Thacher Montessori School
Head of School Search Community Questionnaire

Question Title

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

Faculty or Staff

Administrator

Current parent

Parent of a former student

Alumna/us

Trustee

Friend of School/Other (please specify)

Question Title

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

Academic excellence

Opportunities for artistic and creative expression

The school’s sense of community

Committed teaching staff

Close student-teacher relationships

Emphasis on critical thinking

Focus on 21st century skills (collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, and global studies initiatives)

History and traditions

Leadership development opportunities for students

A safe learning environment

The teaching of moral and ethical values

School/family communication & relationship

Strict adherence to Montessori pedagogy-(might move this to the top)

Enrichment activities

Exploration and educational opportunities in the natural world (Wakefield, Blue Hills)

Other (please specify)

Question Title

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

Recruiting, retaining, and compensating high-quality faculty

Adhering to Montessori pedagogy

Assessing staffing needs, implementing evaluation systems for faculty and staff

Continuing and enriching teacher professional development

Balancing enrollment numbers with mission aligned families

Strategic planning for the future

Enhancing academic excellence

Providing educational leadership (program/curriculum)

Fundraising

Improving school-wide communication

Increasing diversity in staff and families

Expanding arts program

Improving leadership development opportunities for students

Teaching moral and ethical values

Other (please specify)

Question Title

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

Teaching experience

Montessori training

Leadership/management experience

Educational administration (division head, dean, etc.)

Fundraising

Budgeting & financial management

Private or independent school administration

Experience at a similar school

Conflict resolution

Experience supporting/improving diversity

Board relations

Strategic planning & development

Collaboration, team-building

Effective communication

Managing a faculty/staff

Other (please specify)

Question Title

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

Good listener

Excellent communicator

Strong leadership skills

Decisive

Professionalism

Gravitas, respectability

“Backbone” & ability to say “no”

Adds to diversity of community

Commitment to diversity

Holds advanced degree

Visionary

Dynamic

Innovative, forward-thinking

Creative

Knowledgeable about Montessori educational philosophy

Intelligent

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

Relatable; connects with students, families, staff

Fair and understanding, empathetic

Friendly, warm, genuine

Kind, compassionate, considerate

Strong morals, ethics, and values

Strategic thinker

Big-picture thinker

Personable, charismatic

Honest, trustworthy, transparent

Strong personal integrity

Business and financial acumen

Caring

Patient

Positive

Dedication, commitment

Organized

Respectful, sensitive

Common sense

Other (please specify)

Question Title

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

Question Title

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

Question Title

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

Question Title

* 9. The next Head of School needs to be a sitting head.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Not Sure

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Question Title

* 10. The next Head of School should be a local candidate.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Not Sure

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Question Title

* 11. The next Head of School needs to have experience as a Head of School

Strongly Agree

Agree

Not Sure

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Question Title

* 12. The next Head of School needs to have Montessori experience.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Not Sure

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Question Title

* 13. Rate each of the following aspects of the school that you value. A rating of 5 indicates placing the highest possible value on this aspect of the school. A rating of 1 would mean that particular aspect is not important to you.

	1	2	3	4	5
Quality of instruction	Quality of instruction 1	Quality of instruction 2	Quality of instruction 3	Quality of instruction 4	Quality of instruction 5
The School’s sense of community	The School’s sense of community 1	The School’s sense of community 2	The School’s sense of community 3	The School’s sense of community 4	The School’s sense of community 5
Committed teaching staff	Committed teaching staff 1	Committed teaching staff 2	Committed teaching staff 3	Committed teaching staff 4	Committed teaching staff 5
Close student-teacher relationships	Close student-teacher relationships 1	Close student-teacher relationships 2	Close student-teacher relationships 3	Close student-teacher relationships 4	Close student-teacher relationships 5
History and traditions	History and traditions 1	History and traditions 2	History and traditions 3	History and traditions 4	History and traditions 5
A safe learning environment	A safe learning environment 1	A safe learning environment 2	A safe learning environment 3	A safe learning environment 4	A safe learning environment 5
Availability of after school enrichment activities	Availability of after school enrichment activities 1	Availability of after school enrichment activities 2	Availability of after school enrichment activities 3	Availability of after school enrichment activities 4	Availability of after school enrichment activities 5
School wide communication, including school/family communication and relationship	School wide communication, including school/family communication and relationship 1	School wide communication, including school/family communication and relationship 2	School wide communication, including school/family communication and relationship 3	School wide communication, including school/family communication and relationship 4	School wide communication, including school/family communication and relationship 5

Question Title

* 14. Please rank the following communication methods used by the school, 1 being the method you think is most effective, and 5 being the method you believe is being least effective.

Monthly Newsletter

Posted on the website

Social Media

PTA Meeting announcement

Outdoor notice board next to school

Email to school community at large