Head of School Search

List of 12 items.

• Why is Notre Dame Prep engaging in a Head of School search process?

  After 20 years of exemplary service, Sister Patricia McCarron informed the Board of Trustees that she will not seek to extend her contract, which concludes at the end of 2024–2025 academic year. When sharing this news with the NDP community, the Board of Trustees expressed their full support and deep gratitude for Sister Patricia’s remarkable leadership and her unwavering commitment to the school community. Her legacy has led to remarkable growth, lasting academic excellence, and strong stewardship which places NDP in a strong position for the future.

• What will happen next as part of the search process?

  As the first step, the Board of Trustees announced the selection of an outstanding Search Committee who will lead the national search to identify the best possible candidates. The Search Committee will work with DRG Talent, a national leader in talent consulting and executive searches for schools and nonprofits. In addition to sharing regular updates via email, this website will be the central resource for news and information about the ongoing search process. The Board and Search Committee aim to thoughtfully complete this search process with ample time to transition and prepare for the beginning of the next school year.

• Who is leading the search?

  The Board of Trustees has selected a dedicated Search Committee to lead the search. Former Notre Dame Preparatory School Trustee Lisa Stromberg serves as Chair of the Search Committee. The Search Committee has engaged DRG Talent to help conduct our search. Senior Talent Consultant Andrew Watson, a respected mentor in education, will lead the search with support from Senior Talent Consultant Laura Hansen and the DRG research and outreach team. Andrew recently led Presidential searches for Loyola Blakefield, McQuaid Jesuit, and St. Ignatius Loyola Academy while Laura has led key searches at leading all-girls institutions including Trinity Hall School and The Spence School.

• What is the role of the Search Committee and Board of Trustees in the search?

  The Board of Trustees charged the Search Committee with leading the national search to identify candidates who have the outstanding qualities needed to be Notre Dame Preparatory School’s next Head of School.
  
  

  The Search Committee and DRG Talent will create and post an Opportunity Statement to publicize the position, recruit qualified candidates, and create a nominated pool of the strongest applicants. After an initial review of these candidates, semifinalists will be selected to interview with the Committee. Following these interviews, finalists chosen by the Committee will be invited to campus for an on-site introduction and interviews.
  
  

  Once the Search Committee has gathered all pertinent materials, including references and the results of a community survey, they will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. As primary stewards of the school’s mission and its fiscal health, the Board of Trustees will consider the recommendation, vote on their decision, and work with the SSND-appointed Sponsor Council to move toward hiring our next Head of School. The Sponsor Council was formed by the SSNDs in 2024 and its key role is “to nourish and strengthen the ministry and to advance the SSND mission into the future.”

• What is the role of DRG Talent in the search?

  DRG Talent will work closely with the Board of Trustees and NDP Search Committee to guide and facilitate all aspects of the search. Andrew Watson and Laura Hansen offer a combined tenure of over fifty years of independent school leadership and through their strong connections and robust networks, they will develop a deep pool of candidates to be considered by the Search Committee.

• What information will the Search Committee consider as they assess candidates?

  Candidates will be asked to submit a cover letter, resume, statement of educational and leadership philosophy, and references for the application. They may also submit materials beyond this to better introduce themselves to the Search Committee. The committee members will consider these materials, thoughtfully discuss, and select the best candidates to meet for semifinalist interviews. After these interviews, the committee will choose finalists to invite for an on-campus visit and the committee will further deliberate based upon how the finalists presented themselves and the potential fit with the NDP community. Professional references provided by the candidates will be consulted. Stakeholders including parents, students, trustees, faculty, staff, and representatives who meet the finalists during their campus visits will complete a survey to share their impressions. All information gathered during each step from the various sources will be considered.

• How will parents, students, alumnae, faculty, and staff participate in the search?

  We began the search by engaging in a Discovery Phase which included a two-day site visit where alumnae, parents, students, trustees, and school leadership shared valuable feedback and thoughts. An online survey was also broadly sent to the NDP community about the strengths, opportunities, and challenges which lay ahead. Diverse responses to this survey are critical to shape a powerful and accurate Opportunity Statement which presents what the NDP community is seeking. Once the process has led to finalist candidates who are invited to visit NDP, community members such as alumnae, parents, students, faculty, and staff will be invited to meet with the candidates and their resulting impressions and feedback will be collected through a second survey.
  
  

  We want each of our visiting candidates to leave campus with a strong desire to join us, along with the knowledge they need to assess the work of the position. Our goal will be to welcome them warmly on Hampton Lane while evaluating them rigorously.

• How will the Search Committee communicate with the Notre Dame Preparatory School community?

  We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and transparent search process and providing ample opportunities for consultation and input gathered from our community. We will communicate regularly while welcoming your feedback. In addition to sending regular updates via email, we will keep the community informed through this webpage.

• Will my child’s education experience be affected by this transition?

  No. Sister Patricia McCarron will continue to serve as the Head of School for this academic year and will support a smooth transition to the new leadership. The dedicated faculty and staff who support the day-to-day experience at the school will continue to deliver on Notre Dame Preparatory School's commitment to “educate and empower girls to become women who transform the world.”

• Will we know about the candidates applying for the Head of School position?

  The Search Committee and consultants will maintain strict confidentiality through the initial stages of the search, on behalf of the candidates and the school as an institution. The names and outcome for those being considered will not be shared publicly. This expected level of professionalism offers a respectful degree of protection to potential candidates in their home communities and details about candidates will not be available until we reach the finalist stage.

• Can I nominate someone for the Head of School?

  Yes! There was a question about this in our initial Discovery Survey but names can also be submitted to the email address listed above.

• What is the timeline for the search and when will the new Head of School start?

  What follows is a general overview of the planned timeline that we expect to follow during the search:
  
  

  • • Fall 2024: Initial Discovery Visit, Survey for all constituents, and Community Input Sessions
    • Winter 2025: Candidate interviews
    • Spring 2025: Finalist visits and candidate selection
    • July 2025: New Head of School begins