October 23, 2023

Dear Riley Facilitators, Families and Friends:

I am pleased to share that our search for Riley’s next Head of School is progressing well. Last spring our Search Committee and our Search Consultant, Chris Williamson, met with the Board, Facilitators, and Families, including some Alumni, to discuss the hopes and needs for Riley. This feedback guided us in the crafting of the Opportunity Statement, which became the vehicle for sharing the opportunity both internally and externally.

Chris reached out to 22 contacts in Maine and beyond, to five organizations that share information about openings, and posted the position with the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP), and Educational Directions’ Blue Sheet.

We were excited to receive interest from 25 people, including candidates from Argentina, Canada, Bahrain, England, Singapore, and (in the US) from California, Connecticut, Maine (9), Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Chris held preliminary discussions with each and follow up conversations with several. The candidates included seven with Head/Director experience, eight with Division Head/Dean/Department Chair middle management experience, and two with Admission Director experience. Several presented additional experience outside of schools. The Search Committee conducted two exploratory interviews that helped refine the process and our goals. After narrowing our focus to ten candidates, we conducted at least three reference checks on each. From this group the Search Committee has chosen to interview five semi-finalists, all with impressive credentials and enthusiasm for Riley.

After completing these interviews, the next step in the process will be additional reference calls and selection of three Finalists. These will each be invited to campus for individual three-day visits beginning November 29. There will be time set aside for class visits and conversations with students and meetings with Becky, Facilitators, Parents, Alumni, and Board members. The schedule will be provided well in advance, and candidate information will be provided hard copy. We hope that you will make time to meet the Finalists.

The Search Committee will gather feedback from each visit, then make a recommendation to the Board. We look forward to announcing Riley’s third Head of School by early in the new year. As we then begin to prepare for the transition, we can also focus on celebrating Becky’s outstanding service to Riley.

Best wishes,

Whitney Oppersdorff , Board President, for the Search Committee:

Chrisso Rheault (Chair), Christine Chamberlain (co-Chair), Bill Kinnane (Board VP), Mel MacKay