GDS Head of School

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any insights into the GDS Head of School search? Do you think they’ll promote someone internal? Russell has been there so long, I would doubt anyone who is currently at the school would remember the process. Do you think they will consider the results of the parent survey they sent out? Who has the most say in the process? The search committee? The board?

[Anonymous]

The board's search committee

[Anonymous]

Our school went through this a few years ago and the answer is the search committee of the board- then the board has to vote unanimously, which means a few loud voices will probably prevail

[Anonymous]

I recently talked to a board member on the search committee and she said that they will seriously discuss all the feedback received through the survey.

[Anonymous]

That’s good to hear. I hope they do consider parent and community feedback. I think the search committee and board seem like pretty solid, level headed people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school went through this a few years ago and the answer is the search committee of the board- then the board has to vote unanimously, which means a few loud voices will probably prevail

It has to be unanimous? Why not majority?

[Anonymous]

I hope they find someone like Russell. He is balanced.

[Anonymous]

Agree. I think there is fear across the school that they’ll go too far left in whoever they choose. Interesting it would be a unanimous vote. I had not heard that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree. I think there is fear across the school that they’ll go too far left in whoever they choose. Interesting it would be a unanimous vote. I had not heard that.

It’s a consensus building process. Sometimes it’s harder to get to unanimous if the candidates aren’t great, or are all equal, and sometimes there’s one candidate that is the obvious clear choice. But whomever is chosen, the entire school community needs to know that the entire board is behind him or her.

[Anonymous]

They've had some Uber talented people serving in leadership roles there over the decade that my kids have gone through the high school. Some got recruited to to positions elsewhere, but could be recruited to find back. And at least a couple are still there. Would be nice to see someone already in the GDS family get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree. I think there is fear across the school that they’ll go too far left in whoever they choose. Interesting it would be a unanimous vote. I had not heard that.

It’s a consensus building process. Sometimes it’s harder to get to unanimous if the candidates aren’t great, or are all equal, and sometimes there’s one candidate that is the obvious clear choice. But whomever is chosen, the entire school community needs to know that the entire board is behind him or her.

And a search committee might have a fracture or some dissenters, but the board- it’s assumed- will vote unanimously for whomever the search committee puts forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree. I think there is fear across the school that they’ll go too far left in whoever they choose. Interesting it would be a unanimous vote. I had not heard that.

Yes, I hope they choose someone who is more center left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They've had some Uber talented people serving in leadership roles there over the decade that my kids have gone through the high school. Some got recruited to to positions elsewhere, but could be recruited to find back. And at least a couple are still there. Would be nice to see someone already in the GDS family get it.

Who would be your top choice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They've had some Uber talented people serving in leadership roles there over the decade that my kids have gone through the high school. Some got recruited to to positions elsewhere, but could be recruited to find back. And at least a couple are still there. Would be nice to see someone already in the GDS family get it.

Who would be your top choice?

Oh me oh my said the fly, Russell has done a really great job and esp thru Covid where gds was up and running way before many. But the weakness has been the turnover and inconsistency on some of the other leaders. Perhaps there are options there but it’s not a long list

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They've had some Uber talented people serving in leadership roles there over the decade that my kids have gone through the high school. Some got recruited to to positions elsewhere, but could be recruited to find back. And at least a couple are still there. Would be nice to see someone already in the GDS family get it.

Who would be your top choice?

Oh me oh my said the fly, Russell has done a really great job and esp thru Covid where gds was up and running way before many. But the weakness has been the turnover and inconsistency on some of the other leaders. Perhaps there are options there but it’s not a long list

Nope. two hours every other morning for fall 2020 and spring 2021 was bottom line quartile for DC, and DC was bottom quartile of the whole country for getting back to k-12 fulltime class instruction hours, 5 days a week, in person.

Well compared to those of us who also had a kid in private school!