Always at this time of year, I take personal stock of the journey ahead and look toward the yet-untraveled roads that may unfurl. This year, the view ahead is a particularly special and bittersweet one for me and my family, as my wife May and I have decided that it will be our last year at Barrie School.  

This was a difficult decision to make, but as our children irreversibly sprint toward adolescence and our aging parents step into their sunset years, family beckons. While we are not sure exactly what that will look like yet, being able to spend more time with family is at the heart of each of the possible adventures we are exploring.

The opportunity to be at Barrie School has been a true joy and I am grateful to have been entrusted with stewarding such a special community for the past seven years. What an honor to watch our faculty and staff share the gift of an extraordinary education to my children, yours, and so many others. What a pleasure to traverse the forested campus each day, seeing it act as host to deep nature observations, unique substrate for innovative academic inquiry, and peaceful refuge from city hubbub. COVID provided a significant opportunity for us to grow as a community, and we emerged stronger and more vibrant than before.  

I want to thank Barrie’s Board Chair, Bethany Criss, for her steadfast leadership. And while she so graciously lists all that has been accomplished over the past seven years in the letter below, I want to emphasize that it is not me, but rather we – the entire community – who has locked arms together to realize these achievements.

If you are wondering what is ahead for Barrie School, fear not. Our school has many unusually strong and caring hands that hold it up and shape it each day. I am proud to have collaborated with so many community members to leave Barrie School in such a favorable position. 

For both new and returning families, I want to assure you that while change can be hard, our classroom teachers and dedicated staff remain the heart of our school. In our All-Staff meeting this morning, we talked about our sacred duty as educators to focus on the needs of the students in our care – your amazing children – for this is where the magic happens.

I will, of course, continue working with this team to ensure a seamless transition between now and June 30, 2024 when I will pass the baton to a new Head of School. Over the next ten months, I look forward to engaging with you and your wonderful students to ensure our campus remains a special place to learn and dream.

Thank you for your joy and partnership over these years and I look forward to connecting with you at our many Back to School events!

With warmth and appreciation,

Dr. Jon Kidder

Dear Barrie School Community,

I start by thanking Jon Kidder. As with all that he has built and done for Barrie School, his planned departure is deeply considered and is deeply considerate. Jon prioritizes Barrie, and for that, I am grateful.

Jon's first year at Barrie School was also my family's first year. In preparation for my five-year-old to start Kindergarten, I attended a Back to School Night event specifically to talk with and hear from the new Head of School, and Jon Kidder exceeded my expectations. That evening, he shared a powerful vision for education. Slightly paraphrased, he said, "We don't want to teach your kids what to think. We want to teach them how to think and make a difference so they can shape an unwritten future." Throughout his tenure as the Head of School, Jon has built an environment that does just that–provides the space, freedom, and license for our kids to learn how to think. 

Since joining the school in 2017, Jon has partnered with our faculty, staff, Trustees, and parent  community to support a number of new initiatives that further strengthen Barrie School:

• The nurturing and expansion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programming school-wide
• The creation of the Infant Program and the expansion of our Toddler, Primary, and Elementary Programs
• The renovation of Rothschild Hall, a state of the art Montessori Classroom building for Lower Elementary, and the renovation of numerous buildings throughout campus.
• The restoration of the Lower School Art program in 2018 and Lower School Music Program in 2022
• The launch of the Makerspace Programs and Classrooms in Lower, Middle, and Upper School
• The Creation of the Millennium Scholars Program
• The design of the Sixth Grade Montessori Hybrid Program and the formation of the Fifth and Sixth Grade Montessori Model United Nations Program in New York City
• The creation of the Fall Expeditions Program where Middle & Upper School students experience immersive week-long field trips to the coast of Virginia, the Civil Rights trail from Alabama to Georgia, Viking Sagas in Iceland, and the Sea of Cortez to study Climate Change.
• The expansion of Extended Study Week – where students have had the opportunity to travel to Ireland, Belize, Costa Rica, the Florida Everglades, Broadway, Space Academy in Alabama, Yosemite, Puerto Rico, Sweden, and a host of other on and off-campus experiences

Given all that our community has accomplished over the past seven years, it is no wonder that current enrollment matches last year’s pace of being at the highest level since before the Great Recession.  In addition, 95% of all faculty and staff are returning for the year ahead at a time when faculty and staff attrition is becoming an acute challenge throughout our country.

Members of our Board of Trustees, both past and present, are deeply grateful to Jon for the ways he has grown Barrie School. His personal commitments to inclusivity, respect, academic excellence, and student voice have translated impactfully through his professional commitments to Barrie School, and the Board of Trustees remain inspired by his leadership.

The Barrie School Board of Trustees understands the importance of the next few months. It knows that there is no greater responsibility than its obligation to select a Head of School who will build on Jon's legacy of excellence and inclusion, and under whose leadership Barrie School will continue to thrive, teaching our kids how to think.

It's natural to have questions. Members of the search committee will be present at events throughout the fall, so please come chat with us. And speaking of events, I hope to see both returning and new families at the PTO's Welcome Back Pool Party on August 27 from 1:00 to 4:00pm!

Thank you in advance for your collaboration, and thank you to Jon for his leadership.

Gratefully, 

Bethany Criss
Chair, Barrie School Board of Trustees

1. Who will be leading the search for a new Head of School?To assist the Search Committee, we have retained RG175, a nationally renowned consulting firm for Head of School searches whose work is based in integrity, inclusivity, knowledge, transparency, and flexibility. The RG175 team will be led by Rebecca Upham, who brings more than 40 years of experience including professional experience as a Head of School. Rebecca will be supported by Tom Olverson, a veteran of 38 years in independent schools, having served as a Head of School for 27 of those years. We are tremendously confident in our collaboration with RG175 because they helped us find Jon Kidder.
    
2. Will diversity, equity, and inclusion be centered in the search process?
   Yes. A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is one of Barrie School's fundamental core values. We are seeking a diverse candidate pool with a demonstrated commitment to DEI and a proven track record of leadership that fosters  inclusive, equitable and welcoming environments.  At Barrie School we honor and celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and we recognize that differences within our community and out in the world are an important source of enrichment and interpersonal growth. We embrace a broad definition of diversity that includes race, ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, language, and physical appearance. Our definition also includes diversity of thought—ideas, perspectives, and values—and the understanding that individuals are diverse in a multitude of ways. We embrace this understanding in support of our inclusive and welcoming community. 
    
3. As an independent school, what is the role of the Board of Trustees in the selection process for a new Head of School?
   It is the duty of the Board of Trustees to find a well qualified successor to serve as Head of School. We have started the process by appointing a Search Committee that has already begun this work. This practice is informed by the Principles of Good Practice of a Board of Trustees as outlined by the National Association of Independent Schools, of which Barrie School is a member.
    

4. Which members of the Board of Trustees are serving on the  Search Committee?
   Barrie School parent and Trustee Andrea Dickerson will serve as Chair of the Search Committee along with committee members Alem Abate, Brandon Adams Sr., Corbin Campbell, Bethany Criss, Bernard Middleton, Selçuk Ozturk, Rajen Ranchhoojee, Bob Roberts, Durga Roy, and Tim Waxenfelter. Former Chair of the Board of Trustees, Janet Rutledge has also graciously agreed to support us. All of these Trustees are current or alumni parents of Barrie students.
    

5. What is the search process and timeline?
   RG175 consultants will use a collaborative and deliberate process to help us identify our critical strengths, challenges and opportunities; and what experience, qualifications and values we are looking for in a candidate.
    

   The search process kicks off with the discovery phase. Our consultant will be on campus on September 11 and 12 to meet with individuals and groups. During this visit, our consultant and members of the search committee will hold an open session for families– and we’ll let you know more about that as the time approaches. RG175 will also administer a community survey to gather input on the strengths of the school, what needs attention, and the professional and personal qualities constituents seek in the next Head of School. We hope to hear all voices in this process.  All of this information will be considered in the creation of the Head of School Position Statement.

   During the recruitment phase (September-December), the Position Statement will be distributed and posted to RG175’s extensive network.  Our consultants will then take the time to understand the skills, experiences, and personalities of the candidates before presenting the search committee with a set of dossiers of those who are the most exceptional. You can read more on the RG175 search process.

   Following the recruitment phase (Sept - Dec), the Search Committee will review dossiers of highly qualified candidates in early December – and then  conduct in-person interviews with a select group of semi-finalists in January. We anticipate bringing finalists to campus in February with a decision and announcement in March.
    

6. Given Barrie School’s value for Student Voice and Responsibility, what opportunities will there be for students to inform the process for what Barrie needs in the next Head of School?

   Our search consultants will seek out the insights of students and the Search Committee will ensure that students across a variety of grades will have the opportunity to be in discussion with each finalist candidate to hear their views on education, support for student programming, and leadership. 
    

7. What opportunities will families, faculty, staff, and Barrie School community members have to inform the process for what Barrie needs in the next Head of School?

   The Search Committee and RG175 will solicit community input, directly and via a survey, regarding the qualifications and qualities they find important in our next Head of School. In addition to the open session for families with our consultant in September, the Search Committee anticipates assembling parent/guardian and faculty Search Advisory Groups that will help inform the search process and will include representatives of the entire Barrie School Community. 
    

8. Will the Barrie School community receive updates on the search process?

   In the months ahead, we will share all updates via email, and all updates will be housed on the Head of School Search page on the Barrie School website. 
    

9. Once selected will the new Head of School have transition planning meetings with Jon Kidder and other members of the Barrie Community to ensure a smooth and seamless leadership transition?

   Yes, our goal is to have a candidate selected and an offer presented by March 2024 so that the Head Elect can begin engaging in a comprehensive transition planning process. RG175 will give us guidance throughout the transition period. As structured, our search timeline accounts for ample transition time for planning meetings, offboarding, onboarding, team building, meet and greets, etc. with the Barrie School Community. We will continue to provide updates through the transition process. 
    

   In addition, Tom Olverson will be available to support our new Head of School for one year following the start date of July 1, 2024.