Head of School searches: How did it go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret board told who to vote for. The HOS and Board chair had already decided.

OP here- while I am mainly interested in hearing about how schools have transitioned to a new Head and how the process went, I have to chime in that this sounds crazy. I somehow highly doubt Marjo Talbott would have voted for the candidate who ultimately got the job- in fact, it almost seems like the board chose him because he is nothing like her. As for the board chair, certainly a nice person but power hungry? Another bizmare allegation.

Maret used to be a fringe school, sort of artsy- at least when Strutevant was in charge- loads of debt, some really bad teachers. Marjo Talbott might not be the friendliest, but she really put Maret on the map and brought it to where it is. While I think she should have retired a while ago, I respect the work she did for the school.

Maret was founded by three women- I personally am sad the position did not go to a female, since few of the co-ed schools in this area are headed by women. Just so very disappointed in the whole process and certainly with the ultimate selection.

Why so very disappointed with the ultimate selection, aside from your being against his selection because of his gender?

During his presentation to families, he talked about how much Maret and Whittle are alike. Not only are Maret and Whittle completely different, the vast majority Maret families do not want the school to become more like Whittle in any way. While he may or may not be responsible for the mishandling of Whittle finances, he went to that school knowing (or at least he should have known since it was public knowledge) that Chris Whittle is a fraud. That shows awful judgment. This HOS choice has caused our family to reassess whether Maret is the right school for our children. I'm sure we aren't alone.

Maret parent here. I was at the session and you are inaccurately reporting what he said. He spoke knowledgeably about Maret. They had applied to Maret for one of his kids for goodness sake. He talked about how he admired Maret’s willingness to innovate and how engaged the faculty was. He answered a question about how he had handled crises in the past. I thought his answer showed that he had good instincts for the emotional side of handling a crisis and not just the nuts and bolts.

I am willing to give him a chance. I met some parents who thought he was great. One parent said “I think he’s great. He’s the whole package.” Obviously you disagree. I know other parents who weren’t thrilled with any of the candidates but said of the three he was their first choice followed by candidate 3. If you really think that his hiring means Maret is no longer a fit for your family, I know several families who will happily take your place. We had several friends apply to Maret this past year for Lower, Middle, and Upper School who were disappointed when their kids weren’t accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why so very disappointed with the ultimate selection, aside from your being against his selection because of his gender?

Many things, first and foremost that he is coming from Whittle.

Second, the lack of transparency in general with the process: There should have been a voting member on the committee from the faculty, the parent survey results should have been public, and the student feedback appears to show (based on what my DC has told me) that they liked the male candidate *the least* but the board seems to have glossed this fact over.

Third, the search firm that was used is known to recycle past candidates who were not successful in past cycles because they are lazy and are unskilled headhunters.

Finally, none of the candidates know anything about Maret itself- why not promote from within, such as the Associate Head of School, or bring someone back who knows the school well, like one of the former division heads? As someone with past consulting/managerial experience, the process was vexing to watch unfold. However, and as some have intimated on this thread, the decision rested in very, very few hands, sort of like the Politburo.

No. The students I know found the second candidate cold and aloof. They liked the third and the kids I know found the first and third candidates warmer and more approachable.

There was a current Maret parent who had been at Whittle who spoke at the session they had with the candidate for the school community. She was full of praise for him and said that he was always focused on the students and their learning. He was HOS at another school (K-12) in Connecticut for 12 years years and had taught and held leadership positions at other schools before that. I think some people on here and at Maret are over emphasizing what happened with Whittle. He struck me as an educator who was willing to try something that could help move education forward. As someone paying for my kids to attend private school, I don’t think I am in any position to look down or criticize a for profit model for education. We opted out of public education because we thought the independent model was better for our kids. I’m all for finding better ways to educate children and am not going to hold it against an educator if they tried something new and different.

The new HOS has experience managing and seeing building and expansion projects through. Maret is in the process of expanding its athletic facilities with new fields and facilities and his prior experience will be helpful with that. He has also done fundraising and I think that matters too. Finally, he seems to have real experience with DEI which I hope translates to Maret continuing to make progress and improve in that area.

This is the lamest endorsement of what a new head brings to the table that I've ever seen. If that's all he's got then Maret is in bigger trouble than even I imagined. He'll be helpful overseeing the new athletic fields at ECC? That's awesome, maybe he can be the project manager.

Also, KO is grades 6-12, not K-12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Seems mostly like you have gripes about the process and not about him as an individual, other than his gender and a previous job he held for a tiny percentage of his professional life. That's unfortunate as far as I see it. I like the fact that Maret did not promote from within. They have had the same leadership for decades - why not bring in an outsider to move the community forward.

Bad process = dud of a candidate. Duh.

Christ Whittle is the founder of the Edison Project, which failed. He then tried to set up Whittle, which is dying and is facing multiple lawsuits for nonpayment (this is all public information in DC court dockets).

It is hugely questionable that Bisgaard disregarded Whittle’s spectacular failure with Edison but went to work for the Whittle School anyway. So despite your “tiny percentage” comment, it is clear to me that he has very bad judgement.

I suppose it also does not matter to you then, that the faculty had zero say in the process and the student cohort selected to meet with the candidates liked him the least? You do a great job criticizing my post without providing an proof of your own that he is a strong candidate other than he might “move the community forward.”

Move forward to what, exactly? Bankruptcy, embarrassment, and poor leadership?

I hope it works out- but the process is important. That is how you get good candidates. This was a poorly run process, and now we got what we deserve, I guess.

Right. So anyone who goes to work for an entrepreneur who had a prior venture fail is “hugely questionable”? Hmmm. I’m just glad that the Maret board is more forward leaning and visionary than your myopic view. And as a PP noted before - the financial problems at Whittle have nothing to do with Bisgaard. They literally lost $100M in funding when investors backed out due to the pandemic and somehow thats relevant to the HOS ability to lead a school?

Wow, you really bought the Whittle PR spin that all the financial problems were a result of the pandemic? It was a scam financially from the get-go. The mountains of litigation pleadings bear that out.

Shoot. My bad. I must have been absent the day in law school when they taught us that pleadings are dispositive articles of fact rather than one-sided kitchen sink allegations designed to force a settlement or that, you know, will ultimate be litigated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret board told who to vote for. The HOS and Board chair had already decided.

OP here- while I am mainly interested in hearing about how schools have transitioned to a new Head and how the process went, I have to chime in that this sounds crazy. I somehow highly doubt Marjo Talbott would have voted for the candidate who ultimately got the job- in fact, it almost seems like the board chose him because he is nothing like her. As for the board chair, certainly a nice person but power hungry? Another bizmare allegation.

Maret used to be a fringe school, sort of artsy- at least when Strutevant was in charge- loads of debt, some really bad teachers. Marjo Talbott might not be the friendliest, but she really put Maret on the map and brought it to where it is. While I think she should have retired a while ago, I respect the work she did for the school.

Maret was founded by three women- I personally am sad the position did not go to a female, since few of the co-ed schools in this area are headed by women. Just so very disappointed in the whole process and certainly with the ultimate selection.

Why so very disappointed with the ultimate selection, aside from your being against his selection because of his gender?

During his presentation to families, he talked about how much Maret and Whittle are alike. Not only are Maret and Whittle completely different, the vast majority Maret families do not want the school to become more like Whittle in any way. While he may or may not be responsible for the mishandling of Whittle finances, he went to that school knowing (or at least he should have known since it was public knowledge) that Chris Whittle is a fraud. That shows awful judgment. This HOS choice has caused our family to reassess whether Maret is the right school for our children. I'm sure we aren't alone.

This is either a huge delusion, or a huge insult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret board told who to vote for. The HOS and Board chair had already decided.

OP here- while I am mainly interested in hearing about how schools have transitioned to a new Head and how the process went, I have to chime in that this sounds crazy. I somehow highly doubt Marjo Talbott would have voted for the candidate who ultimately got the job- in fact, it almost seems like the board chose him because he is nothing like her. As for the board chair, certainly a nice person but power hungry? Another bizmare allegation.

Maret used to be a fringe school, sort of artsy- at least when Strutevant was in charge- loads of debt, some really bad teachers. Marjo Talbott might not be the friendliest, but she really put Maret on the map and brought it to where it is. While I think she should have retired a while ago, I respect the work she did for the school.

Maret was founded by three women- I personally am sad the position did not go to a female, since few of the co-ed schools in this area are headed by women. Just so very disappointed in the whole process and certainly with the ultimate selection.

Why so very disappointed with the ultimate selection, aside from your being against his selection because of his gender?

Former Whittle parent here. I have 3 children who are now at sidwell and GDS. I have 5 nieces and nephews including a sister in law who went to Maret. Whittle and Maret are similar. I think DB is a fabulous director. He tried his best however I think Whittle was in trouble before it even opener and it did come down to finances that had everything to do with Chris. DB will prove himself and he really is an incredible person and director.

During his presentation to families, he talked about how much Maret and Whittle are alike. Not only are Maret and Whittle completely different, the vast majority Maret families do not want the school to become more like Whittle in any way. While he may or may not be responsible for the mishandling of Whittle finances, he went to that school knowing (or at least he should have known since it was public knowledge) that Chris Whittle is a fraud. That shows awful judgment. This HOS choice has caused our family to reassess whether Maret is the right school for our children. I'm sure we aren't alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why so very disappointed with the ultimate selection, aside from your being against his selection because of his gender?

Many things, first and foremost that he is coming from Whittle.

Second, the lack of transparency in general with the process: There should have been a voting member on the committee from the faculty, the parent survey results should have been public, and the student feedback appears to show (based on what my DC has told me) that they liked the male candidate *the least* but the board seems to have glossed this fact over.

Third, the search firm that was used is known to recycle past candidates who were not successful in past cycles because they are lazy and are unskilled headhunters.

Finally, none of the candidates know anything about Maret itself- why not promote from within, such as the Associate Head of School, or bring someone back who knows the school well, like one of the former division heads? As someone with past consulting/managerial experience, the process was vexing to watch unfold. However, and as some have intimated on this thread, the decision rested in very, very few hands, sort of like the Politburo.
You don't know what you're talking about. I have no dog in this fight (my kids do not attend Maret), but RG175 is an extremely well-respected search firm. It's the "hottest" firm right now and they are going to bring forward the best candidates for the job.

It's unfortunate that you're so biased against Whittle that you can't see past the fact that he was their founding Head of School. Ever consider that he was sold a bill of goods along with its families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Many things, first and foremost that he is coming from Whittle.

Second, the lack of transparency in general with the process: There should have been a voting member on the committee from the faculty, the parent survey results should have been public, and the student feedback appears to show (based on what my DC has told me) that they liked the male candidate *the least* but the board seems to have glossed this fact over.

Third, the search firm that was used is known to recycle past candidates who were not successful in past cycles because they are lazy and are unskilled headhunters.

Finally, none of the candidates know anything about Maret itself- why not promote from within, such as the Associate Head of School, or bring someone back who knows the school well, like one of the former division heads? As someone with past consulting/managerial experience, the process was vexing to watch unfold. However, and as some have intimated on this thread, the decision rested in very, very few hands, sort of like the Politburo.

I'm reposting because my previous response was hard to see:

You don't know what you're talking about. I have no dog in this fight (my kids do not attend Maret), but RG175 is an extremely well-respected search firm. It's the "it" firm right now and they are going to bring forward the best candidates for the job.

It's unfortunate that you're so biased against Whittle that you can't see past the fact that he was their founding Head of School. Ever consider that he was sold a bill of goods along with its families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Many things, first and foremost that he is coming from Whittle.

Second, the lack of transparency in general with the process: There should have been a voting member on the committee from the faculty, the parent survey results should have been public, and the student feedback appears to show (based on what my DC has told me) that they liked the male candidate *the least* but the board seems to have glossed this fact over.

Third, the search firm that was used is known to recycle past candidates who were not successful in past cycles because they are lazy and are unskilled headhunters.

Finally, none of the candidates know anything about Maret itself- why not promote from within, such as the Associate Head of School, or bring someone back who knows the school well, like one of the former division heads? As someone with past consulting/managerial experience, the process was vexing to watch unfold. However, and as some have intimated on this thread, the decision rested in very, very few hands, sort of like the Politburo.

I'm reposting because my previous response was hard to see:

You don't know what you're talking about. I have no dog in this fight (my kids do not attend Maret), but RG175 is an extremely well-respected search firm. It's the "it" firm right now and they are going to bring forward the best candidates for the job.

It's unfortunate that you're so biased against Whittle that you can't see past the fact that he was their founding Head of School. Ever consider that he was sold a bill of goods along with its families?

That's just evidence of exceedingly poor judgment. It's not like Whittle's spectacular flameout wasn't something predicted by tons of people in advance. Whittle the man had left a string of failures and frauds in his wake by the time he made it to DC--or should we call it River City? So Bisgaard is just another in a long line of rubes who was conned by Whittle? Great endorsement for an independent school head.

[Anonymous]

You don't know what you're talking about. I have no dog in this fight (my kids do not attend Maret), but RG175 is an extremely well-respected search firm. It's the "it" firm right now and they are going to bring forward the best candidates for the job.

It's unfortunate that you're so biased against Whittle that you can't see past the fact that he was their founding Head of School. Ever consider that he was sold a bill of goods along with its families?


Just because it is an “it” firm means nothing. WeWork was once valued at a billion dollars and was considered an “it” company. Please try again.

As for being sold “a bill of goods,” I was working for local government and wrote about educational policy when Chris Whittle first introduced Edison- which was valued at $40 million then by the end of the project’s pathetic run was a 40 CENT stock.

Fast forward to 2022 and my child is at Maret and I read that this search firm has brought us a candidate who worked with Chris Whittle. And now he is the new Head? He was not sold a bad bill of goods (which is what you really mean) he did not do his homework or he was hoodwinked by a fraudster- either way it illustrates poor judgement.

So many failures with this search process. Mind boggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You don't know what you're talking about. I have no dog in this fight (my kids do not attend Maret), but RG175 is an extremely well-respected search firm. It's the "it" firm right now and they are going to bring forward the best candidates for the job.

It's unfortunate that you're so biased against Whittle that you can't see past the fact that he was their founding Head of School. Ever consider that he was sold a bill of goods along with its families?

Just because it is an “it” firm means nothing. WeWork was once valued at a billion dollars and was considered an “it” company. Please try again.

As for being sold “a bill of goods,” I was working for local government and wrote about educational policy when Chris Whittle first introduced Edison- which was valued at $40 million then by the end of the project’s pathetic run was a 40 CENT stock.

Fast forward to 2022 and my child is at Maret and I read that this search firm has brought us a candidate who worked with Chris Whittle. And now he is the new Head? He was not sold a bad bill of goods (which is what you really mean) he did not do his homework or he was hoodwinked by a fraudster- either way it illustrates poor judgement.

So many failures with this search process. Mind boggling.

Then leave. There are plenty of families who would love to take your place.

[Anonymous]

So many failures with this search process. Mind boggling.

Then leave. There are plenty of families who would love to take your place.

NP. The idiots who put him in place should leave obviously. Or are you someone who applied and didn't get in? BC if you're applying to the Maret that Marjo built, you're not going to get it in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
So many failures with this search process. Mind boggling.

Then leave. There are plenty of families who would love to take your place.

NP. The idiots who put him in place should leave obviously. Or are you someone who applied and didn't get in? BC if you're applying to the Maret that Marjo built, you're not going to get it in the future.

That makes no sense. Why would you say that? Those people should leave, and then what? You’re still stuck with Lord Voldermort who is going to tear town The House that Ruth Built. Ya’ll have really lost it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So many failures with this search process. Mind boggling.

Then leave. There are plenty of families who would love to take your place.

NP. The idiots who put him in place should leave obviously. Or are you someone who applied and didn't get in? BC if you're applying to the Maret that Marjo built, you're not going to get it in the future.

That makes no sense. Why would you say that? Those people should leave, and then what? You’re still stuck with Lord Voldermort who is going to tear town The House that Ruth Built. Ya’ll have really lost it.


.....what does this even mean? LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maret board told who to vote for. The HOS and Board chair had already decided.

OP here- while I am mainly interested in hearing about how schools have transitioned to a new Head and how the process went, I have to chime in that this sounds crazy. I somehow highly doubt Marjo Talbott would have voted for the candidate who ultimately got the job- in fact, it almost seems like the board chose him because he is nothing like her. As for the board chair, certainly a nice person but power hungry? Another bizmare allegation.

Maret used to be a fringe school, sort of artsy- at least when Strutevant was in charge- loads of debt, some really bad teachers. Marjo Talbott might not be the friendliest, but she really put Maret on the map and brought it to where it is. While I think she should have retired a while ago, I respect the work she did for the school.

Maret was founded by three women- I personally am sad the position did not go to a female, since few of the co-ed schools in this area are headed by women. Just so very disappointed in the whole process and certainly with the ultimate selection.

Why so very disappointed with the ultimate selection, aside from your being against his selection because of his gender?

During his presentation to families, he talked about how much Maret and Whittle are alike. Not only are Maret and Whittle completely different, the vast majority Maret families do not want the school to become more like Whittle in any way. While he may or may not be responsible for the mishandling of Whittle finances, he went to that school knowing (or at least he should have known since it was public knowledge) that Chris Whittle is a fraud. That shows awful judgment. This HOS choice has caused our family to reassess whether Maret is the right school for our children. I'm sure we aren't alone.

Maret parent here. I was at the session and you are inaccurately reporting what he said. He spoke knowledgeably about Maret. They had applied to Maret for one of his kids for goodness sake. He talked about how he admired Maret’s willingness to innovate and how engaged the faculty was. He answered a question about how he had handled crises in the past. I thought his answer showed that he had good instincts for the emotional side of handling a crisis and not just the nuts and bolts.

I am willing to give him a chance. I met some parents who thought he was great. One parent said “I think he’s great. He’s the whole package.” Obviously you disagree. I know other parents who weren’t thrilled with any of the candidates but said of the three he was their first choice followed by candidate 3. If you really think that his hiring means Maret is no longer a fit for your family, I know several families who will happily take your place. We had several friends apply to Maret this past year for Lower, Middle, and Upper School who were disappointed when their kids weren’t accepted.

I'm glad to see that someone is willing to give him a chance! He's been the interim HOS at my son's school for the past year and has been wonderful. He stabilized the school community during a difficult time (issues beyond covid) and when we needed it most (our previous HOS was no longer effective). Yes, we all knew he was only coming in for one year and so we didn't have terribly high expectations but he exceeded them and more. For someone who was only an interim he really engaged with the school community. I think he has served our school community well and that will hopefully make for a better transition for the new HOS. And yes, like at Maret many of the families at our school weren't thrilled with the selection of the new HOS, but the more the community has talked with each other, heard from teachers and staff, and engaged with the new HOS, people are getting excited. I'm just trying to keep in mind that anyone wanting to go into education right now is damn near a miracle.

[Anonymous]

Over/under on time til thread deletion?