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Head of School Search
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is serving on the search committee?
| | The goal of the Board of Trustees was to form a diverse committee made up of people who respected our school’s history and understood the importance of its future. Each member brings a unique perspective to the process. The group includes faculty, parents, trustees, church leaders, a past Parish Board Chair, and those with previous search committee experience. This search committee has been working since December and is excited about the formal search process. Members include: G.R. Christon, David Corrigan, Philip de Bruyn, The Reverend Amy Heller, Jay Madrid, Becky Maher, Deb McDonnough, and Harold MacDowell. [search committee bios] |
What is the timeline for the search?
| | In February of 2008, our search consultant, Brigham Hill will hold on-campus meetings with constituent groups to listen to the Parish community. These meetings will provide valuable input to create a profile that describes the school and identifies the qualifications and attributes the search committee should look for in a new head of school. These documents will guide the project. The search firm will use that information to identify prospective candidates and will report back to the search committee in a confidential meeting sometime around the end of this school year. During the summer holidays, the consultant will personally interview a number of prospective candidates and provide written reports. Shortly after the beginning of the new 2008-2009 school year, the committee will have in-depth discussions of our top candidates. During the first part of the fall ‘08, the search committee will interview semi-finalists in Dallas, with an expectation that finalists will be invited for meetings with the broader school community in late October, early November 2008. If all goes as planned, the school will reach an agreement with one of the candidates and an announcement will be made before the winter holidays. We will then begin a leadership transition over the summer to prepare for the 2009-2010 school year. |
Why does the search take so long?
| | Head of school searches are unique. A number of factors have combined over the years to make the above timetable typical for any head of school search. These factors include contracts between schools and their heads, the custom of a head of school providing substantial notice to his or her school, the desire for the entire school community to be involved in the search, the need for deliberation and reflection, and scheduling issues. |
Is this a national search?
| | Yes. There is intense competition across the country for accomplished educational leaders. Thus, we will invite candidates from any and all geographic areas. We recognize that the Southwest generally and Dallas specifically are unique, and accordingly we will seek people whose temperaments, values, and personal styles are compatible with our school culture. |
Is the process secretive? Is there full transparency to the school community?
| | The process is not secretive, but it is confidential. That is, the search committee will make every effort to provide periodic updates and communicate the general progress of the search throughout the process. For reasons of confidentiality, however, the committee is not at liberty to disclose the names of people under consideration or when they will be in Dallas for the first round of interviews. However, in almost every case, the second round interviews with finalists are completely open to the school community. |
Typically, when we bring candidates for division headships or other administrative positions to campus, the hiring process seems more open. Why the importance of confidentially in this case?
| | In all likelihood, head of school candidates who come to Dallas will have either declared to their current schools their intentions to move or, at the very least, informed the people to whom they report. In the latter case, the proper courtesies will have been extended, but an individual’s openness to a new situation is still considered confidential. Our search firm is known for approaching people who are not considering making a move, inviting them into a conversation about such a possibility, evaluating their backgrounds in a personal meeting and, if appropriate, prevailing on them to make an exploratory trip to campus. In such a situation, the person may or may not have disclosed the candidacy to his or her chair of the board or head of school and, accordingly, would want to make the visit to Dallas in strict confidence and on a purely exploratory basis. Needless to say, we would have to assure such conditions in order to convince the person to visit with us. Finally, it is important that the process be carried out with fairness and equity to all of the candidates. Among other things, this means that we should keep all of their identities confidential, regardless of what they may or may not have said to their current superiors. This approach also assures that interviewing and referencing are conducted in an orderly, thorough, and professional way. |
How can I express my opinions about the search?
| | The best way is to attend one of the constituent meetings on Feb 12, 13 or 15 to dialogue (for an open discussion) with the Parish community. You may also participate in a brief questionnaire. It asks you to identify yourself broadly in terms of your relationship with the school and then gives you an opportunity to answer four questions. Once you click to submit the information, the responses go directly to Brigham Hill Consultancy. The firm will review them and provide the search committee with suggestions, opinions, and insights gleaned from the questionnaires. |
How can I recommend a candidate?
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