Head of School Search

List of 8 items.

• Newark Academy Head of School Search Update - September 13, 2024

  September 13, 2024
   
  Dear Newark Academy Community,
  
  

  As the new school year gets underway, we are excited to provide an update from the Head of School Search Committee. Following virtual interviews with semi-finalist candidates this week, three finalists have been identified and invited to visit Newark Academy beginning next week. We selected these educational leaders after a thorough process of dossier review, reference calls, and interviews.
  
  

  Each finalist will spend two days at Newark Academy touring the school, visiting classes, and meeting with faculty and staff, parents, trustees, students, and the Search Committee. We will share biographies and more information about each finalist the day before their visit.
   
  We hope that you will have the opportunity to welcome each finalist and help them to learn about our wonderful school and community. Please mark your calendars for the the finalist visits scheduled for:
  
  

  • September 17-18
    • Faculty/Staff Forum on Tuesday, September 17 at 3:00-3:45 p.m. in Dining Hall
    • Parent Forum I on Tuesday, September 17 at 5:00-6:00 p.m. in Teiger Gallery
    • Parent Forum II on Wednesday, September 18 at 8:15-9:15 a.m. in Kaltenbacher Hall

  • September 23-24
    • Faculty/Staff Forum on Monday, September 23 at 3:00-3:45 p.m. in Dining Hall
    • Parent Forum I on Monday, September 23 at 5:00-6:00 p.m. in Teiger Gallery
    • Parent Forum II on Tuesday, September 24 at 8:30-9:30 a.m. in Kaltenbacher Hall
      
      
  • September 25-26
    • Faculty/Staff Forum on Wednesday, September 25 at 3:00-3:45 p.m. in Dining Hall
    • Parent Forum I on Wednesday, September 25 at 5:00-6:00 p.m. in Teiger Gallery
    • Parent Forum II on Thursday, September 26 at 8:30-9:30 a.m. in Kaltenbacher Hall

  
  At the conclusion of each visit, attendees will have an opportunity to share feedback through an online survey, which will help inform the Search Committee’s deliberations. If possible, we encourage you to meet all the candidates and give us your thoughts. We also want our candidates to fully experience the warm and welcoming spirit of Newark Academy.
  
  

  Following these visits, the Search Committee will make a hiring recommendation to the Board of Trustees for final approval.
  
  

  Throughout this process, we have been reminded about what a truly special community we have at Newark Academy. Educational leaders from across the country have been drawn to this opportunity, inspired by our outstanding academic program, storied history, and clear mission.
  
  

  We look forward to introducing our finalists to you beginning next week.
   
  Best regards,
   
  The Newark Academy Head of School Search Committee
  

  • David Crall, Search Committee Chair, Trustee and Parent
  • John Bess ’69, Trustee
  • Pat Budziak, Trustee and Alumni Parent
  • Lawrence G. Cetrulo ’67, Secretary of the Board of Trustees
  • Samuel W. Croll III ’68, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Search Committee Ex Officio
  • Rasheea Williams Hall ’95, Trustee
  • Kerry Winiarski, Director of College Counseling

• Newark Academy Head of School Search Update - September 9, 2024

  September 9, 2024
   
  Dear Newark Academy Faculty and Staff,
   
  We hope that you enjoyed a wonderful start to the school year last week, filled with the joy, excitement, and hope that comes with the return of students to campus. Over the last several months we have been hard at work on the search for Don Austin’s successor and we look forward to the culmination of that process in the weeks ahead. With this in mind, we want to provide you with an update to this work and let you know about your important role as we welcome Head of School finalists for their visits to NA beginning next week.
  
  

  • As a reminder, candidates will be on campus as follows:
    • Tuesday/Wednesday, September 17-18 (Search Committee welcome dinner on Monday evening, September 16)
    • Monday/Tuesday, September 23-24 (Search Committee welcome dinner on Sunday evening, September 22)
    • Wednesday/Thursday, September 25-26 (Search Committee welcome dinner on Tuesday evening, September 24)
      
      
  • The schedule for these visits will be shared with you this week. If you have an individual or small group meeting with the candidate, we encourage you to focus your questions on the area of your primary responsibilities in order to limit any repetition of questions posed to the candidates.
    
    
  • In addition to these individual and small group meetings, the candidates will meet with the entire faculty and staff. At these meetings, you will have the opportunity to get to know the candidates by hearing their responses to your questions. Please keep in mind that the goal of these meetings is for you to become better acquainted with the candidates and for them to get to know NA better. In this sense, you are an ambassador for NA and as such we want to provide them with a warm welcome. It is important for each of the candidates to come away from their visit with an appreciation for what makes Newark Academy such a wonderful school.
    
    
  • Each of you who attends a session with the candidates will be given the opportunity to complete an online survey in which you can provide your feedback to the Search Committee. It is very important that you complete the survey on a timely basis so your voice will be heard.
    
    
  • You will be receiving several emails from David Crall, Chair of the Search Committee, over the coming days, including an introduction to each candidate before their visit and a link to the feedback surveys. Please make sure you read these emails carefully before the visit of each of our candidates.

  
  Thank you for all of the time and effort you will be putting into this important process this month, especially at a time when you are getting the school year off to a great start. We are very excited to be introducing you to these impressive individuals, and we appreciate the welcome you will give them. We know that, with your help, they will come away from their visit even more excited than they already are about the prospect of leading Newark Academy.
  
  

  Best regards,
  
  

  The Newark Academy Head of School Search Committee
  

  • David Crall, Search Committee Chair, Trustee and Alumni Parent
  • John Bess ’69, Trustee
  • Pat Budziak, Trustee and Alumni Parent
  • Lawrence G. Cetrulo ’67, Secretary of the Board of Trustees
  • Samuel W. Croll III ’68, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Search Committee Ex Officio
  • Rasheea Williams Hall ’95, Trustee
  • Kerry Winiarski, Director of College Counseling

• Newark Academy Head of School Search Update - August 19, 2024

  August 19, 2024

   

  Dear Newark Academy Community,

   

  With the beginning of the school year only weeks away, our search for our next Head of School continues to move forward on schedule. Last week the Search Committee reviewed dossiers from a robust and diverse pool of impressive candidates from across the country. We can take great pride in the fact that so many keenly qualified candidates have expressed an interest in leading Newark Academy.

  
  

  Applicant materials include a cover letter, a CV, a statement of educational leadership philosophy, and references. The Search Committee selected candidates as semifinalists for interviews, which are scheduled for early next month. The compilation of desired skills and attributes outlined in the Information for Candidates document continues to guide our work. The process remains confidential until our finalists have been selected. 

  
  

  Finalists will spend two days at Newark Academy touring the school; visiting classes; and meeting with faculty and staff, parents, trustees, students and the Search Committee. We hope you will take the opportunity to welcome each finalist, share your feedback, and help the candidates learn about our outstanding school and community. 

  
  

  Please mark your calendars: Finalists' visits are scheduled for September 17 and 18, September 23 and 24, and September 25 and 26. 

  
  

  We will share biographies and more information about each of the candidates a few days prior to their visit. 

  
  

  We appreciate your continued support and engagement in this process. Please note that information about the search is available on this webpage, and we look forward to keeping you apprised of our work. 

   

  Warmly,

   

  David Crall
  Head of School Search Committee Chair

• Newark Academy Head of School Search - July 29, 2024

  July 29, 2024

   

  Dear Newark Academy Community, 

  
  

  We hope this finds you enjoying time with family and friends. While the summer pace is more leisurely, our search for the next Head of School continues to move forward in earnest and we are pleased to provide an update on our work. As you may recall, the Information for Candidates, which offers a profile of the desired skills and attributes of our next Head of School, was shared nationally in May. Our search consultants from Educators Collaborative are fully engaged in recruiting a diverse pool of prospective applicants, conducting preliminary interviews, and making reference calls.  

  
  

  The Search Committee recently came together for interview training, and in mid-August we will meet to review candidate dossiers. Applicant materials in those files include a cover letter, a CV, a statement of educational leadership philosophy, and references. After this review, the Search Committee will interview a group of semifinalists, from which finalists will be chosen.  

  
  

  In addition, we would like to announce that Kerry Winiarski has graciously accepted our invitation to join the Search Committee. Kerry is Newark Academy’s Director of College Counseling and brings to the group a deep understanding of Newark Academy as a result of her long tenure at our school.

  
  

  The search process remains confidential until our finalists have been selected. At that time, finalist candidates will each make a two-day visit to campus and meet with our stakeholders — employees, parents, students, and board members. There will be forums to hear from the candidates and provide feedback directly to the Search Committee. At this time, these visits are anticipated to take place September 17 and 18, September 23 and 24, and September 25 and 26. More details on the visit schedules and opportunities to meet the candidates will be available in September.

  
  

  This is an exciting time at Newark Academy and we are grateful for your involvement in this process. As a reminder, information and communication about the search is available on this webpage. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions — we look forward to keeping you apprised of our work. 

   

  All the best,

   

  David Crall
  Search Committee Chair

• Information for Candidates - May 16, 2024

  Please see our Information for Candidates document.

• Newark Academy Head of School Search Survey Follow-up - April 30, 2024

  April 30, 2024

   

  Dear Newark Academy Community,

   

  Many thanks again to all who were able to participate in the listening sessions hosted last week by our search consultants, Pilar Cabeza de Vaca, Mary Seppala, and George Sanderson, during their campus visit. They expressed their appreciation for the very warm welcome they received and for the thoughtful, informative feedback you offered. We greatly appreciate all who provided invaluable feedback through our online survey—we had over 400 respondents. Your input, in addition to conversations with school leaders, will guide our development of the Information for Candidates (IFC) document, which will be published in the coming weeks and for which a link will be provided on this website. This comprehensive document will provide potential candidates with an overview of our school, an outline of the opportunities and challenges before us, and a profile of the skills and attributes we will look for in our next Head of School.

  
  

  We would like to report back on what we heard from our community in the survey. Specifically, the most referenced answers from respondents were as follows:
  
  

  • Most valued aspects of Newark Academy are the strong academic program, including the AP and IB Diploma programs (71%); our deeply committed faculty and staff (68%); small class sizes (52%); preparing students for success in a world of interconnectedness and change (49%); and academic resources to support each student (45%).
    
    
  • Priorities for the next Head of School include recruiting and retaining excellent faculty and staff (91%); educational leadership through innovative programs (58%); a strong track record of relationship-building (51%); Strategic Planning (47%); and continued professional development for faculty and staff (45%).
    
    
  • Professional experiences believed most important for the next Head include Independent school leadership/management (83%); Strategic Planning (60%); collaboration and team building (58%); classroom teaching (56%); and successful experience in building external partnerships (38%).
    
    
  • Most important characteristics or qualities include active listener and excellent communicator (78%); honest and trustworthy with strong personal integrity (58%); friendly, warm, genuine, and approachable (52%); innovative forward thinker (44%); and engaging and inspiring (44%).

  
  

  We will be seeking a leader who enthusiastically embraces and champions the school’s mission, which states that Newark Academy will contribute to the world engaged individuals instilled with a passion for learning, a standard of excellence, and a generosity of spirit. We encourage you to share information about this exciting leadership opportunity in your personal and professional circles and to direct any interested individuals to our consultants, who will follow up directly.

   

  Throughout the process, input and involvement from faculty, staff and our parent and alumni community will be highly valued, with opportunities provided for further input and participation. 

   

  This leadership opportunity will be highly attractive to many prospective candidates thanks to Don Austin’s inspiring and thoughtful stewardship of Newark Academy over the past 17 years. The next Head of School can continue to enhance the strong foundation he has built across so many areas of the school.

   

  We’ve created this Head of School Search page, where we will keep you updated on our progress. Search Committee communication, the search timeline, and frequently asked questions are posted here - we hope you will find this helpful. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, and thank you in advance for your time and continued commitment to Newark Academy.

   

  Warmly,

   

  David Crall
  Search Committee Chair

• Message From The Chair of The Board of Trustees - April 11, 2024

  April 11, 2024

   

  To The Newark Academy Community:

   

  I want to take this opportunity to share my thoughts about Don’s tenure at Newark Academy and to chart the path forward towards the selection of the Academy’s next Head of School. 

   

  The past 17 years have been a time of extraordinary change at the Academy. We could not have asked for a more thoughtful, considerate, gracious, and dedicated Head of School than Don Austin. Having worked with Don for the past 12 years, I know him to be the embodiment of our school’s mission to contribute to the world engaged individuals instilled with a passion for learning, a standard of excellence, and a generosity of spirit. Our strong senior leadership team, seasoned faculty and staff, our unique programs, the significant growth of our endowment and, most importantly, the enduring excellence of the education that we offer are a reflection of Don’s wise stewardship. Applications to the Academy together with yield rates have increased steadily on Don’s watch. Our endowment has grown exponentially. He has overseen significant investment in infrastructure while recruiting and mentoring our extraordinary faculty. By any measure Don has left an enduring mark on the Academy. 

   

  As stewards of the school charged with ensuring the Academy’s long-term sustainability, the Board of Trustees has no greater responsibility than to choose a Head of School. To that end, I have asked David Crall to chair our Search Committee. David and his wife, Hilary, have three children that have graduated from or currently attend the Academy. David is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Nomura Corporate Research and Asset Management. David received a B.A. in English from Yale University. The following trustees will join David on the Committee:
  
  

  • John Bess, '69
  • Rasheea Williams Hall, '95
  • Lawrence G. Cetrulo '67, Secretary of the Board
  • Patricia Budziak, Alumni Parent

  
  I will serve as an Ex Officio member.

   

  We are committed to conducting an inclusive, deliberate, and thoughtful search. I want to thank David, John, Rasheea, Larry, and Pat for their willingness to dedicate themselves to this task. 

   

  The Committee has met to discuss the search process in detail and to interview several independent firms. We have selected Educators Collaborative, a premier executive search firm staffed by a group of long-serving heads of school to partner with us. Educators Collaborative has decades of experience conducting national and international searches for independent school leaders. Their work is based on integrity, inclusivity, knowledge, transparency, and flexibility. The depth of their team and its collaborative approach will serve the Academy well in the weeks and months ahead.

   

  Mary Seppala, Pilar Cabeza de Vaca, and George Sanderson will comprise the Educators Collaborative team, with George serving as our main point of contact. George served as vice-chair of Newark Academy’s decennial accreditation visiting team in 2016 and chaired the 5-year accreditation committee for NA in 2021. As a result of his work with NA, and his considerable experience with the independent school community, George is uniquely qualified to partner with NA on our search. 

   

  There will be many opportunities for you to add your voice to the search process. During the third week of April, you will receive an online survey from the Search Committee. The results will illuminate what you value in a leader, describe the core strengths of NA, and identify the personal and professional attributes that you believe are important for our next Head of School.

   

  Mary, Pilar, and George will visit campus on April 25th and April 26th to hold listening sessions with Academy stakeholders and decision-makers including faculty, staff, parents, students, and alumni. We will share the details of the schedule for this visit in the coming days. Together, the input we gather from the survey and the listening sessions will inform and guide the creation of our Head of School Position Profile. The profile, which will describe the key attributes we are seeking together with the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead, will reflect your input. To keep you informed, the Search Committee has set up this webpage with the latest information about the search. In addition, we will send periodic updates as the search progresses. 
  
  

  While the transition from a long-serving head of school to a new leader may seem daunting, it also presents us with an opportunity to take stock of our institutional strengths and to be aspirational about what we can become. I look forward to your contribution to this important process. On behalf of the Search Committee and the Board of Trustees, thank you for your steadfast commitment to Newark Academy.

   

  Very truly yours,

  

  Samuel W. Croll III, '68 

  Chair, Newark Academy Board of Trustees

• Message From Head of School Donald M. Austin - April 11, 2024

  April 11, 2024
  
  Dear Newark Academy Community Members,
   
  It is with bittersweet emotions that I am writing to notify you that I will be retiring from Newark Academy at the end of June 2025.
   
  Serving as head of this extraordinary school has been the defining chapter of my professional life, and it would be hard to find a more rewarding job. My days are enriched by moments like the community’s discovery of a student’s unique musical gift during Morning Meeting, witnessing an impactful program ignite a student’s passion, and having a meaningful conversation with a student or faculty member. My time here has been a constant source of personal and professional satisfaction, but it is time for me to travel more and pursue my other interests. 
   
  Two years ago, I spoke to Board Chair Samuel Croll about my intention to retire soon, and we decided that the 2024-2025 academic year would be my last at Newark Academy. When I leave in June 2025, I will have served 18 years.
   
  The success we have enjoyed during my tenure is in large measure thanks to our wonderful students, our committed faculty, administration, and staff, and outstanding leadership from the Board of Trustees. Parents and alumni, united by their belief in the school, have also supported our vision and mission in countless ways. In short, it is the power of this community — its diversity, wealth of talent, and common purpose — that have allowed Newark Academy to rise and flourish and to reimagine itself, just as it has over the past 250 years. I am extremely proud to have been at the helm during a period of growth and change that has strengthened this venerable institution.
   
  By both short and long-term measures, Newark Academy is in excellent shape, making it an ideal moment for a new Head of School to step in. Our alumni are making their mark on the world in an extraordinary range of ways, leading lives shaped by the standard of excellence, passion for learning, and spirit of generosity instilled in them during their time at Newark Academy. Applications and yield rates are at all-time highs, even after we have grown enrollment 20%. The endowment has more than tripled, and the campus has been expanded and enhanced. Our superb teaching and professional staff is seasoned and engaged, with a breadth of talent that has allowed us to develop signature programs such as the IB, June Term, Capstone, and Immersion, along with outstanding academics, arts, athletics and extracurriculars. Together, we have improved an already revered institution, and I am excited to see what the future holds for Newark Academy.
   
  My intention is to remain fully engaged until June 30, 2025, working to keep things running well and facilitating a smooth transition for my successor. I am confident that when I leave, this great school will be poised to continue to grow and evolve under new leadership.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Donald M. Austin
  Head of School