Head of School Search

Community input is critical to defining the leadership qualities and characteristics desired in our new Head of School. We will be hosting Zoom sessions with the Board, parents, middle school students, faculty and staff to gather their input. A survey will be conducted from March 27 through April 5 to provide additional opportunities for members of the Harbor community, including past parents and alums, to provide input. Please do not hesitate to email our Educators’ Collaborative consultant, Jean Lamont (jlamont@educatorscollaborative.com) if you would prefer to contribute your insights regarding the next Head of School via email.

There will be additional opportunity for community involvement when the finalists are brought to Harbor, pandemic permitting. More information will be sent as we get closer to the finalists’ visits. More ways you can help include: 

• If you happen to know someone who you believe is a strong candidate for Head of School, please submit this information to our consultant, Jean Lamont, directly at jlamont@educatorscollaborative.com.
• Our goal is to conduct this search in an inclusive and transparent manner. If you have any concerns or questions about the process, please contact the co-chairs, Adrienne Owen (owentreeo@gmail.com) or Cynthia Lippe (cwong.lippe@icloud.com).  We want everybody on board!
• Please read communications regarding the search and check back to this web page for updates!

Educators’ Collaborative (EC) is the oldest firm in the independent school search business. Since its founding in 1971, we have conducted hundreds of head of school searches. The firm consists of twelve partners, all of whom have served on average, twenty years as Heads of School. The partner who will be working with Harbor Country Day School is Jean Lamont.  Jean has been with EC since 2008 and has conducted more than 50 executive searches, nationally and internationally.  She has also consulted with numerous independent school boards regarding strategic planning and governance. Jean has her Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Columbia University Teachers College and B.A. from Middlebury College.  She has served as a science teacher, Head of Upper School, grades 7-9, School Counselor and most recently as Head of School of The Foote School in New Haven, CT (1992-2004).

The Search Committee will be approving a leadership profile based on input from the Harbor community via a survey and constituent sessions with the consultant, Jean Lamont. It will review candidate files, interview the most promising candidates, and identify three or four finalists who will visit Harbor. Working with the Advisory Group, and considering input from members of the Harbor community who meet with the finalists, as well as conducting reference and background checks, the Search Committee will recommend one candidate for appointment by the Board of Trustees. Ultimately, the Search Committee recommends a head-elect to the Board of Trustees for formal approval. 

The Advisory Group, selected by the Search Committee Co-chairs, will spend time with the finalists while they are visiting Harbor.  They will interview and get to know the candidates and then provide valuable feedback to the Search Committee.

The Board is responsible for approving the Search Committee’s recommendation for the next Head of School. The Board will formally vote to tender an offer to the selected candidate. Upon acceptance of the offer, the Board will announce our new Head of School.

The Board of Trustees includes:

Corinne Hammons; P'20, Current Parent, Chair
Neal Mellert, Esq.; Current Parent, Vice-Chair
Therese DeAngelis, C.P.A.; P'08, P'11, Treasurer
Alex Doboli, Ph.D.; P'20, Member at Large
Nancy Langdon Hickerson, Ph.D., P'12, P'15, Secretary

Rose Antilus, M.D.; Current Parent
Robert Antonacci, M.D.; P'16, P'16
Seema Bhansali (Venkatesh), Esq., Current Parent
Monica Bugallo, Ph.D.; Current Parent
John Cissel; Head of School, ex officio
Vincent Della Pietra, Ph.D.; P'15
Agnes Ferro, D.P.T.; Current Parent
Michele Filosa, Esq.; Current Parent
Bob McCarroll; ‘78, Current Parent 
Adrienne Owen; P'20, Trustee Emerita
Marina Polonskaia, Ph.D., ; Friend of Harbor
HP Wei; Current Parent

P = Parent of HCDS graduate

If you have any concerns or questions about the process, please contact the co-chairs, Adrienne Owen (owentreeo@gmail.com) or Cynthia Lippe (cwong.lippe@icloud.com).