Dear Members of the Thacher Montessori Community:

 

We write to update you on the search for Thacher's next Head of School.

 

We are delighted to announce that the following individuals will join us to serve on our search committee:

We believe that this committee reflects different constituencies within our community and that together they will serve as wise stewards of this important process. We appreciate this group's willingness to take on this important task.

 

We have engaged consultants Peter Philip and Beth Dietz to assist the committee in the search process. Peter and Beth, with their colleagues at Carney, Sandoe & Associates, are nationally recognized experts in sourcing Head of School candidates. They have already spent one day visiting at school and, during our time with them, they instilled a sense of confidence in the upcoming search process.

 

Peter and Beth will return to Thacher on Wednesday, September 13. During this second visit, they will meet with groups of parents as well as with members of the faculty and staff. They are eager to engage our community in the search process and will gather as much information as possible about our school. Peter and Beth are scheduled to meet with parents from 8:00-9:00 am in the gym. If this time does not work for you, please contact Bill McCarthy at bmccarthy@thacherschool.org to request an alternative time on this day.

 

Later this week, a survey will go live for our community; please make a point to complete that survey. More details about the survey will be forthcoming.

 

In the meantime, Peter and Beth have already begun outreach to potential candidates to be our next Head of School. That outreach will continue during the coming weeks and candidates will receive a comprehensive position description that will be developed after the September 13 visit. The position description will give potential candidates an insight into our vibrant school community and specifics of what the job will entail.

 

We anticipate that the search committee will begin meeting with candidates to be our next head in December. After that, we have tentatively planned finalist visits in January. Our goal is to announce Thacher's next Head of School in late January or early February.

 

As the process continues, we will continue to update the Thacher community. We are resolved to complete the important task of identifying the next Head of School in a way that is engaging of the community. Through the process, we are confident that we will find a new head who shares our Montessori vision and values and who has the capacity and experience to lead our wonderful school toward an ever stronger future.

 

Most sincerely,

 

Paul Hutchinson, Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees

Judith Farley McFatter, Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees