General guidelines:
- You will go through the same process as any other candidate, including:
- having candid conversations with the consultant
- undergoing thorough reference checks
- interviewing with the search committee if you are chosen to be a semifinalist
- meeting with multiple members of the community if you are chosen to be a finalist
- Direct all questions about the search to the consultant; don’t seek information from the search chair, board chair, or staff on the committee.
- Keep your candidacy confidential to minimize distractions to your current work. Your candidacy will become public if you are chosen as a finalist.
- If/when your candidacy becomes public, do not “campaign” for yourself. Remember that your day-to-day work is not an “audition” for the role.
- Other candidate prospects will be informed that there is an internal candidate as it may affect their decision to become formal candidates themselves.
Some Considerations:
- Remember that the board has an imperative to ensure the future of the school by conducting a search. The fact that the board has engaged in a broad search is not a slight to you.
- Understand that you will undergo intense scrutiny by members of the search committee, which often includes staff and parents you know well.
- Though awkward, you will likely be asked to join in the interview process for other candidates who are selected to visit the school as finalists.
- Is this the only head of school opportunity you are pursuing? Know that by joining the search, search committee members will know that you may be looking for your next opportunity.
- Will you remain at the school if you are not selected? How will you feel about working with a head of school that is new to the community?
- If you become the head of school, your relationship with the community will change.
- How will you manage a new supervisory relationship with friends and colleagues?
