Barbara Powers

Bringing 40 years in education (including 26 years in senior leadership roles spanning Principal across all three divisions, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent), Barbara Powers joins Search Associates with a distinguished record of school leadership in the United States. She specializes in Head of School, Principal, and Superintendent searches across the US, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Barbara served as Superintendent of Schools in Falmouth, Maine, a district recognized by Forbes Magazine as the number one performing public school system in the country. During her tenure, she oversaw the completion of a 700-student, state-of-the-art elementary school, a high school sustainability project, and sustained enrolment growth driven by the district’s outstanding reputation. She attributes that success to a highly engaged faculty committed to agile, mindful improvement and a genuine growth mindset in service of students. Prior to her superintendency, she served 11 years in other senior leadership roles for the same district. Barbara holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education, along with certifications in elementary education, middle and high school social studies, and principal and superintendent licensure.

Since joining Search Associates in 2019 as their US Superintendent representative, Barbara has successfully completed 30 searches across the United States, the Caribbean, Europe (particularly Eastern Europe), Central and Eastern Asia, Taiwan, and Africa. She takes great pride in getting to know each school community deeply to recruit and recommend candidates who not only meet the stated requirements but genuinely match the culture and character of the school. She is also known for championing “X Factor” candidates, those whose exceptional qualities may not be immediately obvious on paper, often with outstanding results.

Barbara’s leadership extended beyond her district: as Assistant Superintendent, she established a sister school relationship with a school in China and sponsored teacher exchanges, partnered with a sister school in the Dominican Republic hosting five guest teachers for professional development, and led regular service-learning trips to Guatemala with high school students. She also served on her local School Board, including three years as Chair of the Policy Committee.

An avid reader and passionate outdoors enthusiast, Barbara loves spending time watching her grandchildren pursue their passions in soccer, baseball, track and field, and golf, a sport she enjoys immensely herself.