About
Head of School Search
WELCOME! We look forward to meeting you at our Fall Admissions events.
Poly Prep has launched a national search to find its next Head of School. Our Board of Trustees has convened a search committee which includes representation from parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees. The committee will be co-chaired by Robin Bramwell-Stewart ’86, P’16 and Laurie Rosenblatt P’23, ’26. The broader Poly community will have several opportunities to participate and share their perspectives via surveys, focus groups, meetings with our search consultants, dialogue, and email.
As we reflect on the Poly Prep of today, we see a school that is stronger than ever. Poly students are thriving inside and beyond our classrooms. Our world-class faculty and staff continue to expand, developing lifelong learners of the highest character who are prepared to lead with curiosity, integrity, and creativity. Our financial foundation is solid and giving is at an all-time high. We have made significant investments in our campus and facilities and, during the 2023-2024 academic year, we will complete the new 10,000-square-foot Poly Arts Center. The Board is very proud of where Poly is today and filled with excitement and hope for what lies ahead.
The Board of Trustees is dedicated to securing an extraordinary leader who embraces our school’s mission and values to lead us through the opportunities and challenges ahead. This process will be as transparent and inclusive as possible, valuing insights from our diverse community of students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and beyond. We welcome your thoughts, ideas, or concerns and invite you to share them with us over the coming months.
SEARCH COMMITTEE
Harry Bernieri ‘85, P’15, ’19, History Faculty
Robin Bramwell-Stewart, ‘86, P’16, Co-chair, Former Trustee
Laura Coppola ‘95, P’29, ’35, Charles and Valerie Diker Chair of Visual Arts
Kim Davis, Head Teacher, Kindergarten
John Foley P’26, ’30, Trustee
Emily Gardiner P’24, ’27, Upper School Deans Department Chair
Michael Liburd P’21, Trustee
Aiyana Parker, Head Teacher, Grade Four
Jennifer Powers P’24, ‘26, ’28, Trustee
Kareem Raymond P’31, ’33, Trustee
Laurie Rosenblatt, Co-Chair P’23, ’25, Trustee
Daniela Vitale Howell P’20, ‘23, ’25, Trustee
SEARCH PROCESS
Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), a nationally recognized educational search firm, has been retained to partner with Poly for our Head of School search. CS&A brings a deep knowledge of independent schools from their nearly 40 years of experience placing school leaders, administrators, and educators across the country.
The nationwide search will kick off this fall and will draw a wealth of gifted candidates. We intend to be inclusive and transparent about the process itself; however, we will also respect and uphold the confidentiality of all candidates during this process. Over the coming months, the committee will review diverse candidates, invite community feedback, and identify finalists who will return to Poly to meet with community members. After thorough analysis, the Search Committee will present its recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
NEXT STEPS
The CS&A team—Barbara Chase, Seliat Dairo, and Bob Vitalo—will visit Poly in September, hosting various forums with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to fully understand our needs. Stay tuned for a detailed schedule for ways to engage. Concurrently, a confidential, communitywide survey will be conducted. This is a wonderful chance to voice your expectations for our next Head of School. Your participation is invaluable.
QUESTIONS ABOUT SEARCH
Your insights matter and we’re devoted to keeping you informed. Should you have questions or feedback, please reach out to the Search Committee directly via this Head Search email. We will continue to inform the community in this space about details such as the positioning statement, updates, and more, as the process develops.