Dear members of the CVA community,

As the school year gets underway, our search for the next Head of School continues to move forward in earnest. In early August, the Search Committee convened for implicit bias and interview training in preparation for the next steps in our search process. Last week, we met and reviewed materials from a robust, national pool of impressive candidates. The Committee was extremely pleased with the number and quality of applicants, who bring a range of experience as current Heads, leaders in boarding schools, and backgrounds in winter sports environments. All applicants are asked to provide a dossier that includes a cover letter, a resume, a statement of educational leadership philosophy, and references. From the pool, we selected candidates for virtual interviews with the full committee, which are scheduled the week of September 25th. As you may recall, the search process remains confidential through this phase of interviews and vetting.

The compilation of desired skills and attributes outlined in the Information for Candidates document continues to guide the Committee’s work. Developed with your input through the community survey, conversations with Kate Webber Punderson ’89, senior staff, and trustees, this leadership profile provides a lens through which we evaluate a candidate’s alignment with our expectations. We take great pride in the fact that so many keenly qualified candidates have expressed an interest in leading CVA. It is a marvelous tribute to the strength of our school and the remarkable community. 

This is an exciting time at Carrabassett Valley Academy, and we are so grateful for your support in this process. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. We look forward to sharing more with you soon.

Warmly,

Kevin Burns P ’04 and Peter Smith ’08, Search Committee Co-Chairs

Head of School Search Committee 

Kevin Burns P ’04, Honorary Trustee and Search Committee Co-Chair

Peter C. Smith ’08, Treasurer, Board of Trustees and Search Committee Co-Chair

Sean Dundon, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees

Tim Flight ’95, Secretary, Board of Trustees

Paul Fritzson, Board of Trustees

Lindy MacKinnon Gruen ’92, Chair, Board of Trustees

Gilly Hitchcock P ’06, P ’10, Former Board of Trustees

Shelby MacLeod, P ’26 and Weekend Program Parent