Dear members of the CVA community,

On behalf of the Carrabassett Valley Academy Board of Trustees, I am thrilled to announce that the Board voted unanimously to appoint Alex Godomsky ’91, CVA’s current Director of Finance and Development, as CVA’s next Head of School. We are excited to announce the appointment of Alex, who will begin as Head of School on July 1, 2024.

A CVA parent and alumnus, having attended CVA as an alpine racer for half of his high school years, Alex is also a graduate of Bates College with a B.S. in Physics. He has significant connections to Maine, Carrabassett Valley, and Sugarloaf, having grown up in Farmington, and has been an athlete, coach, and avid fan of ski racing throughout his life. Alex brings extensive knowledge of competitive skiing and more than 25 years of boarding school experience to this headship. Prior to becoming CVA’s Director of Finance and Development in 2021, he held a number of roles at Hebron Academy including Assistant Head of School; Director of Student Life; Director of Information Technology; teacher of math, science, and digital media; and Athletic Trainer. A seasoned leader and educator, Alex has a personal and professional understanding of CVA’s high-level academic and athletic environment and an enduring and profound commitment to the CVA mission. (Please see the message from Alex below.)

The Search Committee was comprised of a dedicated team of trustees, former trustees, parents, parents of alumni, and alumni, which partnered with Tracy Bennett, a consultant from Educators Collaborative. Together, we embarked on a national search seeking the strongest candidates most aligned with the experience and qualities we were looking for in the next leader of CVA. The position attracted wide-ranging interest from talented applicants including current heads, leaders in boarding schools, and those with backgrounds in snowsports. Keenly focused on the leadership profile developed through a community-wide survey and conversations with faculty and staff, trustees, parents, parents of alumni, and alumni, the Committee reviewed dossiers, conducted reference checks, and selected and interviewed the top candidates. After completing a comprehensive process, it was clear that Alex’s skills and attributes were well-matched to those we were seeking, and that he is unequivocally the right choice to lead CVA into its next chapter. The Search Committee unanimously voted to nominate Alex to become CVA’s next Head of School. The Committee presented the decision to the Board, and the Board voted enthusiastically and unanimously in favor of Alex’s appointment. 

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to express our sincere gratitude to all members of the CVA community for your thoughtfulness in sharing your insights during the search process. I am particularly appreciative of my fellow members on the Search Committee for their commitment and dedication to this important endeavor, and most especially to Co-Chairs Kevin Burns and Pete Smith ’08 for their incredible leadership and guidance. 

The Board is confident in the Academy’s exceptional strength. Alex is well-positioned to build on the progress and the substantial accomplishments and successes of the CVA leaders before him. CVA and its community have benefited enormously from the 23 years of Kate Webber Punderson's exemplary tenure, most especially her final 13 as Head of School. The Board is tremendously grateful to Kate for her remarkable leadership and legacy. Please know that we will have opportunities during the year to share our gratitude with Kate.

Alex and his wife, Jennifer, have three children Joseph, Daniel ’22, and Ethan ’27, who all grew up ski racing and have been competitors at high levels in the sport. We look forward to supporting Alex and his family as he moves into this new role in July. The Board will partner with Kate and Alex on a transition plan which will include consistent collaboration and preparation in the months ahead. In the meantime, please join me in congratulating Alex on his appointment. The future is bright for CVA and the Board of Trustees is excited to partner with Alex in continuing to make CVA an even more exceptional community and school. 

Sincerely,

Lindy MacKinnon Gruen ’92

Chair, Board of Trustees

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

Dear members of the CVA community,

It is with gratitude and excitement that I accept the position of Head of School at Carrabassett Valley Academy. The close-knit, supportive environment that is created by shared academic, athletic, and community experiences at CVA, Sugarloaf, and within Carrabassett Valley, is what has kept and will keep me working in the boarding school environment for many years. It is an honor to continue my career at CVA, an academy whose mission aligns with my educational beliefs and whose community empowers student-athletes to pursue their dreams.

I want to thank the Search Committee and the Board of Trustees for their time, energy, and commitment to leading a thorough and thoughtful hiring process. It has been and will continue to be a privilege to work with Kate, the CVA staff, and the Board of Trustees during this extended period of transition to continue to plan and build on the exceptional progress the school has made under Kate’s leadership. Thank you for this incredible opportunity. 

With gratitude, 



Alex Godomsky