Hassan to Retire, Search for Next Principal Begins

The Academy’s trustees have created a principal search committee to begin the process of gathering profiles of possible candidates for the position, following Principal Tom Hassan’s announcement to retire at the end of the 2014-2015 school year. 

Tony Downer ‘75, trustee and co-chair of the principal search committee, said that the committee plans to have the 15th principal selected and in position by July 1, 2015, exactly a year from the day Hassan shared his plans with the Academy community. 

The Principal Search Committee, composed of trustees, faculty and staff, is finalizing its outreach program to allow any member of the Academy community to contribute to the search. The committee has also hired an executive search consulting firm, Spencer Stuart, to help with the process.

While members of the committee hope to receive input from a diverse range of people, Downer said that committee members are especially interested in receiving student input in order to select the most capable and fitting individual to succeed Hassan.

“We are eager to hear from the students, just as we are eager to hear from the faculty, staff, alumni and parents, on their thoughts of the significant challenges facing the Academy in the years ahead, [and] the desired profile of experience and capabilities we should be looking for in the 15th principal, as well as any specific candidate recommendations students may have,” Downer said. 

Other avenues of outreach include on-campus open sessions on September 23 and 24, town hall sessions on campus during the Exeter leadership weekend, a session with parents during family weekend, a possible Student Council meeting on September 23 and a convention for parents and alumni in nationwide locations including Boston, New York and the San Francisco Bay Area. The PEA web site also provides a forum for emails from those interested in offering their thoughts in writing.  

Students shared mixed opinions about the committee’s efforts to communicate with students about the process.

Senior class president Stephanie Chen said that she appreciated the committee’s consideration of opinions and thoughts from students. “Students should partake in the selection process. By including student input, you reach a broader spectrum of people that the principal works with,” Chen said. “Without student input, you lose an important perspective that helps shape decisions of the principal. I'm very glad the trustees are seeking student input.”

Upper Cesar Zamudio agreed, noting that in electing a representative and leader of an academic institution, student input needs to be respected.

“Student voices are very important in these decisions because we are the ones who get to experience Exeter with the help of faculty and everyone else who make it possible,” Zamudio said.

Others viewed student opinions as unnecessary and impedimentary to the search process of the 15th principal.

Upper Maegan Moriarty said that although it’s important to listen to students, selecting the next principal should remain a task handled with professional insight and knowledge, without regard to student participation. “The job of assigning our next principal should primarily be designated to the trustees,” she said. “Student relations with the principal are fairly important; however, the student-principal connection is only a small part of the principal’s job. There is much more to Principal Hassan’s job than students are aware of.”

Regardless of the mixed viewpoints towards student input in the search process, students expressed interest in the committee’s selection of possible candidates and shared their thoughts of what qualities the committee should seek out in the future principal.

“I want someone who has done years of community service and wholly embodies ‘non sibi,’” senior Josh Martinez said. 

Moriarty said that the next principal should be a current instructor or a certified teacher, because of the relatability and friendliness teachers tend to possess.

“Many students in my grade said that Principal Hassan was the best math teacher that they have had during their Exeter career [because] they enjoyed the fact that they were able to create such a close bond with the head of school in a small class environment,” Moriarty said. 

Senior Max Le agreed that the individual should attempt to create friendly bonds with all members of the Academy community. “I would love to see him or her on campus talking to students and staying in touch with faculty as often as Principal Hassan did,” Le said. 

Downer said that all of these insights will be taken into serious consideration as soon as the committee completes the design of its oucreach program. However, he noted that despite the openness of contributions to the committee’s search process, all information regarding the selected candidates will remain confidential and not be disclosed.

“The process will be as open as we can make it in terms of making ourselves accessible for the community’s input, [but] we will be keeping the candidates’ names in the strictest of confidence during the process,” Downer said. “We anticipate that the candidate pool will include both inside candidates and outside candidates.”

New lower Chris Agard added, “I wish the administration gave us a list of school supplies so we do not have to buy them at the campus store, which I have been told is expensive.”

One factor arriving boarding students will not have to manage is cramped, difficult housing arrangements. 

Despite struggles in previous years to house new students, “this year, we were able to house all accepted boarding students without too much trouble,” said Dean of Students Melissa Mischke. Mischke and Dean of Residential Life Arthur Cosgrove assessed the adequacy of emergency doubles over the summer, ensuring their safety and deeming a few previous singles as “emergency doubles.”

New lower Alexandra Aiello had her request for a dorm on the South side of campus fulfilled and felt confidently optimistic about her placement. “I was assigned to Dunbar, which I have so far heard good things about!” She also acknowledged the change having a roommate is likely to bring about. “Having a roommate will be different for me. I've never actually had to live with someone else in my room,” Aiello said.

But some still felt less optimistic. Post-graduate Ann-Marie Messuri voiced her mixed feelings regarding the room assignment she has been given. “I'm not too thrilled about it. I was hoping for a single, partially since I am a post-garduate. But I'm also looking forward to having a roommate at the same time. It'll give me a chance to get to know someone at the school, and I'll hopefully be closer to her than anyone else,” Messuri said.

For many, the move to Exeter involves an enormous environmental change. Prep Milena DeGuere is preparing for the switch from a much smaller school. “I come from a very small school, and my [eighth grade] graduating class only had 11 people so being able to meet all of the people from around the country and the world is thrilling,” DeGuere said. “I'm nervous, overwhelmed and excited.”

On top of the aforementioned social acclimatization, new students also need to focus on the more obvious physical adjustments and academic changes they will surely encounter as new Exonians. 

“Packing up everything I need is hard since I'm pretty sure something will be forgotten,” prep Bridgette Han said. “At home, I'm so used to being able to know everything before it's even taught, yet I know that at Exeter everyone is highly gifted and intelligent. It's a little intimidating.”