New Head of School Search

Following Melissa's announcement in February that she will step down at the end of the 2026–2027 school year, Sterne's Board of Directors has begun the search for a new Head of School who will start their tenure at Sterne in July 2027. The Board is committed to an inclusive search that reflects Sterne's mission and values, with community collaboration and open communication. To that last point, this webpage will be a primary resource to keep the Sterne community informed, ensuring transparency throughout the process.

A Search Committee is leading the process of identifying and evaluating candidates, and ultimately will recommend a new Head of School for approval of the Board. The committee will be inviting input from all students, families, faculty, staff and alumni during the process. See below for a listing of Search Committee members, as well as upcoming opportunities for community engagement and feedback.

The Board has retained Resource Group 175 (RG175), a renowned national consulting firm specializing in independent school leadership transitions. We are happy to partner with lead search consultant, Steve Morris, a San Francisco-based former head of school who will help us conduct a comprehensive, inclusive, and thoughtful search process. RG175 has deep connections to the Bay Area, knowledge of Sterne, and network of national and international contacts throughout the educational community.

To reach out to the Search Committee with questions or thoughts, please email us at headsearch@sterneschool.org.

Position Statement

Our search consultant, Steve Morris of Resource Group 175 (RG175), has worked with the Sterne community and Search Committee to finalize the Head of School Position Statement. Click below to access the file, nominate a candidate, or apply. Application deadline is August 23, 2026.

Click to download the document

Click to view via the RG175 website

Click to inquire, nominate, or apply

Upcoming

Past Opportunities for Feedback

Search Process FAQ

What are the roles of the Board and the Search Committee?

The Board of Directors holds the ultimate responsibility for selecting Sterne's next Head of School; this is one of its most fundamental duties. The Board will contribute to shaping the desired candidate profile, meet with all finalists, and, based on the Search Committee's recommendation, approve the appointment of the new Head of School.

To lead this process, the Board has established a Search Committee to manage the search on its behalf. The Committee is responsible for overseeing each phase of the process and will gather input from all constituents of the Sterne School community, including students, faculty and staff, parents, alumni, former parents, and trustees. In partnership with our search consultant at RG175, the Committee will coordinate and execute the logistics of the entire search effort.

Both the Board and the Search Committee are dedicated to keeping the Sterne community informed and engaged as the process unfolds.

What is the role of faculty and staff?

The Sterne School Board, the Search Committee, and our RG175 search consultant are committed to an open search and value the perspectives and input of our faculty and staff. Broad faculty and staff input will be solicited through the process, with key opportunities including:

Participation in a community survey in April 2026.
In-person meetings with RG175 in April 2026.
Opportunity to meet with and provide feedback on the three finalists in Fall 2026.

What is the role of current parents/guardians?

The Sterne School Board, the Search Committee, and our RG175 search consultant are committed to an open search and value the perspectives and input of all members of the Sterne community. Community input will be solicited through the process, with key opportunities including:

Participation in a community survey in April 2026.
In-person meetings with RG175 in April 2026.
Opportunity to meet with and provide feedback on the three finalists in Fall 2026.

Who is Sterne's search consultant and what is his role?

Sterne School is partnering with the leading national executive search firm, RG175 and one of their top Bay Area-based consultants, Steve Morris. Together with the Search Committee, Steve will be committed to a thoughtful, transparent, and inclusive process. RG175 brings a deep commitment to diversity and a proven record of identifying strong leaders by fostering the relationships that matter most—among schools, trustees, and candidates—in a manner grounded in integrity, equity, and community.

RG 175 is providing advice to the Search Committee concerning format, logistics, procedure, and best practices throughout the search process. In particular, key roles include:

Providing advice regarding the search process and timeline.
Preparing a Position Statement that summarizes the Sterne Head of School opportunity and the qualities and characteristics of ideal candidates.
Sourcing candidates nationally and internationally.
Conducting reference checks.
Supporting the Search Committee in evaluating candidates.
Providing advice to ensure a successful transition.

How will the community be informed throughout the search?

The Search Committee is committed to an open and transparent search process. The Search Committee will keep the Sterne community informed of our progress through announcements in the Monday Memo e-newsletter and postings here on the New Head of School Search webpage. The Search Committee will balance our commitment to make this process inclusive and transparent with the need to respect the confidentiality of the candidate recruitment process.

Can I nominate a candidate for the Head of School position?

Will this search affect my child's experience at school?

Your child's experience, from their teachers and classroom to the programs and community, will remain consistent and strong. Our mission, core values, and commitment to our students are enduring and will continue during and after the leadership transition. Day to day operations at Sterne will be largely unchanged throughout the search process. Melissa will remain Head of School through the end of the 2026–2027 school year and is committed to working with her leadership team, faculty and staff to ensure the experience for every student remains joyful, meaningful, and consistent.

To whom should I direct my questions or feedback?

Community Updates

Search Committee

About the Search Committee

The Board of Trustees is responsible for identifying and hiring the next Head of School. To support this important work, the Board has formed a Search Committee composed of a subset of Board members who will partner with our search consultant throughout the search process. Specifically, they will help guide, along with community input, the creation of a Position Statement which will be used to both attract and review candidates.

The Search Committee is also responsible for determining which candidates from the pool of applicants continue through the process from their initial screening, to semi-finalist interviews, to the finalist recommendation to the full Sterne Board. This group brings a wide variety of professional experiences and perspectives, a deep commitment to the well-being and future of our school, and an understanding that intentional community input is crucial to the process.

Click for list of members

Search Committee Co-Chairs

Eric Lauterbach, Sterne Board Member and Parent of Alum (Class of 2025 grad)
Chris Timrott, Sterne Board Treasurer and Parent (Class of 2029)

Search Committee Members

Tara Boland, Sterne Board Secretary
Ameenah Hayes, Sterne Board Member and Parent (Class of 2026, Class of 2030)
Andrew Owen, Sterne Board President and Parent (Class of 2028)
Giovanni Torre, Sterne Board Member and Parent (Class of 2028, Class of 2030)
Kristin Windley, Sterne Board Member and Parent (Class of 2032)
Craig Zodikoff, Sterne Board Vice President and Parent (Class of 2027)

Click to view member profiles

Contact the Search Committee

Timeline

Winter–Spring 2026

Head of School departure announced
RG175 hired as search consultants
Search Committee formed
Community Meetings to be held for current parents/guardians, faculty and staff, administrative leadership team, and student groups
Position Statement posted

Spring–Summer 2026

Candidate communication, recruitment, and assessment by RG175
Candidate application deadline: August 23

Fall 2026

Search Committee reviews applications
Semifinalist interviews by Search Committee

Fall–Winter 2026/2027

Finalists visit Sterne for interviews and to meet the community (dates and times will be posted on this page)
All constituencies give feedback on finalists
Search Committee recommends candidate for Board of Trustees approval
New Head of School announced to the community

July 1, 2027

New Head of School begins tenure at Sterne

Please note: The Board understands that unanticipated issues may arise and is prepared to adjust the above timeline and process if necessary.