior leadership and teaching roles in
day, boarding, rural, suburban, and metropolitan schools ranging from 200 to 1300 students, Paul has worked for the past 25 years in Independent Schools.
Most recently, Paul served as the Middle School Director at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in Manhattan, and prior to that he served in the same role at The Elisabeth Morrow School, a 3’s-eighth grade school in Englewood, NJ. Paul began his career teaching high school English at the Storm King School, a small boarding school in the Hudson Valley of New York and moved on to become the Dean of Students and a
championship lacrosse coach at Heathwood Hall in Columbia, SC. He prides himself on building sustainable teams and rich, student-centered educational programs. Regardless of the school, market, or challenge, Paul has worked closely with advancement teams to measurably improve enrollment and advancement outcomes through increased marketing, branding, and communications strategies and partnered with Boards to lead
effective strategic planning processes.
Paul was a three sport high school athlete, and he played attack for four years on Roanoke College’s lacrosse team. Early in his career, Paul taught middle and high school English and coached varsity football, wrestling, and lacrosse. He helped found and was the Head coach at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School’s varsity lacrosse team, coached several All-Americans, and led the team to the State Finals. He was inducted into the South Carolina Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2008. Paul holds an undergraduate degree from Roanoke College, a Masters in English from the University of South Carolina, and a Masters Degree in Private School Leadership from Columbia University. Paul's three children have all attended Independent Schools.
Visit Paul's LinkedIn profile to learn more about his background and outlook.
Email Paul at paul@bigbackpack.org
Tucker Hastings - Senior Search Consultant
20+ Years as a teacher and administrator (Dean of Admission, Dean of Student Life, Department Chair, Academic Dean)
10+ Years as a varsity soccer coach
Participant, NAIS Aspiring Heads Program
Served on multiple visiting NEASC Accreditation teams
AB in French and Government and Legal Studies from Bowdoin College
MA in Private School Leadership from Columbia University (Klingenstein Center)
Tucker is a 20+ year teacher and administrator in boarding and day schools. The son of educators, much of his outlook on school life has been shaped by the communities of teachers and school leaders that have been a constant in his life.
Tucker served in a variety of roles at Brunswick School (Greenwich, CT), including Dean of Admission of the Upper School, Dean of Student Life and Academic Dean. Tucker prides himself on effectively engaging in the relational nature of school work and believes strongly in the invariable potential independent schools have to shape the character, interests and abilities of young people. He has been a trusted voice for advisees, colleagues and leadership teams as well as for clients in the consulting space. Throughout his career, Tucker has understood the desired outcomes of various stakeholders and worked hard to frame an approach that will yield positive results.
After nineteen years in Greenwich, Tucker and his family are thrilled to now live in the Boston area where his children attend independent schools.
A graduate of Deerfield Academy and Bowdoin College, Tucker holds a master's degree from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College at Columbia University.
Visit Tucker’s LinkedIn Profile here
Email Tucker at tucker@bigbackpack.org