Head of School Search
With the planned departure of longstanding Head of School Landis Green at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, Wildwood School has commenced its search for its next Head of School. As we navigate this important transition, we invite you to stay informed and engaged by accessing updates and opportunities for community involvement here on this site.
Leadership, Legacy, and Looking Ahead
Trustees Susan Olsen, Christine Cho, and Mike Kaplan reflect with Head of School Landis Green on his legacy and discuss the exciting opportunity that lies ahead.
Recent Communications
- Sent Oct. 17: Share Input by Oct. 18 Deadline for Wildwood Head of School Search Survey
- Sent Oct. 11: REMINDER: Reply by Today (Oct. 11) to Meet Wildwood Head of School Search Consultants on Oct. 15 or 16
- Sent Oct. 8, 2024: Time Sensitive: Wildwood Head of School Search Survey Deadline is Oct. 18
- Sent Oct. 2, 2024: Please Reply by Oct. 11: An Invitation for K-12 Wildwood Parents to Meet Wildwood Head of School Search Consultants RG175 on Oct. 15 or 16
- Sent Oct. 1, 2024: An Update from the Wildwood Head of School Search Advisory Committee
- Sent Sept. 30, 2024: An Important Announcement from Head of School Landis Green and Board Chair Susan Olsen
Meet Our Search Consultants
The Search Advisory Committee has retained RG175, a highly regarded consulting firm specializing in head of school searches. RG175 has an extensive knowledge of Wildwood, having previously partnered with the school for its Director of Middle School and Director of Upper School searches.
Tony Featherston
Tony Featherston, Search Consultant
As a longtime faculty member for the NAIS Diversity Leadership Institute, Tony Featherston has extensive experience cultivating leaders in schools. His leadership in the area of diversity and inclusion informs his work in schools, with school leadership, and boards of trustees. Since joining RG175 in 2018, Tony has completed head of school searches in New York City, New England, the South, and on the West Coast. Click here for more.
Cathy Hunter
Cathy Hunter, Search Consultant
Cathy Hunter has spent over 40 years in independent school education, serving as teacher, dean, division head, head of school, trustee, and consultant. She was part of the RG175 leadership team for Wildwood’s recent Director of Middle School and Director of Upper School searches. Click here for more.
Steve Morris
Steve Morris, Search Consultant
Steve Morris served as Head of The San Francisco School for 15 years. He has worked as a teacher and administrator in independent schools for the past 28 years. He was part of the RG175 leadership team for Wildwood’s recent Director of Middle School and Director of Upper School searches. Click here for more.
Meet Our Search Advisory Committee
Choosing a new head of school is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. In many ways, it is the most important thing the Board will do. As such, several Trustees serve on the Search Advisory Committee, which will work with RG175 to identify the best candidates and ultimately recommend one of them to the Board.
- Christine Cho, Search Advisory Committee Co-Chair
- Mike Kaplan, Search Advisory Committee Co-Chair
- Michille Al-Faisal
- Jaimi Boehm
- Charlene Fitzgibbon
- Marc Frankel
- Rachel Hedgepath
- Ashley Kramer
- Glenda Martinez
- Susan Olsen
- Tim Sekula
- Azizi Williams
Christine Cho, Search Advisory Committee Co-Chair
Christine Cho, MD, MPH, MEd (P. ‘28, ‘31)
Wildwood Trustee and Search Advisory Committee Co-Chair
Mike Kaplan, Search Advisory Committee Co-Chair
Mike Kaplan (P. '29)
Wildwood Trustee and Search Advisory Committee Co-Chair
Michille Al-Faisal
Michille Al-Faisal (P. '31, '34, '37)
Wildwood Trustee
Jaimi Boehm
Jaimi Boehm (P. '32, '34)
Associate Head of School
Charlene Fitzgibbon
Charlene Fitzgibbon (P. '25)
Wildwood Trustee and WWPO Board Liaison
Marc Frankel
Marc Frankel
Wildwood Trustee
Rachel Hedgepath
Rachel Hedgepath '13
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Ashley Kramer
Ashley Kramer (P. '19, '22)
Emeritus Trustee
Glenda Martinez
Glenda Martinez (P. '21)
Wildwood Trustee
Susan Olsen
Susan Olsen (P. '24, '27, '29)
Board Chair
Tim Sekula
Tim Sekula
Upper School Science Teacher
Azizi Williams
Azizi Williams
Wildwood Trustee
Timeline
This timeline is a guideline, not an absolute. The goal is to find the right candidate, regardless of deadlines. Dates could change depending on the state of the process. The following dates and corresponding action steps are reflective of what a typical search process entails.
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October 2024: Discovery Phase
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RG175 meets with the Search Advisory Committee, faculty and staff, school administration, students, and other members of the school community to develop a profile of the ideal candidate.
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Individual members of the school community have the opportunity to provide input via a survey.
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November 2024: Position Statement
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RG175 and the Search Advisory Committee publish a Position Statement to recruit potential candidates.
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November-February 2025: Application Period
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RG175 recruits and cultivates promising candidates based on the criteria of the position statement. At this stage and through the semi-finalist round, the candidate pool remains confidential.
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February-March 2025: Semi-Finalist and Finalist Pools
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RG175 leads the Search Advisory Committee in the review of written application materials from leading candidates and selection of semi-finalists.
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With RG175, the Search Advisory Committee selects and interviews semi-finalist candidates and convenes to identify its preferred finalists to invite to campus.
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April 2025: Finalist Visits
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Each finalist comes to campus for a 2.5 day visit, including meetings with faculty and staff, school administration, parents, students, and other members of the school community.
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Late May 2025: Board Vote
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The Search Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
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The Board of Trustees makes its selection. Assuming agreement is reached with the candidate, the news is announced to the school community.
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June 2025-June 2026: Head of School Transition Period
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Landis Green continues to serve as Head of School. The Incoming Head of School prepares to transition into the role.
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July 1, 2026: Proposed Start Date for the New Head of School
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Following an intentionally long transition period, the incoming Head of School assumes the role.
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FAQ
- What is the role of the Board of Trustees in the Head of School search?
- What is the role of the Search Advisory Committee?
- What is the role of the current Head of School in the search process?
- Who are the Head of School search consultants?
- Will the Associate Head of School become the next Head of School?
- What is the job description for the Head of School?
- What is the timeline for the search process and Head of School transition?
- When and how will the community be updated?
- How may I participate in the search process?
- To whom do I send the name of a great candidate?
- How do I apply?
- Questions?
What is the role of the Board of Trustees in the Head of School search?
Choosing a new head of school is one of the primary responsibilities of the Board of Trustees. The Board will take care to ensure a fair, inclusive, and rigorous search process. As with much important Board work, a smaller committee has been created to focus on the specific goals to be accomplished and make recommendations to the Board. The Search Advisory Committee is a carefully selected group of primarily Board members, but also faculty and administrators, who will work with the RG175 consultants to navigate the search process. Wildwood community members are also an important voice in the process. The ultimate decision to appoint the next Head of School will be made by the Board.
What is the role of the Search Advisory Committee?
Appointed by the Board of Trustees, the Search Advisory Committee oversees all aspects of the search process. Led by trustees Dr. Christine Cho and Mike Kaplan, the committee works closely with our consultants RG175, gathers data and feedback, interviews candidates, and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees. The Board ultimately makes the final decision for the appointment of the next Head of School.
What is the role of the current Head of School in the search process?
Head of School Landis Green has made it clear that he, too, is invested in the success of this search for the next leader of the school to which he’s dedicated the last two decades. He will support the search process in any way that is asked of him, and—as is the norm in situations like these—there are clear boundaries. He will not be involved in the work of the Search Advisory Committee but has agreed to honor any requests it has of him.
Who are the Head of School search consultants?
Overseeing the search process and advising the committee are Tony Featherston, Cathy Hunter, and Steve Morris from RG175, a nationally recognized consulting firm for independent schools and proven leader in Head of School searches. They bring decades of school head experience to the search and have a deep understanding of the independent school landscape. RG175 has an extensive knowledge of Wildwood, having previously partnered with the school for its Director of Middle School and Director of Upper School searches.
Will the Associate Head of School become the next Head of School?
The Board of Trustees believes it is essential for the integrity of the search process and its decision regarding the hiring of the next Head of School that we engage in a full search that follows the principles of best practices established by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Although associate heads of school are often well suited for the role (in fact, several previous Wildwood associate heads are now current heads of school), Associate Head of School Jaimi Boehm has no intention of applying and has agreed to serve as a member of the Search Advisory Committee.
What is the job description for the Head of School?
The Head of School is responsible for managing the academic program, curriculum, admissions and enrollment, employees, facilities, financial health, fundraising, community relations, and the day-to-day operations of Wildwood School. The Head of School partners with the Board of Trustees to set the school’s long-term strategic plan and ensures the Mission is fulfilled. A Position Statement drafted by RG175 and the Search Advisory Committee detailing the key aspects and qualifications for the role is expected to be posted to this site in mid-November.
What is the timeline for the search process and Head of School transition?
The search process will take from fall 2024 to late spring 2025, with a goal of announcing the new Head of School before June 2025. The timeline is a guideline, not an absolute. The goal is to find the right candidate, regardless of deadlines. Dates could change depending on the state of the process. Key milestones will include candidate evaluations, interviews, and community engagement sessions. Head of School Landis Green will continue to serve in the role through the end of the 2025-2026 school year, thereby enabling a lengthy transition period for his successor to assume the role. For a more detailed timeline, please see above.
When and how will the community be updated?
How may I participate in the search process?
The search process includes opportunities for the members of the community to have a voice. Through a survey and in-person meetings, RG175 will gather input from the Wildwood community about the school and the characteristics the members of the community hope to find in the next Head of School. Community members will be invited to meet with finalists on campus at a date to be communicated to the community. The community can provide feedback on the finalists to the Search Advisory Committee.
To whom do I send the name of a great candidate?
How do I apply?
Interested candidates can be directed to this website in mid-November and should contact our search consultants Tony Featherston (tfeatherston@rg175.com), Cathy Hunter (cshunter33@gmail.com), or Steve Morris (steve.morris@rg175.com). Tony, Cathy, and Steve will maintain confidentiality throughout the process.
Questions?
Please reach out to headsearch@wildwood.org with any questions.