COMPREHENSIVE HEAD OF SCHOOL SEARCH PROCESS

After a seven-month, comprehensive search process, the Board of Trustees unanimously selected Marcel Gauthier from a diverse and impressive pool of outstanding educational leaders. The robust search process ensured that all objectives were met.

Formation of an engaged and dedicated Search Committee

See side box.

Broad and inclusive community engagement

Conversations and surveys with students, faculty, staff, parents, administrators, trustees, alumni, and the broader community informed the Position and Candidate Specification that clearly articulated the ideal profile of Country Day’s new Head of School.

A clearly articulated Position and Candidate Specification

Ideal experiences included academic leadership, community leadership, impact on efforts of DEI, financial and operational leadership, partnering with Board of Trustees; Critical capabilities included strategic vision, community building, and institution building.

Comprehensive candidate research

A core priority was to ensure a diverse candidate pool of top talent. This included NAIS heads of school of color, female heads of school, as well as high-performing school administrators.

•150 potential individuals identified

•75 profiles reviewed

•12 candidates selected for round one interviews (33% female; 33% BIPOC)

•7 candidates were interviewed in round two (29% female; 43% BIPOC)

•3 rounds of interviews

Rigorous assessment of prospects; behaviorally based interviews and case studies with candidates

After preliminary vetting by Spencer Stuart and Search Committee co-chairs, the first-round candidates met with both the Search Committee and Faculty Advisory Council in a structured interview protocol designed to assess candidate accomplishments, how they achieved outcomes, and the likely fit to Country Day. Second round and finalist round interviews focused on strategic vision and candidate-specific discussion.

Deep 360˚ referencing

After the finalist round of interviews, Spencer Stuart and members of the Search Committee completed extensive referencing. These are phrases associated with Marcel Gauthier.

•Running large, complex school

•Understands how culture and craft intersect

•His decisions are anchored in empathy

•Strong moral compass

•Incredibly relational

•Incredible public speaker

•Setting goals

•Providing direction

•Never micro-managing

• Coalescing the board and the leadership team through strategic planning

•Can handle unexpected situations

•Hired excellent people

Search Committee Members

Shanon Jones, Trustee and Search Committee Co-Chair

Bill Zimmern ’95, Trustee and Search Committee Co-Chair

Christi Byron, Former Trustee

Leigh Moran, Former Trustee

Walker Poole, Former Trustee

Stephen Shuford, Trustee

Scott Stevens, Board of Trustees Chair

Andrew Tate, Trustee

Lisa Toppin, Trustee

Faculty Staff Advisory Council Members

J.G. Bailey, Lower School Guidance Counselor

Tom Collins, Department Head, Upper School Science

Nancy Ehringhaus, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

Stephanie Harner, Upper School Latin Instructor

Simon Keilty, 8th Grade Science Instructor

Kasey Short, Director of Studies, Middle School

Denise Spruill, Upper School History Instructor, Diversity Coordinator, and Class Dean

Jovonne Taborn, First Grade Instructor and Lower School Diversity Coordinator

Greg Walters, Facilities and Plant Operations Manager

Brian Wise, Director of Diversity Planning

Search Firm

Spencer Stuart

After evaluating many candidates in an incredibly competitive market, one person stood out as that exceptional leader who can lead our school into the future.”

—Shanon Jones, Trustee and Search Committee Co-Chair