SEARCH UPDATES
Head of School Announcement
published October 4, 2018
On behalf of The College School’s Board of Trustees, it is with great excitement that we announce the appointment of Carl Pelofsky, current Interim Head of School, as The College School’s new Head of School.
This appointment is the culmination of an extensive and thorough search, reviewing candidates from schools throughout the United States in partnership with our consultant, Educators’ Collaborative. With support from a very strong recommendation from the Head of School Search Committee, the Board decided unanimously to appoint Carl for this position.
Those of you who had the pleasure of meeting Carl, either as The College School’s Interim Head of School or through the permanent HOS search process, know that he is a dynamic, engaging leader with strong communications skills. His personal and professional experiences demonstrate his exceptional commitment to the mission and vision of The College School. The Board is confident and enthusiastic about his ability to honor our past and also to move us forward as a national leader in experiential education.
Carl brings more than 15 years of independent school leadership to this role, including his past six years as Head of School at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. From creating student-centered initiatives to supporting faculty in professional development efforts, Carl has a deep understanding of both the classroom environment and the administrative aspects of leading a successful school.
Carl earned his BA in Anthropology from Harvard University, MA from the University of Missouri-KC, and his Ed. Specialist degree from the University of Missouri. Throughout his career, Carl has helped lead independent and public schools, small and large; his experience has been both broad and deep.
At his most recent position as Head of School at Greenhills School, some of the highlights from Carl’s work include: creating The Center for Mindful Wellbeing, an addition to the school that integrates mindfulness, meditation, and spiritual health into the program; and increasing the school’s diversity staff and expanding its social justice programming. The school also saw profound growth in annual giving, doubling parent participation and increasing alumni giving by twenty fold. He helped procure capital gifts that led to significant campus renovations. Prior to Greenhills School, Carl served as Principal at Lincoln Prep School and Assistant Dean and Academic Head at Pembroke School, both in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to his official roles, Carl has also served as Treasurer and Board Member of the Association of Independent Michigan Schools and as a Board Member at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance.
Carl is a native Missourian, having grown up in the Kansas City area. He has twin sons, Justin and Ben, who are attending college at Oberlin College and Kansas University, respectively. He is joined in St. Louis by his partner, Chelsea Moryc.
We are grateful for Carl’s leadership during his time as Interim Head of School and for supporting the school during a time of transition. He is excited to continue his partnership with our school, and shared the following:
“In my nearly four months of work as interim head, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the culture and mission of The College School. The dedication of the faculty and staff, the commitment I see in the families, the joy students have in their exploration and experience, and the love the community has for the school amazes me. It’s a wonderful place, and I realized during these past few months that I couldn’t imagine a better school for me. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to move into the long-term head position.”
Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to support Carl’s transition and will be creating opportunities for him to connect with our larger school community. With Carl’s deep respect of our school’s mission and extensive experience, we know he will lead us confidently into our future.
Respectfully,
Anthony Hasek
President, Board of Trustees
Jerry Burka
Chair, Search Committee
IMPORTANT DATES
UPCOMING:
PAST:
Finalist Interview at TCS
September 27 & 28
Finalist Interview at TCS
September 20 & 21
Finalist Interview at TCS
September 6 & 7
Open Session on Leadership Profile Development (OPEN TO COMMUNITY)
Tuesday, May 22 from 5:30-6:15 PM in the Kent Family Theater
Open Session on Leadership Profile Development (OPEN TO COMMUNITY)
Wednesday, May 23 from 8:00-8:45 AM in the Dining Room
PAST NEWS
HOS Search Update: Interim HOS Carl Pelofsky Named Third Finalist (09/25/2018)
Our sincerest thanks to all of you who took time last Thursday and Friday to meet with, and ask questions of, Dr. Gray Smith, our second finalist candidate.
We have now completed our meetings and campus visits with the two finalist candidates procured through the permanent HOS search process that commenced this past May.
Our Interim Head of School, Carl Pelofsky, has submitted for consideration, and the Search Committee has accepted, his application for the permanent HOS position.
Candidate Summary
You can view Carl’s full candidate summary here.
Community Events
Everyone in the TCS family is invited to these events, including faculty, staff, current parents/guardians, and friends.
Community Coffee / Thursday, September 27 / 7:30 to 9:30 AM / Theater
Community Open House / Thursday, September 27 / 5:00 to 6:00 PM / Commons
Feedback Survey
As with the other finalists, you are invited to share your impressions and observations of Carl via a short survey. We ask that you complete the survey within 24 hours of interacting with Carl. Your responses, verbatim, will be forwarded to the members of the Head of School Search Committee for consideration. Follow this link to utilize the survey.
Once we complete Carl’s interview schedule, the Search Committee will meet and make its recommendation to the Board for its consideration. We expect this process to be completed in early October.
Thank you again for your time and commitment to the Permanent HOS search process. If you have any questions about the process, please send your message to board@thecollegeschool.org.
HOS Search: Second Finalist Schedule and Summary – Gray Smith (9/17/2018)
We are excited to welcome Dr. Gray Smith, finalist for Head of School, to The College School for his two-day visit this Thursday and Friday, September 20 and 21.
Candidate Summary
Gray recently completed a four-year term as Head of School at the Harford Day School, a PK3 to Eighth Grade independent school located in Bel Air, Maryland. You can view his full candidate summary here.
Visit Schedule
Parents and guardians are encouraged to visit Gray at the following times:
Thursday, September 20 / Morning Coffee / 8:15 – 9:15 AM / TCS Dining Room
Friday, September 21 / Informal Reception / 3:30 – 5:00 PM / The Commons
Feedback Survey
After meeting with Gray, please share your impressions and observations via a short survey. We ask that you complete the survey within 24 hours of meeting Gray. Your responses, verbatim, will be forwarded to the members of the Head of School Search Committee for consideration. Follow this link to utilize the survey.
If you have any questions, please send them to board@thecollegeschool.org. Thank you for welcoming Gray to our school and we look forward to receiving your feedback!
Head of School Search Update (9/11/18)
The HOS Search Committee has been notified by our search consultants that our second finalist candidate was offered and has accepted a HOS position with an independent school. While we understand and have been mindful of the very competitive nature of these national HOS searches, it is disappointing nonetheless that we will not have the opportunity to share this candidate with our community.
In order to be certain that every effort has been made to bring only the very best candidates to TCS, the Search Committee spent additional time with the search consultants reviewing dossiers and discussing the possibility of inviting a third candidate for a visit. After a thorough review process, we have decided to proceed with the two finalist candidates currently on our list.
The last finalist candidate is now scheduled to visit TCS on Thursday, September 20 and Friday, September 21. We are working closely with the administration on the itinerary and schedule for this visit. The information about this finalist, as well as times and meeting places for each parent and open session, will be announced early next week.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the school’s administration, faculty, and staff for working so closely with us to ensure that we are able to continue our search for the very best candidate to lead TCS.
Thank you again for your time and commitment to the Permanent HOS search process. If you have any questions about the process, please send your message to board@thecollegeschool.org.
Brenda Crawley, Head of School Candidate Profile and Schedule (9/4/18)
We are excited to welcome Brenda C. Crawley, finalist for Head of School, to The College School for her two-day visit this Thursday and Friday, September 6 and 7.
Candidate Summary
Brenda is currently serving as the Head of Lower School at the Sandy Spring Friends School, a PK3-12 grade school in Sandy Spring, Maryland. You can view her full candidate summary here.
Visit Schedule
Parents, guardians, alumni and other interested constituents are encouraged to visit with Brenda at the following times:
Thursday, September 6 / Morning Coffee / 8:15-9:00 AM / TCS Conference & Dining Room
Thursday, September 6 / Informal Reception / 5:45-6:45 PM / Kevin Parentin’s Room (Middle School)
Feedback Survey
After meeting with Brenda, please share your impressions and observations via a short survey. We ask that you complete the survey within 24 hours of meeting Brenda. Your responses, verbatim, will be forwarded to the Head of School Search Committee for consideration. Follow this link to utilize the survey.
If you have any questions about the process, please send your message to board@thecollegeschool.org.
Three Head of School Finalists Selected for Full Community Visits (8/31/18)
On behalf of the Head of School Search Committee, we are excited to announce the completion of the semi-finalist round of candidate interviews and have selected three finalists for consideration as our next Head of School.
Who are they?
The three finalists were chosen from a nationwide search that produced candidates from every corner of our nation, including one candidate from as far away as Hawaii. Each of the finalists is a strong, compassionate leader, with a deep dedication to experiential education, and a passion for the learning process. Collectively, they have over 30 years of teaching and almost 50 years of administrative experience in independent schools. They share our commitment to mission-based, independent school education, and are excited to show TCS who they are, and what they can bring to our school family. Out of continued respect and discretion to the finalists, we will be announcing each of their names very shortly and before their arrival to campus. We believe that any one of the candidates would be a great addition to TCS.
What is the next step?
Each finalist has been invited to TCS for a two-day visit. We are currently working to create a daily meeting schedule that will provide specific opportunities for current families, faculty/staff, and our Advisory and Search Committees to meet with, learn about, and ask questions of these finalists. Each person who attends one of these search events will be asked to provide their input and feedback to the Search Committee.
While the exact details are still being arranged, we wanted to share the dates for each of the visits, which you can find below.
Finalist #1 – September 6 & 7
Thursday, September 6 / Morning Coffee / 8:15-9:00 AM / TCS Dining Room
Thursday, September 6 / Parent Reception / 5:45-6:45 PM / Kevin Parentin’s Room (Middle School)
Finalist #2 – September 13 & 14
Thursday, September 13 / Morning Coffee / 8:15-9:00 AM / TCS Dining Room
Thursday, September 13 Parent Reception / 5:45-6:45 PM / Kevin Parentin’s Room (Middle School)
Finalist #3
Schedule to be finalized.
Thank you again for your time and commitment to the Permanent HOS search process. If you have any questions about the process, please send your message to board@thecollegeschool.org.
Advisory Committee Selected for Head of School Search (7/23/18)
Thank you to everyone who expressed an interest, or nominated someone, to serve on the Advisory Committee for the permanent Head of School search. We had a tremendously positive response, with much more volunteerism than spaces available. The Search Committee had lengthy conversations in selecting the make-up and composition of this group. We pursued this selection with a deep commitment to reflect the numerous constituent groups representing not only different roles within the school, but key stages, and diversity of gender, race, age and family makeup. We are pleased to announce that the following individuals will represent our school community as Advisory Committee members below.
Current Families:
Jill Arbet, Monica Bishop*, Cap Grossman*, Matthew Harris*, Sarah Jensen, Kyle Kranes-Rutz, Jenny Lenhard, Yarda Redden, Wendy Surinsky, Lashaunda Taylor
Faculty & Staff:
Mindy Bhuyan*, Kathryn Bruntrager, John Colbert**, Carol Fitzsimmons*, Brenda Knispel, Kevin Parentin, Mary Jo Wilmes*
Alumni:
Jennifer Foss, Class of 1991; Shelby Johnson, Class of 2010
* Also represents an alumni family.
** Also has a student currently enrolled.
As you can see, these individuals represent our faculty, staff, family, and alumni communities with decades of commitment to our school’s mission and values. With the formation of these two committees finalized, there is still important work to be done by our full school community. We will be asking for your feedback and insight at several important points throughout this interview process.
Interim Head of School Announcement & Informational Dossier for Candidates (6/15/2018)
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that after careful consideration, Carl Pelofsky has been appointed Interim Head of School for the 2018-2019 school year effective June 18, 2018. Carl brings more than 15 years of independent school leadership to this role, including his past six years as Head of School of Greenhills School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. From creating student-centered initiatives to supporting faculty in professional development efforts, Carl has a deep understanding of both the classroom environment and the administrative aspects of leading a successful school.
Perhaps most importantly, Carl embraces The College School’s vision of creating authentic educational experiences that prepare students for what is next. Carl shared his thoughts about joining The College School family, “After touring the school, meeting with members of the search committee, and watching recorded speeches delivered by articulate, brilliant eighth graders at their graduation, I was immediately impressed by The College School and its dedication to program, growth, and most of all, students and their families. TCS is clearly a school that “walks the walk” with its concern for the innovative, compassionate education of the whole child. I’m eager to become a part of the community and help TCS during this time of transition.”
Please stay tuned for opportunities to meet Carl before the first day of school in our next round of communication. We are incredibly fortunate to have someone of Carl’s caliber and experience as our Interim Head of School. This will allow us time to conduct a careful and thorough nationwide search for our permanent Head of School.
Additionally, our partners at Educators’ Collaborative are currently identifying candidates based on the needs, requirements, and characteristics that our school community shared during conversations with faculty and staff, open family sessions, and through the online survey link. With input for our school community and Search Committee, they have produced an informational dossier, “Information for Candidates” (IFC), that is currently being shared with qualified candidates. The document can be found here, or by clicking the green button on the right sidebar of this page.
Nominations Now Being Accepted for Advisory Committee (6/4/2018)
In conjunction with the Search Committee, the Advisory Committee plays a crucial role in reviewing and interviewing finalists. It will be comprised of approximately 20-25 members of our full school family, including representation from the following groups: faculty, administrative staff, current families, alumni, alumni families, and friends. The Search & Advisory Committees will work together to gather and share feedback and recommendations, as they interview each finalist candidate. They will also be tasked with gathering feedback of other individuals and groups who will have the opportunity to meet the finalist candidates (e.g. Open Interview Sessions for Current Families). Our goal is to have the Advisory Committee selected by Mid-July. If you are interested in serving on this committee, or if you would like to nominate a member of our community, please review the following expectations and email Jerry Burka at board@thecollegeschool.org.
Advisory Committee Expectations:
- Attend a mandatory training session in late July for approximately two to three hours;
- Dedicate approximate 16-20 hours between the end of July and September;
- Maintain strict confidentiality of candidate profiles and sensitive information;
- Support the transition process of the selected Head of School into their first year.
If you are not able to serve on the Advisory Committee, there will still be many opportunities for our school family to meet the finalists candidates, provide feedback, and share your opinion throughout the search process. We hope to share visit dates with you as soon as possible to ensure as many individuals can be part of the process who are able.
Share Your Input – Search Firm Online Survey (5/18/2018)
Doug Cummings & Evan Peterson (from Educators Collaborative) will be on campus next Tuesday and Wednesday, May 22 and 23, to gather input from our community as they help develop the desired “Leadership Profile” for our next Head of School. All members of our current families are invited to one of two Open Sessions on Tuesday, May 22, from 5:30–6:15 PM or Wednesday, May 23, from 8:00 – 8:45 AM in the TCS Theater. Please plan on attending one of these sessions to share your thoughts and feedback about TCS and the characteristics you would like to see in our next Head of School. Your input is not only invited but needed as we move through this search process. If you cannot attend in person, please use this Online Survey. Your comments here will be anonymous, but will be shared verbatim with the Search Committee and will be labeled as coming from current families.
Search Firm Selected (5/11/2018)
First of all, we want to let you know that we have chosen Educators Collaborative as the search firm to help us find both an Interim Head and our next Permanent Head of School. Educators Collaborative has decades of experience helping independent schools find the right leader and a network of partners spread across the country. We are excited about what they can offer TCS in the coming months. You can learn more about them at their website and more about Doug Cummings and Evan Peterson, who will be working directly with TCS.
Interim & Permanent Head of School Search Process (5/11/2018)
As we move into the coming months, the search process will have two parallel tracks: a very fast and narrower process to choose an Interim Head in the next 4-6 weeks and have her/him in place at TCS by July 1, 2018 and, at the same time, a broader process over the next 5-6 months to choose our next Permanent Head of School and have her/him in place at TCS by July 1, 2019. While Doug and Evan have already begun reaching out through their network, they will be coming to visit with all the constituents of TCS to better understand the school before helping us narrow the candidates for both positions.
Search Consultants on Campus (5/11/2018)
Doug & Evan will be on campus for their initial visit on May 22-23rd. There will be Open Sessions for current families on Tuesday, May 22nd from 6:00 – 7:00 pm and Wednesday, May 23rd from 8:00 – 8:45 am. Please plan on attending one of these sessions as your schedule allows. There will also be an opportunity to offer online feedback.
Ed Maggart Announcement on Departure (5/1/2018)
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
SEARCH COMMITTEE
The Search Committee has the formal role of recommending one Head of School finalist candidate, who is then voted on by the full Board of Trustees. Some find it helpful to think of the Search Committee as a sub-committee of the Board. The Search Committee is comprised of Trustees and the Board-level Faculty Representative:
Jerry Burka, Committee Chair
Andres Bonifacio
Mindi Brothers
Stephanie Dents
Janelle Finder
Shaun Hautly, TCS ’99
Alicia Konstantinovich, TCS ’97
Jeff Todisman
Kathleen Unwin
Heather Walka
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Advisory Committee plays a crucial role in reviewing and interviewing finalists. It’s members represent our full school family, including: faculty, administrative staff, current families, and alumni. The Search & Advisory Committees will work together to gather and share feedback and recommendations, as they interview each finalist candidate. They will also be tasked with gathering feedback of other individuals and groups who will have the opportunity to meet the finalist candidates. The individuals who make up the Advisory Committee are:
Current Families
Jill Arbet
Monica Bishop*
Cap Grossman*
Matthew Harris*
Sarah Jensen
Kyle Kranes-Rutz
Jenny Lenhard
Yarda Redden
Wendy Surinsky
Lashaunda Taylor
Faculty & Staff
Mindy Bhuyan*
Kathryn Bruntrager
John Colbert**
Carol Fitzsimmons*
Brenda Knispel
Kevin Parentin
Mary Jo Wilmes*
Alumni
Jennifer Foss, Class of 1991
Shelby Johnson, Class of 2010
* Also represents an alumni family.
** Also has a student currently enrolled.
TIMELINE
The search process will have two parallel tracks: a faster and narrower process to choose an Interim Head by July 1, 2018, at the same time, a broader process over the months ahead to choose our next Permanent Head of School. Here is a high-level outline of the overall process with our target dates for each stage:
Interim Head Search: May – Early June 2018
- Needs and goals for interim assessed.
- Pool of candidates developed and recruited.
- Candidates reviewed and finalists chosen for campus visits.
- Interim Head chosen.
- Interim Head begins July 1, 2018.
Permanent Head Search Phase I: May 2018
- This begins in parallel with the selection of the Interim Head.
- Permanent Head of School position announced and advertised.
- Consultants conduct on-campus visit, stakeholder interviews, and online survey.
- Leadership Profile in development.
Permanent Head Search Phase II: May – August 2018
- Pool of candidates developed and recruited.
Permanent Head Search Phase III: August – October 2018
- Eight candidates selected as semifinalists by the Search Committee.
- Semifinalists interviewed by Committees to narrow pool to four finalists.
- On-campus finalist visits and interviews conducted with stakeholders. (September)
- New Head of School selected and announced (October)
Permanent Head Begins: July 2019
- New Permanent Head of School assumes responsibilities.
- Transition support from search consultants continues for a year.
OUR SEARCH PARTNERS
The College School has partnered with Educators’ Collaborative as the search firm to help us find both an Interim Head and our next Permanent Head of School. Educators’ Collaborative has decades of experience helping independent schools find the right leader and a network of partners spread across the country. You can learn more about them on their website, and more about Doug Cummings and Evan Peterson who will be working directly with TCS.