Head of School searches: How did it go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Anselms HOS only there two years and no going. He didn’t seem to have any control of the school at all, but don’t think it’s his fault.

This is a monumental understatement but I do think he did not want to take control if he was let to. No leadership at the school the last two years and has been horrible to say the least.

St Anselms has a totally clueless BOD without any current parent input. Several teachers sit on the alumni group and direct the BOD from there. Communications is the worst I’ve ever seen with a school—emails never get though to anyone. Because communication with parents is not a priority. School can’t even figure out emergency messaging—too hard for staff. PA is terrible too. All boring meetings, no events.

Don’t dare try to have a conversation about concerns. You will be gaslighted and your child will pay the price. Anselms is control, control, control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New head at Maret is the former head of Whittle who had mixed reviews

If that is the same person who was formerly at Beauvoir in a long time Admin role, I think you might be pleasantly surprised because she was Great at BVR and only left because there was no room at the Top given Cindi being relatively young and a perfect fit.

If this is the right person I am thinking of, give her a chance. She is also very well known to Maret Board from literally decades at BVR . She will be great. I wouldn't associate her AT ALL with Whittle. Some very good people made a mistake by going there because he was paying $$$$$.

[Anonymous]

New HOS at Maret is a man. Not person PP mentioned. Dennis. I can’t remember last name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:About 4 years or so ago at an International School, this is what played out:

The Board Head was replaced and this foretold everything that was to come. The new Board Head was also in a position to invite the his hand- picked choice for new HOS to a fellowship she needed at Klingentsein Center @ Columbia because of a Board position there. This was done 2 or so before the " search firm"- also chosen by the Board magically chose this person after an interview process in which one other candidate also interviewed.

The same process was repeated for filling a Principal position. Meaning other candidates were " interviewed" , but HOS later made the Freudian slip, " the year that we were waiting for "... insert name of new Principal... to arrive

So, don't know if that is standard at every NAIS school, but seems at least at a few schools the process trotted out for Faculty and parents is for show and these decisions are made by whoever controls the Board

This is very interesting. If it is the same at Maret then it illustrates how dumb the board is. Then again, the head of development picked the board with the HoS's approval. Sort of wish we could get rid of *all* of them and just start fresh!

[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.

There are literally zero internal candidates that would have been anything besides an outright train wreck as HOS.

Lot's of good inside Info here.

Was the search firm Carly and Sandoe or another ?

What I have seen at a lower rung Private is that a search firm was nominally used only and the weak candidates they brought for interview were for show and maybe to meet the legal requirements - if there are any- for the hiring process.

Another factor is that when you have a certain type of manager who rules with an Iron fist - and is allowed to - for a long time any talented Admin with a back bone will generally not stick around . In the long run a school ends up with only synchophantic division heads incapable of leading or being promoted from within.

Because the true leaders left

The trick is to hire a HOS that isn't so insecure and will grow an Admin team for the long term benefit of a stronger school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:About 4 years or so ago at an International School, this is what played out:

The Board Head was replaced and this foretold everything that was to come. The new Board Head was also in a position to invite the his hand- picked choice for new HOS to a fellowship she needed at Klingentsein Center @ Columbia because of a Board position there. This was done 2 or so before the " search firm"- also chosen by the Board magically chose this person after an interview process in which one other candidate also interviewed.

The same process was repeated for filling a Principal position. Meaning other candidates were " interviewed" , but HOS later made the Freudian slip, " the year that we were waiting for "... insert name of new Principal... to arrive

So, don't know if that is standard at every NAIS school, but seems at least at a few schools the process trotted out for Faculty and parents is for show and these decisions are made by whoever controls the Board

This is very interesting. If it is the same at Maret then it illustrates how dumb the board is. Then again, the head of development picked the board with the HoS's approval. Sort of wish we could get rid of *all* of them and just start fresh!

I wouldn't characterize the Maret Board as " dumb". Certainly, the Board Chair has decades of experience in seeing how powerful corporations and even the Cabinets of World Powers are run, how battles for control are waged and lost and what makes a good vs dysfunctional leadership.

I wouldn't mistaken being soft spoken or having a search process that wasn't really transparent as indicating the Board is " dumb"

It is more likely that the Development powers that be and the power on the Board made did its process and made its decision and that the weak process you are complaining about was just the " show process"

Keep in mind, when the Board is run by people who have had their kids at the school and chose the school for their kids when they could have gone anywhere those types of powers that be on a Board likely genuinely have a deep care and investment in the school and want to make a choice that will sustain it.

That might not be true for every DC Private school Board or a Board Chair that is just passing through town, but that is def NOT the case with Maret

[Anonymous]

I don't have any affiliation with Maret aside from many friends who sent their kids there, but I will say this: I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the value of the Development leadership at Maret because it is that very development money that moved Maret from being the " reject school" it was known for in the 1970's and 80's even to the school of choice for many a deep pocketed European type and the Washington Intelligentsia that cluster with them.

Maret is now a school that families favor above GDS and some above Cathedral Schools or Sidwell thanks to those so called Development families

[Anonymous]

I don't understand people who think it is OK to anonymously trash recognizable people in public like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand people who think it is OK to anonymously trash recognizable people in public like this.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting, I wonder if Marjo (who almost certainly DID have a BIG say in who would get her job) selected him because she knew he wouldn't be beloved the way she has been.

I’m not saying this to be rude, but Marjo is currently not *that* beloved, especially by students. She’s done great work for the school, but from what I know, the students find her somewhat detached.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not sure you’re one to be commenting on the sanity of others. Step off the ledge. It’s going to be ok! Your prestige will survive this horrible stain! Your country club friends will soon forget and start inviting you back for pickle ball and mimosas.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Anselms HOS only there two years and no going. He didn’t seem to have any control of the school at all, but don’t think it’s his fault.

This is a monumental understatement but I do think he did not want to take control if he was let to. No leadership at the school the last two years and has been horrible to say the least.

St Anselms has a totally clueless BOD without any current parent input. Several teachers sit on the alumni group and direct the BOD from there. Communications is the worst I’ve ever seen with a school—emails never get though to anyone. Because communication with parents is not a priority. School can’t even figure out emergency messaging—too hard for staff. PA is terrible too. All boring meetings, no events.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting, I wonder if Marjo (who almost certainly DID have a BIG say in who would get her job) selected him because she knew he wouldn't be beloved the way she has been.

I’m not saying this to be rude, but Marjo is currently not *that* beloved, especially by students. She’s done great work for the school, but from what I know, the students find her somewhat detached.

Applies to faculty/staff as well. The less time you’ve worked there the more likely you are to see all the cracks in the facade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting, I wonder if Marjo (who almost certainly DID have a BIG say in who would get her job) selected him because she knew he wouldn't be beloved the way she has been.

I’m not saying this to be rude, but Marjo is currently not *that* beloved, especially by students. She’s done great work for the school, but from what I know, the students find her somewhat detached.

And to piggyback on your point, I’m not sure that being beloved is the greatest measure of success for a head of school. Which also for me raises this question: If she was a man would anybody care about her being beloved? Is this an expectation of women in leadership?

[Anonymous]

We thought the departing headmaster at St. Anselm’s was great. He really cares about the boys and was invariably positive even in tough circumstances. We thought he handled covid well, although parents insisting that “covid is over because WE SAY it’s over” got more than their fair share of attention and influence. He had weekly phone chats where anyone could broach any topic, and he invited follow up. He had a light touch, but responded to the concerns we broached.

The complaints seem to be coming from the same people who hire a school to educate their sons and then complain that they don’t get to be in charge. E-mails not getting through? Please. We had that problem one time the first year. We talked to the tech guy and it was fixed. Teacher not returning assignments. We ran into that and after parents raised the issue we saw improvement.

We’re personally sorry to see the headmaster leave, but the designated “interim” replacement is a very solid man who has done a great deal for school and students for many years and will undoubtedly build on that foundation.