Head of School Search
Position Summary
The next Head of School at Dwight-Englewood School will join an inclusive, compassionate community focused on the development of the whole child and offering a transformative educational experience that reflects and recognizes each student’s individual strengths, passions, and identity. An authentic, intellectually curious educator who finds great joy in the daily life of the school, the next Head will lead this highly regarded, academically rigorous, diverse preschool-12 school where the shared core values of respect, honesty, judgement, commitment, courage, and community continue to be foundational to all at the school.
The faculty, staff, and administration at Dwight-Englewood inspire young people to cultivate their academic identity, explore co-curricular interests, find their voice, pursue passions, and develop as leaders in a supportive community. With the commitment to ensuring that the school prepares courageous, curious, and compassionate students for an increasingly complex world, the next Head of School will invite the faculty, staff, and administration to look critically at the program, examine the curriculum, explore pedagogy, leverage technologies, and identify opportunities for innovation. They will focus on building and sustaining a culture that is supported by strong systems, accountability, and recognition of excellence. A caring educator, inspiring communicator, and visible leader, Dwight-Englewood’s next Head will work relentlessly to cultivate an environment where all members of the community feel a sense of belonging.
The Head of School is appointed by the Board of Trustees and is responsible for all aspects of the school, including academic programming, operational and financial health, external relations, and fundraising. In partnership with the Board, the Head of School is responsible for setting the school’s strategic priorities and achieving the school’s mission. An exceptional listener who strives to build trust among all stakeholders and brings clarity in decision-making and communication, the Head of School will champion the continued excellence of the school in an environment where all stakeholders can thrive and grow.
Search Committee Members List:
Ami Vaidya, Co-Chair, Trustee, ’91, P’24, ’26
David Orlofsky, Co-Chair, Trustee, P’23, ’26
Miriam Baker, Trustee, P’29, ’31
Kavita Bafana, ’96, P’25
David Berliner ’80
Lisa Carnoy, Trustee, ’85, P’22, ’27 ’27
Patrick Chu, Trustee, P’25, ’27, ’30
Fred Daly, US Faculty, P’20
Madison Farrar, LS Faculty
Saba Nwankpah, Trustee, P ’30, ’34, ’37
Pooja Patel, MS Faculty, P ’36
Candace Rabinowitz, Trustee, P’25, ’27, ’31
Nanar Yoseloff, Trustee, P ’27
Learn more about D-E
Strategic Plan
D-E Today
Values & Vision
Diversity
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the Head of School Search take? When do you expect to hire the next Head of School?
A typical Head of School search takes anywhere from 4-6 months. Our goal is to announce the next permanent Head of School selection by early 2025.
What is the role of the Search Committee?
The Search Committee was carefully selected by the Board of Trustees as representatives of the Dwight-Englewood in this important process. The committee consists of a mix of D-E parents, parents of alumni, faculty, and alumni.
The Search Committee, with the assistance of the Spencer Stuart team, is tasked with leading the search process from beginning to end. The Search Committee will gather input from the greater D-E community to identify the key priorities for the next Head of School and will use this input to approve the Position and Candidate Statement for the role. The Search Committee will use the experiences, qualifications, and priorities outlined in the Position and Candidate Statement to evaluate candidates on their fit to D-E’s needs. The Search Committee will develop and lead an in-depth and multi-part interview process with a slate of candidates and finalists. Finally, the Search Committee will present one candidate to be approved and confirmed by D-E’s Board of Trustees. The Search Committee Co-Chairs will be in frequent communication with the D-E community throughout the process to keep everyone informed and engaged, while maintaining the confidentiality of the process.
How will student, parent/guardian/family, staff, faculty, and alumni input be considered throughout this process?
The Search Committee is committed to incorporating all perspectives from the Dwight-Englewood community when making this important recommendation to the Board. There are several avenues through which members of the D-E community can share their perspective and advice. First, the team at Spencer Stuart spent several days on campus in late May gathering insight from many different groups within the D-E community. Second, in May all community members were sent an invitation to participate in an anonymous community-wide e-survey. Finally, community members are encouraged to email the confidential search inbox (DEHOS@spencerstuart.com) at any point throughout the search process. This inbox can be used to submit advice to the search committee as well as to nominate individuals who you think would be a good fit to serve as D-E’s next Head of School.
What exactly is the Search Committee looking for in the next Head of School?
The Search Committee will use the community’s input to create and distribute a Head of School Position and Candidate Statement that details the ideal experiences and capabilities as well as the key priorities for the next Head of School. Once this document has been finalized and approved, the Search Committee will share this document with the broader Dwight-Englewood community. This will be a public-facing document used for both recruitment and candidate evaluation, so feel free to share the document with others in your network.
To whom should I send the name of a great candidate?
The Search Committee welcomes your comments and nominations. Please feel free to contact the Spencer Stuart team at DEHOS@spencerstuart.com.