Scott Looney's $1 million salary STORY

 A graduate of DePauw University and Northwestern University, Scott Looney became principal at the Hawken School in 2006. During his time with the school, he has overseen the development of an urban extension campus in University Circle, a new Early Childhood Center, a state-of the-art Upper School academic facility and the addition of the Birchwood School of Hawken. Prior to this role, Scott spent eleven years at Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he served in various capacities including co-head of the Girls Middle School. Before Cranbrook, he was Assistant Dean of Admissions at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. 

 Founded in 1915, Hawken School is a coeducational private day school in Ohio with over 1,500 students and campuses in Gates Mills (grades 9 – 12), Lyndhurst (toddler – grade 8), at Birchwood School of Hawken (preschool – grade 8), and at the Mastery School of Hawken (grades 9 – 12) in University Circle. The school is supported by $15.1 million in tuition assistance.

Scott Looney's salary at the school is in excess of $1 million. 

According to a January 31, 2025 article on cleveland.com, Scoot Looney's compensation from Hawken School in 2023 was $990,580. He also had other compensation of: $59,153.

Additionally, Looney is allocated $17,000 per year to spend on tax preparation, life insurance and disability or long-term care insurance. Looney received a contribution of $20,500 to a nonqualified deferred compensation plan and $375,000 in a nonqualified long-term incentive plan.

No. Scott Looney's salary is not typical.

According to recent data, the average salary for a private school principal in the United States is around $109,393 per year. Some, like Scott Looney, make much more. While location, school size, experience level, and the specific type of private school can all influence the salary, a $1 million salary is at the very top of reported earnings for this type of position. Especially so, when you consider Hawken School’s non-profit status and its location in northeast Ohio. Overall, the salaries of private school principals in the US range from $20,211 to $1,342,296 with a median salary of $91,837. Most private school principals make between $77,371 to $98,635.

The Hawken School Board of Trustees approve Scott Looney's salary every year. That goup of people include the following:

• Paul N. Harris, Chair
• Charles P. Cooley, Immediate Past Chair
• Samuel P. Gerace, Vice Chair
• Blair K. Haas, Vice Chair
• Steven M. Ross Vice Chair
• Alan D. Rosskamm, Vice Chair
• Andrew D. Ross, Treasurer
• Kendra C. Howley, Secretary 

Scott Looney works for the non-profit Hawken School.  A non-profit organization plays a crucial role in a community by identifying and addressing local needs that might be overlooked by the public or private sectors, and generally working to improve the quality of life for residents by providing vital resources and opportunities to marginalized groups. The Hawken School Board of Trustees should consider if a $1 million salary is in line with the spirit and benefit of being a non-profit.