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An Update on the Head of School Search Process from Sterne Board President Andrew Owen
26 March 2026
Dear Sterne Community,
As we begin our search for Sterne's next Head of School, I reiterate what I mentioned in my initial announcement last month: The Board is committed to a transparent and collaborative hiring process to ensure a smooth transition and promising future for everyone in the Sterne School community. I'd now like to share an update on the formation of our Search Committee and what you can expect in the coming weeks and months.
Announcing our 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.
The Search Committee will be the group that provides community-wide communications on the search process going forward. 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. I am pleased to introduce its members:
- Tara Boland, Sterne Board Secretary
- Ameenah Hayes, Sterne Board Member and Parent (Class of 2026, Class of 2030)
- Eric Lauterbach, Sterne Board Member and Parent of Alum (Class of 2025)
- Andrew Owen, Sterne Board President and Parent (Class of 2028)
- Chris Timrott, Sterne Board Treasurer and Parent (Class of 2029)
- 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)
Our search consultant and first steps in the process
I am also happy to announce that Sterne will be working with Steve Morris from Resource Group 175 (RG175) as our lead search consultant. Steve brings substantial experience in teaching, school administration, and Head of School searches along with a deep appreciation and understanding of our community. Steve was on campus March 16th for a full tour of our facilities and to meet with the school's leadership team, and he will return to Sterne to conduct a strategic assessment of the school on April 14th.
This search process is designed to be an inclusive one that involves our entire community. All Sterne stakeholders will have the opportunity to share their priorities, hopes, and feedback in several different ways. In preparation for Steve's upcoming visit, please note the following ways for you to get involved:
Monday, April 13
- Community-wide survey sent via email
Tuesday, April 14
- 9:00 a.m.: Steve to meet on campus with parents/guardians (RSVP here)
- 3:30 p.m.: Steve to meet on campus with Sterne faculty and staff
- 6:30 p.m.: Steve to meet with parents/guardians via Zoom*
The survey and meetings will focus on identifying broad themes reflecting the strengths and qualities of the school that must be preserved during the leadership transition, the challenges and opportunities the next head will face, and the key leadership attributes of strong candidates. Participation is strongly encouraged as your feedback will be critical at this early stage. (*Zoom link can be found on the Portal calendar listing and in New Head Search-related emails)
Keeping you updated and informed
Coinciding with the start of this search, we have launched our New Head of School Search webpage dedicated to information about the search process. This resource includes some frequently asked questions you may have, along with a general timeline of key milestones between now and when the new Head will begin their tenure in July 2027. The website will be continually updated as new information becomes available, to include dates for community meetings, links to important communications, and notes on next steps. In the meantime, if you have questions or thoughts as we embark on this process, please email us at headsearch@sterneschool.org.
One of our greatest strengths is the deep commitment and active engagement of our students, families, alumni, faculty, administrators, and Board. With this solid foundation in place, we are confident that the next leader of Sterne will be well-equipped to partner with our spirited community and lead the school into its next chapter.
Thank you for your continued trust and support as we move forward with this endeavor. I look forward to sharing more soon.
Sincerely,
Andrew Owen
President, Sterne School Board of Directors