Saint Michael Episcopal School
Head of School Search
Community Questionnaire

Dear Saint Michael School Community:

The search committee would appreciate your input into the desired characteristics that you are looking for in the next Head of School. As we start the search process, we would appreciate it very much if you would take a few minutes and complete this link. Your answers are confidential and will be shared as a whole with the search committee. Carney Sandoe & Associates, our search firm, will be compiling the results for our use.

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* 1. Please choose your association with the school. Check the one area that best describes your major association with the school.

Faculty or Staff

Administrator

Current parent

Parent of a former student

Boa member

Church Member

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* 2. Which three (3) of the following phrases best describe what you currently value most about The School?

Academic readiness

Arts program

The School’s sense of community

Committed teaching staff

Close student-teacher relationships

Community service / service learning

Emphasis on critical thinking

History and traditions

Leadership development opportunities for students

A safe learning environment

Small class sizes and low student-teacher ratio

The teaching of moral and ethical values in a Christian setting

School/family communication & relationship

Opportunity to receive special services during school hours

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* 3. Which three (3) of the following areas should be priorities for improvement by the next Head of School?

Enhancing recruiting, retaining, and compensation of high-quality faculty and staff

Assessing staffing needs, implementing evaluation systems for faculty and staff

Upgrading teacher professional development opportunities

Balancing increased enrollment numbers with admissions standards that will allow for success

Strategic planning for the long-term future needs of the school

Providing educational leadership in programing and curriculum

Fundraising

Improving school-wide communication

Renovating / enhancing school facilities / infrastructure

Increasing diversity

Expanding extended hours programming

Teaching Christian values

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* 4. Which three (3) professional experiences do you believe are MOST IMPORTANT for the next Head of School to have had?

Teaching experience with young children

Leadership/management experience

Educational administration experience

Prior Head of School experience

Child/student development

Ability to assist parents with issues regarding their child

Fundraising success

Budgeting & financial management

For-profit experience

Curriculum development

Experience at a similar school

Navigating various constituencies

Diplomacy & negotiation

Conflict resolution

Experience supporting/improving diversity

Strong Board relations

Strategic planning & development

Collaboration, team-building

Effective public speaking

Effective written communication

Successful management of a faculty/staff

Hiring and firing when necessary

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* 5. Which three (3) characteristics or qualities would be MOST IMPORTANT for the ideal Head of School to possess?

Good listener

Excellent communicator

Strong leadership skills

Decisive

Professionalism, polish

Active in a Christian church

Gravitas, respectability

“Backbone” & ability to say “no”

Adds to diversity of community

Commitment to diversity

Holds advanced degree

Visionary

Innovative, forward-thinking

Creative

Knowledgeable about education

Thoughtful, insightful

Good public speaker

Consensus builder/team player

Community minded, involved, inclusive

Engaging, inspiring, motivational

Confident

Energy, enthusiasm, passion

Sense of humor

Open-minded

Approachable, accessible

Fair and understanding, empathetic

Friendly, warm, genuine

Kind, compassionate, considerate

Strong morals, ethics, and values

Strategic thinker

Personable, charismatic

Honest, trustworthy, transparent

Strong personal integrity

Business and financial acumen

Common sense

Saint Michael Episcopal School
Head of School Search
Community Questionnaire

Question Title

* 1. Please choose your association with the school. Check the one area that best describes your major association with the school.

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* 2. Which three (3) of the following phrases best describe what you currently value most about The School?

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* 3. Which three (3) of the following areas should be priorities for improvement by the next Head of School?

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* 4. Which three (3) professional experiences do you believe are MOST IMPORTANT for the next Head of School to have had?

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* 5. Which three (3) characteristics or qualities would be MOST IMPORTANT for the ideal Head of School to possess?

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* 6. What are the main challenges the school must address over the next 2-3 years?

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* 7. Are there any other issues or thoughts you wish for the Search Committee to consider when searching for the next Head of School?

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