Consultant
Jay Philpott has spent decades in independent schools and knows the market well. He has experience across key areas of school leadership including advancement, admission, alumni, marketing and communication, and he has also served in a myriad of other roles at independent schools including student, parent, volunteer, sibling, and spouse. Jay is passionate about helping schools achieve their goals, recognizing and cultivating proven and emerging independent school leadership talent.
A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Jay began his education at The Lexington School before attending high school at Trinity Pawling boarding school in New York. Jay received his Bachelor of Arts in history from Presbyterian College and his Master of Science in Leadership with a higher education concentration from the University of Memphis.
Most recently, Jay has served as Director of Admission and Financial Aid at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (MS) and Director of Advancement and Director of Admissions at St. George’s Independent School (TN). Previously he worked in advancement for Rhodes College (TN), the University of Memphis, Sweet Briar College (VA), and Presbyterian College (SC). In his development work at both private and public universities, he has traveled extensively throughout the southeast and midwest cultivating relationships and raising money for important education initiatives. Additionally, Jay comes from a family with a strong appreciation and love for independent schools, and family members have attended Groton, Miss Porter’s, McCallie, Ensworth, Trinity, and Hutchison School among others.
Jay is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Southeast Region of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Jay lives in Ridgeland, MS with his wife, Emily, who is the Director of Global Studies and an AP teacher at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, and their two children who are members of the classes of 2026 and 2028.
