The IDEAL School of Manhattan Head of School Search Survey

*1.Please choose your primary affiliation with IDEAL.(Required.)

Trustee

Employee (faculty/staff)

Employee (administrator)

Alumna/us

Current Parent

Past Parent

Other (please specify):

2.If applicable, please choose your secondary affiliation with IDEAL.

Trustee

Employee (faculty/staff)

Employee (administrator)

Alumna/us

Current Parent

Past Parent

Other (please specify):

*3.Which of the phrases below best express what you value most about your/your family’s IDEAL experience? Please select three.(Required.)

IDEAL’s mission, vision, and core values of Inclusion, Diversity, Excellence, Acceptance, and Leadership

A genuinely inclusive and diverse community

Personalized and differentiated instruction that challenges and supports each student as an individual learner

Strong academic offerings and a commitment to academic excellence

A caring, supportive school culture

IDEAL’s commitment to social-emotional growth, character, empathy, leadership, and social justice

Long-term support for students across every stage of their educational journey

Arts, creativity, and opportunities for student expression

APEX Athletics and inclusive opportunities for students to participate in physical education, team sports, and healthy competition

The close-knit community and strong relationships

Other (please specify):

*4.Of the priorities below, please select three that you feel are most important for the next Head of School to address.(Required.)

Attract, develop, and retain outstanding faculty and staff

Strengthen academic excellence while preserving IDEAL’s inclusive and differentiated approach to teaching and learning

Grow enrollment and strengthen student retention while attracting families aligned with IDEAL’s mission

Maintain small class sizes, individualized attention, and appropriate student-to-teacher support

Ensure IDEAL’s long-term financial sustainability through strong fiscal management and strategic planning

Grow philanthropic support, strengthen fundraising, and build the school’s long-term financial resources

Preserve and strengthen IDEAL’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, acceptance, and belonging

Strengthen and expand academic, arts, athletics, and student programs across the K–12+ experience

Build stronger connections, communication, and partnership among students, families, faculty, staff, trustees, and alumni

Develop and implement a clear long-term vision for IDEAL’s programs, facilities, enrollment, and future growth

Other (please specify):

*5.The next Head of School should possess the following skills and experience to advance The IDEAL School. Please select the three you consider most important.(Required.)

Experience in independent school leadership and administration

A visionary and strategic thinker who can articulate a clear direction for IDEAL’s future

Experience as an educator with an understanding of classroom demands

Demonstrated experience leading inclusive educational communities and supporting students with a wide range of learning profiles and abilities

Proven ability to attract, develop, support, and retain outstanding faculty, staff, and school leaders

Strong financial and operational management skills, including experience with budgeting, long-range planning, and institutional sustainability

Experience with enrollment management, admissions, and effectively communicating a school’s distinctive value to prospective families and the broader community

Fundraising and advancement experience, including the ability to cultivate relationships with donors and strengthen philanthropic support

A collaborative and community-centered leadership style that can build consensus while making thoughtful and decisive decisions

Other (please specify):

*6.To align with The IDEAL School’s Mission and Vision, the next Head of School should possess the following characteristics. Please select the three you consider most important.(Required.)

Empathetic and respectful toward all members of the community

Trusted, collaborative, and relationship-centered

Warm, approachable, and engaging

An excellent listener and clear, transparent communicator

Inclusive and committed to ensuring that every individual feels known, valued, and respected

Growth-minded, curious, and open to new ideas and perspectives

Confident and decisive while remaining thoughtful and humble

Authentic, ethical, and guided by a strong sense of integrity

Optimistic, resilient, and able to inspire confidence during times of change

Student-centered and deeply committed to the academic, social, and emotional growth of every learner

Other (please specify):

7.As IDEAL looks to the future, what do you believe the school should continue doing, begin doing, or reconsider in order to best serve its students and community?

8.Looking ahead, what is the single most important change, improvement, or new priority the school should pursue over the next 5–10 years?

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

10.If you would like to recommend a candidate, please list their name(s) and why you feel they should be considered.