TIMELINE
Last winter, Walter Landberg announced he would be leaving us in June for a Head of School position in California. Walter has served the IACS community with exceptional , professional, distinction. We are grateful for his thirteen years of leadership and we wish him every success in his new position. The Board of Trustees has appointed a search committee, chaired by Linda Willis. The Board has also retained Educator’s Collaborative as our search consultants, specifically Judith Glickman and Doug Jennings. FAQs About Our Search For a New Executive DirectorWho is leading the search process?The Board of Trustees is responsible for selecting and hiring the executive director. The Board’s Search Committee is a subset of the Board and is chaired by Linda Willis. Recognizing that selecting our next leader is a critical milestone for the School, the Board has engaged Educator’s Collaborative (www.educatorscollaborative.com), a well-known national educational search and consulting firm, to serve as consultants to the Search Committee throughout the process. The school’s Advisory Panel , comprised of staff and faculty, will also interview the final candidates and make recommendations to the Search Committee.How was the search consultant selected?The Search Committee researched educational consulting firms and then interviewed five of the nation’s top firms that most closely aligned with IACS’ philosophy and mission. Educator’s Collaborative was unanimously selected by the Board of Trustees based on their experience, demonstrated understanding of our community, and past successes. Educator’s Collaborative has participated in hundreds of national searches for Heads of School and executive appointments in schools of all types.How was input solicited from parents and students about this search?A survey was sent to the community prior to Educators’ Collaborative consultants’ campus visit in the spring. Input was collected from the survey responses, and on-campus meetings with were held with students, staff and faculty to solicit input on every aspect of IACS, including what makes the school unique, our challenges, and our goals.What does the search entail and what is the timeline?The Search Committee communicated the following anticipated steps and timeframes in a letter to the community in February. See the top of this page for a visual illustration of the process with anticipated timelines.This web page will be updated as more information becomes available. How can I recommend a candidate?Please refer your candidate to Educator’s Collaborative so they may enter the application process, http://www.educatorscollaborative.com/searches/active-searches/innovation-academy-charter-school-ma/What's the difference between a Head of School and an Executive Director? Which are we hiring?Both are titles used to describe executives who provide effective leadership, governance, management and vision of academic performance standards, development of relationships between the school and its communities, and oversight of all internal and external program development and influences. Historically we have used the title Executive Director. The Board of Trustees will work with the Search Committee and new appointee to determine the desired title going forward.I've heard Mr. Orpen is going to teach next year as well as be HS Principal and Interim Executive Director. How can he manage all those roles?Mr. Orpen has agreed to work closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure that the transition between Walter Landberg and the next Executive Director goes smoothly, and has prepared his staff to assist him in the day-to-day administration of the high school. Specifically, our HS Dean of Faculty, Clare Ringwall, and HS Dean of Students, Tina Lindberg, will be assuming interim additional duties to ensure seamless running of the High School. Mr. Orpen will not be teaching during the 2013/2014 school year, and will be serving primarily as the Interim Executive Director.I've heard the middle school Admin staff is moving to Landberg Hall. Where will Mr. Orpen be located?Some of our middle school administrative staff and our business office staff will be relocating to Landberg Hall, and some will remain in the main campus building. Mr. Orpen has already relocated to Mr. Landberg’s former office. An updated list of staff locations will be posted on the school website later this summer.Will the community get to meet the final candidates, and if so, when?Final candidates will be invited to campus in the Fall for a day or two of touring, interviewing and meeting the community. Please check back on the website and stay tuned to the DISPATCH for further details as the school year gets underway and plans are confirmed.How can I participate in the process?Please email your questions, comments or suggestions directly to the Search Committee Chair, Linda Willis at lwillis@innovationcharter.org.Additional information: |