GDS Head of School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

I do not think they will promote from within. Normally schools of this size/stature and HOS budget will want someone with prior HOS experience.

I agree with this. Please let it be someone more moderate than Russel

[Anonymous]

Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

I second that. Not more progressive, please. GDS is pushed so far it feels out of balance and we consider ourselves progressive. It gets irksome for many of the kids too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

I second that. Not more progressive, please. GDS is pushed so far it feels out of balance and we consider ourselves progressive. It gets irksome for many of the kids too.

Third that. Hope the search committee is reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

I second that. Not more progressive, please. GDS is pushed so far it feels out of balance and we consider ourselves progressive. It gets irksome for many of the kids too.

Third that. Hope the search committee is reading.

Even better than writing in some anonymous forum (that they're probably not reading btw), write board members directly or fill out the survey that was sent to us. If parents have concerns, they have to voice their opinions in a way that matters, not write statements into an echo chamber in the hopes that people will read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

I second that. Not more progressive, please. GDS is pushed so far it feels out of balance and we consider ourselves progressive. It gets irksome for many of the kids too.

Third that. Hope the search committee is reading.

Even better than writing in some anonymous forum (that they're probably not reading btw), write board members directly or fill out the survey that was sent to us. If parents have concerns, they have to voice their opinions in a way that matters, not write statements into an echo chamber in the hopes that people will read.

Incoming families have not received any forms/surveys. We are the future of the school so it would be good to be surveyed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

I second that. Not more progressive, please. GDS is pushed so far it feels out of balance and we consider ourselves progressive. It gets irksome for many of the kids too.

Third that. Hope the search committee is reading.

Even better than writing in some anonymous forum (that they're probably not reading btw), write board members directly or fill out the survey that was sent to us. If parents have concerns, they have to voice their opinions in a way that matters, not write statements into an echo chamber in the hopes that people will read.

This. Plenty of things the school could do better, but trying to get family/parent feedback re. the new head isn't one of them. The search firm held two forums, one live and one virtual, to get feedback. The school then sent out a fairly detailed survey (to which you could add anything you wanted), and then followed up with multiple emails asking parents to fill them out (and also to identify to the search committee any potential candidates you would recommend). Any GDS family that feels that they didn't have opportunity for input isn't checking their email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

I second that. Not more progressive, please. GDS is pushed so far it feels out of balance and we consider ourselves progressive. It gets irksome for many of the kids too.

Third that. Hope the search committee is reading.

Even better than writing in some anonymous forum (that they're probably not reading btw), write board members directly or fill out the survey that was sent to us. If parents have concerns, they have to voice their opinions in a way that matters, not write statements into an echo chamber in the hopes that people will read.

This. Plenty of things the school could do better, but trying to get family/parent feedback re. the new head isn't one of them. The search firm held two forums, one live and one virtual, to get feedback. The school then sent out a fairly detailed survey (to which you could add anything you wanted), and then followed up with multiple emails asking parents to fill them out (and also to identify to the search committee any potential candidates you would recommend). Any GDS family that feels that they didn't have opportunity for input isn't checking their email.

New families, i.e. those who may have the longest future at the school, have not been solicited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

I second that. Not more progressive, please. GDS is pushed so far it feels out of balance and we consider ourselves progressive. It gets irksome for many of the kids too.

Third that. Hope the search committee is reading.

Even better than writing in some anonymous forum (that they're probably not reading btw), write board members directly or fill out the survey that was sent to us. If parents have concerns, they have to voice their opinions in a way that matters, not write statements into an echo chamber in the hopes that people will read.

This. Plenty of things the school could do better, but trying to get family/parent feedback re. the new head isn't one of them. The search firm held two forums, one live and one virtual, to get feedback. The school then sent out a fairly detailed survey (to which you could add anything you wanted), and then followed up with multiple emails asking parents to fill them out (and also to identify to the search committee any potential candidates you would recommend). Any GDS family that feels that they didn't have opportunity for input isn't checking their email.

New families, i.e. those who may have the longest future at the school, have not been solicited.

Are you unhappy that the school did not reach out to you, or unhappy that you have no chance for input? They were seeking comments from current families, who have actual experience with the school as part of the school. That seems an entirely reasonable approach. The result of all that is the job posting by the search firm. If you really care about the HOS search and want to provide input, then just go to the public webpage on the school's website (as it takes maybe 5 seconds to find) dedicated to the HOS search process, including the job posting, timeline, search committee members, FAQs...and a dedicated email address for questions and comments to the search committee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

I second that. Not more progressive, please. GDS is pushed so far it feels out of balance and we consider ourselves progressive. It gets irksome for many of the kids too.

Third that. Hope the search committee is reading.

Even better than writing in some anonymous forum (that they're probably not reading btw), write board members directly or fill out the survey that was sent to us. If parents have concerns, they have to voice their opinions in a way that matters, not write statements into an echo chamber in the hopes that people will read.

This. Plenty of things the school could do better, but trying to get family/parent feedback re. the new head isn't one of them. The search firm held two forums, one live and one virtual, to get feedback. The school then sent out a fairly detailed survey (to which you could add anything you wanted), and then followed up with multiple emails asking parents to fill them out (and also to identify to the search committee any potential candidates you would recommend). Any GDS family that feels that they didn't have opportunity for input isn't checking their email.

New families, i.e. those who may have the longest future at the school, have not been solicited.

GDS might reasonably believe that families who do not yet have actual experience with the school may not yet know enough to have an opinion about what should be a new HOS's priorities. If you already want to complain about GDS's politics, it may not be the right school for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

I second that. Not more progressive, please. GDS is pushed so far it feels out of balance and we consider ourselves progressive. It gets irksome for many of the kids too.

Third that. Hope the search committee is reading.

Even better than writing in some anonymous forum (that they're probably not reading btw), write board members directly or fill out the survey that was sent to us. If parents have concerns, they have to voice their opinions in a way that matters, not write statements into an echo chamber in the hopes that people will read.

This. Plenty of things the school could do better, but trying to get family/parent feedback re. the new head isn't one of them. The search firm held two forums, one live and one virtual, to get feedback. The school then sent out a fairly detailed survey (to which you could add anything you wanted), and then followed up with multiple emails asking parents to fill them out (and also to identify to the search committee any potential candidates you would recommend). Any GDS family that feels that they didn't have opportunity for input isn't checking their email.

New families, i.e. those who may have the longest future at the school, have not been solicited.

GDS might reasonably believe that families who do not yet have actual experience with the school may not yet know enough to have an opinion about what should be a new HOS's priorities. If you already want to complain about GDS's politics, it may not be the right school for you.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or at the very least, please don’t let it be someone more progressive than Russell.

I second that. Not more progressive, please. GDS is pushed so far it feels out of balance and we consider ourselves progressive. It gets irksome for many of the kids too.

Third that. Hope the search committee is reading.

Even better than writing in some anonymous forum (that they're probably not reading btw), write board members directly or fill out the survey that was sent to us. If parents have concerns, they have to voice their opinions in a way that matters, not write statements into an echo chamber in the hopes that people will read.

This. Plenty of things the school could do better, but trying to get family/parent feedback re. the new head isn't one of them. The search firm held two forums, one live and one virtual, to get feedback. The school then sent out a fairly detailed survey (to which you could add anything you wanted), and then followed up with multiple emails asking parents to fill them out (and also to identify to the search committee any potential candidates you would recommend). Any GDS family that feels that they didn't have opportunity for input isn't checking their email.

New families, i.e. those who may have the longest future at the school, have not been solicited.

GDS might reasonably believe that families who do not yet have actual experience with the school may not yet know enough to have an opinion about what should be a new HOS's priorities. If you already want to complain about GDS's politics, it may not be the right school for you.

Yeah, I like input opportunities as much as the next person, but I don't see the logic in surveying families who haven't started yet. The data wouldn't really be useable.

[Anonymous]

Why would the school ask for feedback from families not at the school yet, who have no experience or interactions yet to base an opinion on? The only survey prospective parents might get would be on the application/admissions process, which is the only thing they could comment on with authority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would the school ask for feedback from families not at the school yet, who have no experience or interactions yet to base an opinion on? The only survey prospective parents might get would be on the application/admissions process, which is the only thing they could comment on with authority.

Because they are the future of the school, payin the fees in the future and will spend the most time with the new head. It's not to say current students don't matter, but input from new families and getting a sense of their views seems valuable as well. This is not instead of the views of the current families but in addition to those views.

[Anonymous]

The kind of detailed input that the search committee sought assumed a certain level of factual knowledge about the school's operations and culture that new families don't have.