Head of School searches: How did it go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

The headmaster did not lead whatsoever and have heard him use the excuse that he was new. He often said he couldn’t and didn’t want to “overstep” with regards to concerns, changes, or decisions. I think PP misinterpreted what another poster meant about emails not going through. The emails go through but teachers very, very frequently do not respond back. My son has even experienced one teacher tell him to “never email him again,” when he returned back to school from an illness. He had emailed said teacher to ask if they could meet to catch him up since he was out and teacher did not respond to email. I’ve come to expect not to get a response. Assignments and tests are not returned, this is absolutely true. It’s true that it was complained about several times by parents and should not have to have been and if you believe that was remedied, you would be mistaken. We have tests and quizzes that haven’t been seen in months and hear excuses such as teacher is holding them because some kids haven’t taken test yet or they’re still being graded. Have tests out now that we’ve never seen and never will and finals are next week. Have even had a class where tests were not allowed to come home because this class used same tests on the following year students and didn’t want it available to them.
Hopefully, the interim will be better, it cannot possibly be worse.

[Anonymous]

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

Riiiiggght because you're here to anonymously spread good cheer about people no one knows, right? lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

The headmaster did not lead whatsoever and have heard him use the excuse that he was new. He often said he couldn’t and didn’t want to “overstep” with regards to concerns, changes, or decisions. I think PP misinterpreted what another poster meant about emails not going through. The emails go through but teachers very, very frequently do not respond back. My son has even experienced one teacher tell him to “never email him again,” when he returned back to school from an illness. He had emailed said teacher to ask if they could meet to catch him up since he was out and teacher did not respond to email. I’ve come to expect not to get a response. Assignments and tests are not returned, this is absolutely true. It’s true that it was complained about several times by parents and should not have to have been and if you believe that was remedied, you would be mistaken. We have tests and quizzes that haven’t been seen in months and hear excuses such as teacher is holding them because some kids haven’t taken test yet or they’re still being graded. Have tests out now that we’ve never seen and never will and finals are next week. Have even had a class where tests were not allowed to come home because this class used same tests on the following year students and didn’t want it available to them.
Hopefully, the interim will be better, it cannot possibly be worse.

Leadership doesn’t require noise and braggadocio. The best leadership is by example. We thought the departing headmaster set an excellent example of the school hallmarks.

If you’re so upset about email non-response and tests/assignments not returned, why haven’t you gone and looked the teacher(s) in the eye and demanded a response? If a teacher told my kid “never email me again,” I’d have been at his/her office door that day or the next.

[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.

I thought the new HOS for Maret seemed very approachable. Honestly, I think I find him more approachable than Marjo and I think she has done an amazing job with Maret but she’s not as approachable as other heads of school. That said, I’ve been at a school where the head was approachable and friendly but ineffective. We know families at Baltimore Friends who think he’s great. I’m going to give him a chance and I hope others do as well.

[Anonymous]

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

OMG. That is shocking.

[Anonymous]

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

I hate crooked Boards!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I thought the new HOS for Maret seemed very approachable. Honestly, I think I find him more approachable than Marjo and I think she has done an amazing job with Maret but she’s not as approachable as other heads of school. That said, I’ve been at a school where the head was approachable and friendly but ineffective. We know families at Baltimore Friends who think he’s great. I’m going to give him a chance and I hope others do as well.

The problem with the current HOS is that she peaked a decade ago and has coasted ever since. It’s not 2010 anymore but it is inside that campus. New guy has a lot of work to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Langley's new head of school has been fantastic. And the new head of the middle school has been a great hire as well. We could not be happier.

Not a fan of the sweeping changes she’s made. I recall when Elinor Scully started at Langley, she spent a full year getting to know the community and its traditions before any major changes. This new head has shaken things up from day one with the faux notion that full classrooms entitles her to do whatever she wants. In just one year, Langley is not the same school. Many longtime unhappy families.

Longtime Langley parent here—what sweeping changes have been made that weren’t Covid related? School feels very similar to us under both heads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

The headmaster did not lead whatsoever and have heard him use the excuse that he was new. He often said he couldn’t and didn’t want to “overstep” with regards to concerns, changes, or decisions. I think PP misinterpreted what another poster meant about emails not going through. The emails go through but teachers very, very frequently do not respond back. My son has even experienced one teacher tell him to “never email him again,” when he returned back to school from an illness. He had emailed said teacher to ask if they could meet to catch him up since he was out and teacher did not respond to email. I’ve come to expect not to get a response. Assignments and tests are not returned, this is absolutely true. It’s true that it was complained about several times by parents and should not have to have been and if you believe that was remedied, you would be mistaken. We have tests and quizzes that haven’t been seen in months and hear excuses such as teacher is holding them because some kids haven’t taken test yet or they’re still being graded. Have tests out now that we’ve never seen and never will and finals are next week. Have even had a class where tests were not allowed to come home because this class used same tests on the following year students and didn’t want it available to them.
Hopefully, the interim will be better, it cannot possibly be worse.

Leadership doesn’t require noise and braggadocio. The best leadership is by example. We thought the departing headmaster set an excellent example of the school hallmarks.

If you’re so upset about email non-response and tests/assignments not returned, why haven’t you gone and looked the teacher(s) in the eye and demanded a response? If a teacher told my kid “never email me again,” I’d have been at his/her office door that day or the next.

We did and he said got fidgety and said that he couldn’t recall.

Not bringing noise and braggadocio do not correlate to being a leader. Ridiculous if you to suggest. There is no leadership to set an example other than taking up space and greeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I hate crooked Boards!

Still shocked over the announcement. Wonder if they don't care about the reputation of the school.

[Anonymous]

Can't imagine he'll stay long given how old he is. Although, rumor has it, he was earning north of $1mm at Whittle, so maybe he will stay longer because he needs the ca$h?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't imagine he'll stay long given how old he is. Although, rumor has it, he was earning north of $1mm at Whittle, so maybe he will stay longer because he needs the ca$h?

Conventional wisdom in the private school world is that someone who follows a transformational head will not last very long in the position. Maret's board would know/would have been told this by the consultants. Many candidates may not have even been interested in filling her shoes. Entirely possible that the board is anticipating and hired for a short stint from the new guy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't imagine he'll stay long given how old he is. Although, rumor has it, he was earning north of $1mm at Whittle, so maybe he will stay longer because he needs the ca$h?

Conventional wisdom in the private school world is that someone who follows a transformational head will not last very long in the position. Maret's board would know/would have been told this by the consultants. Many candidates may not have even been interested in filling her shoes. Entirely possible that the board is anticipating and hired for a short stint from the new guy.

Fascinating. But also makes me shudder at the though of doing this process again as a parent with younger MS child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't imagine he'll stay long given how old he is. Although, rumor has it, he was earning north of $1mm at Whittle, so maybe he will stay longer because he needs the ca$h?

Conventional wisdom in the private school world is that someone who follows a transformational head will not last very long in the position. Maret's board would know/would have been told this by the consultants. Many candidates may not have even been interested in filling her shoes. Entirely possible that the board is anticipating and hired for a short stint from the new guy.

Fascinating. But also makes me shudder at the though of doing this process again as a parent with younger MS child

The guy’s not much (any?) younger than the retiring person he’s replacing. He’s clearly a short-term solution.

[Anonymous]

The conjecture and toxic misinformation spewed in this forum is really pathetic. Give the guy a chance.