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Head of School Search

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List of 12 items.

  • Marymount Head of School Search Announcement

    Dear Marymount High School Community, 
     
    The Marymount High School Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that following a well-planned and year-long search process, Dr. Fadia Desmond, Ph.D., Marymount ‘90, was selected as the next Head of School. The decision was based on the carefully considered endorsement of the Search Committee. Dr. Desmond will begin on July 1, 2025. 
     
    As an alumna, Dr. Desmond brings a deep commitment to Catholic and all-girls education. She has a generational perspective, educational and academic leadership and a passion for ensuring that Marymount remains the premier independent all-girls Catholic high school with a global presence. Dr. Desmond will lead Marymount as it embarks on its second century of educating and empowering the ethical and confident female leaders of tomorrow — continuing to nurture in all of our students a sense of joy and a lifetime love of learning. 
     
    An extensive international search resulted in a diverse pool of strong candidates; we prioritized those who most closely aligned with the leadership needs of Marymount at this juncture. In evaluating candidates, the Search Committee was guided throughout by an evaluative rubric that was formed through the feedback of our entire community, ultimately narrowing the pool down to three excellent finalists. Through a detailed process of evaluating the objective credentials and exhaustive information gathered through interviews, references, deliberations and broad-based community feedback for each candidate, the Board — in collaboration with the Search Committee — concluded that Dr. Desmond was the most qualified individual for the Head of School position and the multi-level needs of Marymount. 
     
    As reflected in her resume, Dr. Desmond holds a B.A. in English from UCLA, an M.A. in Education from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in Education from UC Davis. Dr. Desmond is a dedicated educator who brings a depth of experience in both single gender and Catholic schools. She began her career as a public high school English teacher and later held various teaching positions at the college level before becoming involved in Catholic education and leadership. Dr. Desmond was an assistant principal at St. Francis Catholic High School, an academically rigorous all-girls school in Sacramento. She later joined the leadership team at an independent school, Jesuit High. Dr. Desmond returned to St. Francis Catholic High, where she currently serves as its president. 
     
    Dr. Desmond knows first-hand the transformative power that a Marymount education and the RSHM charism provide the generations of young women who attend. She is dedicated to their success and wellbeing, the support of their families, the enhancement of faculty and staff, and engagement of the broader Marymount community. It is critical for Marymount’s next leader to focus not only on academic excellence and communication with all stakeholders, but also on expanding the community’s investment to secure its future. Dr. Desmond understands that Marymount is uniquely both Catholic and independent. She is poised to protect the well-being and advancement of every Marymount student, faculty, and staff as we continue to build on the school’s extraordinary heritage and aspirations for the future. 
     
    Dr. Desmond is looking forward to communicating directly with the Marymount community before she joins us next summer. In the meantime, we are grateful that we will continue to be stewarded by our beloved and capable Dawn Regan as our Interim Head of School. 
     
    On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we thank you for your engagement in this lengthy process and your support of our phenomenal institution, its leadership, and — most importantly— its students. 
     
    Sincerely,
     
    Michele Cooley-Strickland, M.Ed., Ph.D
    Chair, Board of Trustees
     
     
    Rita Tuzon 
    Search Committee Chair
    Board Chair 2020-23
    Trustee Emerita
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  • Update on the Head of School Search

    September 12, 2024
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  • Update On The Head of School Search

    August 16, 2024
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  • Update from the Head of School Search Committee

    May 2024
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  • Head of School Position Description

    April 12, 2024
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  • Head of School Search Survey

    March 6, 2024
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  • Advisory Committee for the Head of School Search Named

    February 13, 2024
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  • An Update from the Head of School Search Committee

    February 9, 2024
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  • Announcement Re: Head of School Search

    December 18, 2023
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  • Announcement Re: Interim Head of School

    August 14, 2023
    Read More
  • Letter to the Marymount Community from the Board of Trustees

    August 2023
    Read More
  • An Important Announcement from Jacqueline Landry, Head of School

    June 2023
    Read More


FAQ

List of 14 items.

  • What is the role of the Board of Trustees in the search?

    The Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring a fair, inclusive and rigorous search process for the next Head of School. 
  • Why conduct a search at all? 

    The Board believes it is essential for the integrity of the search process and its decision regarding the hiring of the next Head of School that we engage in a national search that follows the principles of best practices established by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). It is the Board's fiduciary responsibility to hire a new Head of School in keeping with long-term strategic objectives.
  • What is the role of the search committee? 

    Appointed by the Board of Trustees, the search committee oversees all aspects of the search process. They work closely with our consultants, gather data and feedback, interview candidates and offer recommendations to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees ultimately makes the final decision for the appointment of the next Head of School.
  • What is the role of Educational Directions? 

    Educational Directions is our search consultant firm. They will guide, advise and support the search committee during the entire process.Our consultants, Mathew Heersche and Risa Oganesoff Heersche, will visit Marymount to learn more about our community and hear from our various stakeholders. Mathew and Risa will reach out to many candidates, including those from their extensive network of highly qualified Catholic administrators from around the country.Candidates whom they believe have the desired qualifications will be submitted to the search committee for their review.The search committee, in collaboration with Educational Directions, will determine which candidates they want to invite to interview in person.
  • What is the expected timeline of the search? 

    We expect that the search for the permanent head will be completed by the fall of 2024 and that Marymount’s new Head of School will begin their term in July 2025.
  • How can members of the Marymount community offer their feedback? 

    Members of the Marymount community will have the opportunity to connect with our search professionals when they conduct their school visit for the permanent head search, as well as through an online survey which will be provided at the time of the school visit. This will take place in the spring of 2024.
  • What was the process for selecting an interim head of school?

    The Executive Committee of the Board evaluated the leadership needs of Marymount at this juncture in its history and in the context of the centennial celebration. The committee determined it would be best to select an interim who is well known to the community and who has the skills to manage this role. This will minimize disruption to the overall operations of Marymount.
  • What is the role of the interim head of school? Is it different from the permanent head of school? 

    An interim head of school typically serves one and possibly two years. While overall management of the school and daily operations for the interim head mirror the responsibilities of the permanent head, the priorities and approach of an interim are uniquely different. Given the shorter tenure for the interim head, they are generally focused on more immediate tasks and shorter-term goals. Often these may be bringing to fruition initiatives already underway or addressing pressing needs to help position the school to welcome and support the new permanent head. It is unlikely that an interim Head would launch significant strategic projects - these would fall to the permanent head.
  • What about the timing for the search for the permanent Head of School? When will it begin and how long will this process take?

    Marymount will engage in a thoughtful search and well-planned transition over the coming two years. Preparations are currently underway to launch the search for the permanent Head of School which will begin in the spring of 2024. We anticipate the following timeline: 
    • Engagement with various constituencies of the community fall 2023 through spring 2024 • Position posted spring 2024
    • Interviews Summer 2024-Spring 2025
    • Start date July 2025
  • What if I know someone who may be interested? 

    Interested candidates should contact our search consultants Risa Oganesoff Heersche at [email protected] or Mathew Heersche at [email protected]. Risa and Mathew will maintain confidentiality throughout the process.
  • Will internal candidates be considered? 

    Interested internal candidates should contact our search consultants Matthew and Risa. They will maintain confidentiality throughout.
  • What if we don’t find an exceptional candidate? 

    If we don't find an exceptional candidate, we have the option to extend the search as needed. This is one reason why we are starting the search process so early: It will afford us options and flexibility.
  • What is the best way to be involved and stay informed throughout this process? 

    • Attend the meetings with the search consultants and participate in the online community survey when it goes live 
    • Regularly check the MHS website for updates from the search committee available on the Head of School Search webpage at https://mhs-la.org.
    • Meet candidates and provide feedback in the finalist round
  • What if I have additional questions? 

    Feel free to contact the search committee with questions at [email protected].

Head of School Search Committee:

Rita Tuzon
Former Board Chair (2021-2023)
Trustee Emerita
Search Committee Chair

Dr. Laura Tokuza Arenstein ‘01

Director of Enrollment & Community Outreach

Dr. Brenda Stevenson Cones
Trustee
Alumna Parent

Dr. Michele Cooley-Strickland
Board Chair
Alumna Parent

Damon Fisher
Trustee
Alumna Parent

Rose Helm
Trustee

Diana Hernandez ‘02
Trustee

Sister Margaret McKenna, RSHM
Faculty Member

Colleen McCarthy Pennell ‘89
Trustee
Current Parent
Alumnae Parent

Art Rasmussen
Trustee
Current Parent
Alumna Parent

Father Mark Villano, CSP
Trustee

Julie Whittell
Academic Dean
Alumnae Parent

Shannon Stein Wickstrom ‘90
Trustee
Alumna Parent