Consultant, EXECUTIVE COACH
As one of The Education Group Executive Coaches, Dr. Byer represents three pillars of our program - Education, Character and Leadership.
Currently a resident of both Florida and New Jersey, Dr. Byer’s professional resume reflects his integration into and relationships with multiple independent schools in both states, having served not only in a full spectrum of private school positions, but as a guidance and educational consultant, founding school member and undergraduate professor. Beginning his career with the private secondary Hun School of Princeton, New Jersey in 1966, as a teacher, coach, director of student activities and later Dean of Students, he concurrently earned his MA in Guidance and Counseling from Rider College of Trenton, New Jersey. Moving in 1972 to Pine Crest School of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, an independent non-sectarian college-preparatory school, he became Director of Guidance and Testing until his appointment as Principal of the Upper and Middle Schools of Pine Crest, noted as a “Blue Ribbon School” by the United States Department of Education. In 1988 he served as Regional Director for Motivational Systems, a New Jersey-based provider of educational training programs. Next, he served as Headmaster of The University School of Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale Florida, a fully accredited independent college preparatory school located on the NSU campus (commonly known as the NSU University School or U-School). Its motto “the classroom is our cornerstone” resonated with Dr. Byer as he co-taught an undergraduate course at NSU as well as earning his degree of Educational Specialist (Ed.S) in Administration (1978) and (Ed.D) in Educational Administration (1993). In 1994 he returned to the Hun School of Princeton, where he served as Headmaster for sixteen years. In 2010-2011 he worked as an Educational Consultant and Founding Team Member for the Oxbridge Academy, West Palm Beach, Florida. Opened in just one year, Oxbridge Academy is a private co-educational college preparatory school, geared toward academically gifted students of all socioeconomic backgrounds, and whose motto is “For a Lifetime”. From July 2016 to June 2017, Dr. Byer served as Interim Headmaster, Saint Andrew’s School, Boca Raton, Florida, an independent day and boarding school founded by the Episcopal School Foundation in 1961.
The lengthy list of Jim’s professional and personal associations emphasize his life-long dedication to education and leadership. His academic honors and professional recognition demonstrate the degree of his professional character while personal athletic awards, achievements and recognition round out a stellar educational career.
