Search Committee Updates

UPDATE FROM THE SEARCH COMMITTEE:       

March 6, 2012

Dear GHS Community,

As you know, the Head of School Search Committee has been making great progress in the search for a Head of School. Most recently, the Candidate Information Document (CID) was posted on the GHS website for all to view. The search is now in the capable hands of Matt Heersche and Risa Oganesoff Heersche, professional educational consultants from EDI, who are actively and aggressively recruiting and interviewing viable candidates. In the next several weeks, the Committee will work in collaboration with EDI to narrow down the candidate pool and select several semi-finalists who will visit GHS for formal interviews.

The process is advancing appropriately and on schedule.

Jenni Baldwin, one of the faculty representatives of the Search Committee, has recently found it necessary to resign from her position on the committee. She is dealing with a family illness that will prevent her from being able to commit fully to the work of the committee over the next several months. Although Mrs. Baldwin remains fully devoted to supporting GHS in its search for a Head of School, out of respect for, and fairness to the process, she has decided to step down. Mrs. Baldwin has the full support of the GHS Board of Directors, and her need to shift the focus of her energies to her immediate family and students is laudable and understandable. Mrs. Baldwin appreciates the support of the GHS community in this matter, and acknowledges the difficult decision she has made. Although I urge you to join the Board in keeping Jenni and her family in your thoughts and prayers, thank you for respecting her desire to maintain her privacy at this time.

The Board of Directors has asked Vi Gragg, first grade teacher, to assume Mrs. Baldwin’s responsibilities on the committee, and she has graciously accepted. Mrs. Gragg has been a long standing and valuable member of the GHS faculty, and will bring the same level of professionalism, dedication and energy to the search process as Mrs. Baldwin exhibited. Moreover, Mrs. Gragg and Mrs. Baldwin share similar and complementary approaches to academic and educational endeavors.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jay Mearns, Search Committee Chair or me. Matt and Risa of EDI are also available to answer any questions or receive feedback. As always, thank you for your continued confidence in the search process and EDI.

Sincerely,

Carol Kaufman for the GHS HOS Search Committee

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February 10, 2012

Dear GHS Community,

This is a brief update on the search for our next Head of School. The Candidate Information Document (CID), i.e. the position description, has been completed. It is the result of extensive collaborative efforts between the Search Committee and EDI, our professional consultants. The CID contains background information about GHS, the opportunities and challenges that will face the new Head, and the personal and professional qualities sought in this individual.

Educational Directions has begun the process of recruiting viable candidates. Their work involves reaching out to educational leaders throughout the country, contacting national and regional associations and professional organizations, utilizing Educational Directions' comprehensive database, and advertising in appropriate websites such as, "The Blue Sheet", an executive search report published  by Educational Directions. Each prospect receives a copy of the CID. In its work, EDI cultivates the most promising prospects, interviews the most promising prospects, interviews the most capable people, and carries out initial reference checks. They will ultimately develop a list of top candidates for consideration by the Search Committee. The candidate files, which include a candidate's cover letter, resume, statement of educational philosophy, letter of reference and a reference list, as well as other information provided by Educational Directions, will be forwarded to the Search Committee.

The Search Committee will meet in mid-March to review the candidate files and select the semi-finalists who will interview with the Search Committee. EDI will be present for both the selection of the semi-finalists as well as the semi-finalist interviews. It is important to know that, for a variety of reasons, prospective candidates are promised confidentiality up through the semi-finalist stage.

The Candidate Information Document is a public document, which can be accessed and downloaded by clicking the following link:  CID. Please remember that if you know of someone who might be interested in this position, forward their contact information to EDI.

We will continue to provide timely updates throughout the search process, and if you have additional questions in the interim, feel free to contact me, or any member of the Search Committee.

Carol Kaufman

For the Search Committee