Frequently Asked Questions

The search is proceeding according to plan. The Search Committee and our consultants recently crafted and posted the Position Description to a variety of outlets —including here on the Wesley website; on our search consultants Carney, Sandoe & Associates’ website; with CAIS, SoCal POCIS, NAIS, & CalisBOA; and in other locations where talented candidates will see it—and have alerted sources and potential candidates across CS&A’s extensive network and beyond. The opportunity has attracted robust interest, which has been wonderful to see. The Search Committee continues to meet regularly with our CS&A search partners.

It’s important to remember that the Search Committee—made up of Trustees, faculty, administrators, and parents—is empowered by the Board of Trustees to manage the search process. They don’t choose the next Head of School, but they meet regularly with our search consultants and will vet candidates at the appropriate points in the process. Following Semifinalist and Finalist stages, the Search Committee will make a recommendation to the Board, which is then responsible for making the final Head of School appointment. The Search Committee hopes to present a recommendation to the Board no later than February 2024.

Given the confidentiality of the process, and to protect candidate privacy, we will not identify any candidates during the early stages. Only when the Search Committee has selected Finalist candidates will we share their names with the community. At that time, each Finalist will visit the Wesley campus, likely in early to mid-January, and meet with various constituencies according to a schedule designed by the Search Committee. Along the way, the Search Committee will strive to keep the community updated on the process; however, there will be some periods of time when there will be less to report.

The next leader of The Wesley School will benefit from a thorough process such as we are conducting now. The position of Head of School at Wesley is already attracting a competitive pool of talented educational leaders, and it will be important for this appointment to be made in the context of that pool and Wesley’s particular needs at this point in its evolution. We will remain focused and deliberate in moving through the process. Along the way, the identity of candidates will be held in the strictest confidence until the Finalist stage, a determination that protects Wesley, the search process, and the candidates or prospective candidates.

Especially given our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, we believe that Wesley will be best served by building a deep pool of qualified and compelling Head of School candidates who reflect the diversity that enriches our lives, a belief shared by our search consultants. To support our commitment to an equitable and inclusive Head of School search, our consultants will conduct an implicit and cognitive bias training session for the Search Committee and the Board of Trustees before candidate review begins. We are determined to have the process conclude with the appointment of a uniquely qualified and inspirational educator who can lead Wesley enthusiastically into its next quarter-century.

Participation in the Community Questionnaire was quite robust across constituencies, offering abundant insights into Wesley’s special qualities, the opportunities and challenges that await the next Head of School, and the qualities and characteristics that will poise that individual for success. Overall, 278 members of the Wesley community responded, with strong participation from current parents, alumni parents, Trustees, and faculty and administration. Thank you for your participation! The Search Committee has reviewed the aggregate responses, along with a sampling of narrative responses, on a confidential basis. Please look for a further report on the Community Questionnaire.