Friends' School
Head of School Search
Community Questionnaire

Question Title

1. Please choose your association with the school. Check all that apply.

Teacher

Former Staff

Administrative staff

Current parent/guardian

Parent of a former student

Alumna/us

Teacher Candidate or TPP graduate

Current trustee

Former trustee

Founder

Friend of the School (please specify)

Question Title

2. Which five (5) of the following phrases best describe what you currently value most about Friends’ School? (list alphabetized)

Art and movement specials – music, art, PE

Authentic assessment – portfolio and child-centered conferences

Challenging and engaging academics with specialist support in math and literacy

Close student-teacher relationships – “my child is really seen by his/her teacher”

Community service projects

Extracurricular activities (Gatherings, enrichment classes, after school music, field trips, overnight trips in upper grades, and summer camps)

Focus on 21st century skills - collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity

Rituals, traditions, celebrations (Stone Soup, naming ceremonies, the thank you song, Silver and Gold at the end of the year, etc.)

School/family communication & relationships

Sense of community for students, parents and families

Small class sizes and low student-teacher ratio

Social/emotional learning, leadership/character development

Support services (after school care, school psychologist, speech and language)

Teacher Preparation Program – creating the next generation of strong teachers

Teachers who have a growth mindset and ongoing professional development, using best practices and research-based choices

Other (please specify)

Question Title

3. Which five (5) of the following areas should be the top priorities for the next Head of School?

Allocating financial resources in alignment with the long-term health and success of the school

Articulating the vision of the school’s educational philosophy

Articulating what makes us special and marketing that to the larger community

Being accessible to all constituents

Communicating vision to move us forward and providing action to get us there

Continuing to assess staffing needs and implement effective management systems for faculty and staff

Enhancing admissions and enrollment

Increasing diversity of staff and student body

Inspiring the engagement of parents in the school culture and community

Managing the challenge of two campuses – building connections

Maintaining appropriate boundaries and understanding the relationship between constituents, i.e. parents/teachers, board/staff

Planning and inspiring the eventual move to a unified campus

Recruiting, retaining, and fairly compensating outstanding faculty and supporting their classroom work and professional development

Renovating/enhancing school facilities and infrastructure

Supporting donor relationships and fundraising

Other (please specify)

Question Title

4. Which five (5) professional experiences do you believe are MOST IMPORTANT for the next Head of School to have had?

Teaching

Educational administration (division head, principal, head of school, associate head of school, dean, etc.)

Fundraising

Budgeting & financial management

Marketing and promotion

Business management

Non-profit experience

Experience at a similar school (progressive, whole-child learning)

Diplomacy & negotiation - navigating various constituencies and resolving conflicts

Growing a school

Connecting a school with two campuses

Experience supporting/improving diversity

Board relations

Strategic planning & development

Collaboration, team-building

Public speaking

Managing/supervising a faculty/staff

External relations with the community at large

Other (please specify)

Question Title

5. Which five (5) characteristics or qualities would be MOST IMPORTANT for the ideal Head of School to possess?

Good listener, one on one and in groups

Excellent communicator in speech and writing

Decisive – makes decisions based on input and sells it

Professionalism, polish, gravitas, respectability

Adept in tough conversations and decisions; holds people accountable

Commitment to diversity

Dynamic, confident, visionary, innovative, forward thinking, motivational

Creative

Knowledgeable about education and best practice based on research

Thoughtful, insightful

Consensus builder/team player

Supportive of staff and their individual growth

Avoiding micro-management but still knows what’s going on in every department/classroom

Immersed in and inclusive of school and local community – inspires us, engages, connects us

Equitable – does not show favoritism

Ability to innovate while respecting history and wisdom of longevity of the school/staff

Mediation skills

Effective communication, interpersonal and intra-personal intelligence/skills

Energy, enthusiasm, passion

Sense of humor

Open-minded

Relatable, personable, charismatic; connects with students, families, staff

Friendly, warm, genuine, kind, compassionate, considerate, caring, patient, respectful, sensitive

Strategic, big-picture thinker

Strong personal integrity, honest, trustworthy, transparent, strong morals, ethics and values

Positive

Organized

Facilitative Leader: creates space and atmosphere for everyone to flourish

Embodies a growth mind-set

Believes in our philosophy and embodies what is unique about us

Researches best practice and sells it to families

Passionate, hard worker

Takes responsibility and risk

Other (please specify)

Friends' School
Head of School Search
Community Questionnaire

Question Title

1. Please choose your association with the school. Check all that apply.

Question Title

2. Which five (5) of the following phrases best describe what you currently value most about Friends’ School? (list alphabetized)

Question Title

3. Which five (5) of the following areas should be the top priorities for the next Head of School?

Question Title

4. Which five (5) professional experiences do you believe are MOST IMPORTANT for the next Head of School to have had?

Question Title

5. Which five (5) characteristics or qualities would be MOST IMPORTANT for the ideal Head of School to possess?

Question Title

6. What are the strengths of the school that it should build on?

Question Title

7. What are the main challenges that the school needs to address over the next 3-5 years?

Question Title

8. What are the main challenges that the school needs to address over the next 5-10 years?

Question Title

9. Are there any other issues you wish the Search Committee to consider when hiring the next Head of School?

Question Title

10. If you would like to recommend a candidate, please list her/his name and contact information below.