Will The Washington Market School’s Mission or Philosophy change with a new Head of School?
No. The School’s mission has been thoughtfully developed and has evolved over time. An important factor in evaluating the next Head of School will be the degree to which candidates understand, support, and can enhance our mission.

What firm is supporting the search process?
The Search Committee has engaged the firm Resource Group 175 (RG175) to partner with it on our head of school search. Consultant Jerrold I. Katz will facilitate and support our search process. Read more about Jerry here.

What is the timeline for the search?
The current plan is to be able to announce the appointment of a new Head of School by late fall 2021. The new Head will assume responsibility on July 1, 2022.

What is the role of the Board of Trustees in the search?
The Board is responsible for selecting the Head of School. This is one of the most important roles that the Board plays for The Washington Market School. The detailed task of conducting the search will be undertaken by a Board designated Search Committee.

How were Search Committee members selected?
Search Committee members share a deep appreciation for The Washington Market School’s mission. They include individuals who offer a diverse set of experiences and points of view as well as a strong degree of commitment to and involvement in the school community.

What is the role of the Search Committee?
The Search Committee is charged with engaging and learning from all constituents to define the qualities required of the next Head of School. The Search Committee will review candidate files, interview the most viable candidates, speak with multiple references, and make a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

What role will Ronnie play in the search for her successor?
Ronnie has been involved in formulating the Position Paper describing WMS and the job description. She will meet with each finalist and have an opportunity to share with the Search Committee her evaluation of each finalist’s strengths as a potential next Head of School. Ronnie will remain Head of School until June 30, 2022, she will stay on to assist with exmissions during the 2022-23 school year, and she is very committed to facilitating a smooth transition in leadership at WMS.

Will the search impact the faculty’s time in the classrooms or the administration’s time and availability?
No. While the faculty and administration’s input will be sought throughout the search process, it will not intrude on classroom time or ongoing school operations.

How will the Search Committee keep the community updated?
There will be periodic communication from the Search Committee throughout the process.
It is important to note that most of the search process must be confidential, and that will
shape the communication.

How can I help during the search?
Broad community input will be critical to effectively defining the professional and personal qualities required in the new Head of School. We will be providing forums for faculty and staff to meet with our consultant, and all current community members will have an opportunity to complete an on-line survey. Here are some further ways in which you can help:

• Please utilize the survey to make our search consultant aware of any individuals whom you would recommend as potentially strong candidates.
• Please bring any questions or concerns to the attention of the Search Committee. Emails can be sent to : searchcommittee@wms nyc.org
• Finally, please keep an eye out for future communications from the Search Committee, as we look forward to providing periodic updates to the WMS community.

Thank you for your input and support throughout this important process!