Students Participate in Search for New Principal

Although faculty, parents and alumni all play an important role in the selection of the Academy’s 15th principal, the Principal Search Committee took substantial time this week to hear the suggestions and opinions of current Exonians. Through multiple listening events, a Student Council panel discussion and an open email address for community members’ thoughts, students were able to voice their beliefs in an organized and effective manner.

“Through those various means, the students will help shape the Committee’s views on what type of person we should pursue as the community’s next leader,” Tony Downer ‘75, co-chair of the Principal Search Committee, said.

Anne Rankin, science instructor and member of the search committee, stressed the importance of student input. “Without the students there is no school; that’s who we are hiring the principal for. So we need to know what the people living in the school environment every single day value in a leader,” she said.

This Saturday, members of the Search Committee will listen in on a debriefing call, during which all the information gathered in the past few weeks from each listening event will be interpreted and synthesized. “The search committee has to write a job description with some of the important tasks of the principal, so all this commentary is feeding into how the committee forms that job description,” Rankin said.

Although the Principal Search Committee held the open forums during every block of last Tuesday and Wednesday, Exonians were underrepresented in attendance. After the first six meetings, only four students had been present. Those who did sign up were typically the only student among other members of the faculty and staff.

Some speculated that, due to time constraints, many Exonians chose to focus on work rather than attend a forum for one whole class block.

Senior Emily Lemmerman, who chose to attend one of the meetings, said that the decision had been somewhat challenging. Because of a paper due the same day, she had to stay up later the night before, knowing she’d lose a free period.

She also explained that students might have been hesitant to think their views were important enough. “I think students aren’t confident in their abilities,” she said.

Lemmerman also suggested that some students may have forgotten or lost track of the opportunity. She said that attendance might have been raised if “more faculty had talked about it beforehand and reminded students of the importance of the process.”

Senior Christina Rossitto said she felt that “the time aspect of the meetings definitely deterred students” and recommended a survey to garner the most results. “Sending out an email, even to get short responses, could be really helpful,” she said.

Regardless of Exonians’ low attendance at the listening events, the search committee has still been able to collect the student body’s thoughts through the StuCo panel and email option.

“It has been pretty incredible to read the comments people are sending to the principal search email, and that is an extremely valuable way for students to have their voices heard,” Rankin said. “Well thought out, well supported, well articulated messages to the search committee email are read and discussed in great detail.”

Thus far, the committee has found that Exonians are looking for a candidate “with high energy, with a high visibility on campus—someone who will make the effort to connect with students and to learn their names, and someone who will champion Exeter’s core values including Harkness, goodness and sustainability,” Downer said.

Rankin, who was present to hear the ideas of students during the StuCo panel, noticed that many “wanted someone who is a strong presence on campus, who is interested in collaborating with students to create the Exeter community, but also somebody who provides relationship with schools beyond Exeter and who breaks down the Exeter ‘bubble.’”

Although many Exonians focused on the issue of the principal’s presence on campus versus his/her responsibility off campus, some concentrated on more specific facets of Exeter life that they would like the 15th principal to emphasize.
Senior William Li hoped to see a candidate with a strong focus on Exeter’s ‘non sibi’ motto. “I would love the new principal to focus on ‘goodness with knowledge,’” he said, “specifically on things like ESSO or a more effective Community Action Day.”

Lemmerman agreed with Li. “If we’re serious about non sibi, it should be someone who has devoted their life to something of that nature. I think someone who’s very giving is important,” she said.

Similarly, some students wanted to see the Academy’s motto woven into daily life. “I personally hope that the new principal works hard to instill everyday non sibi in this school,” lower Dirk Komarnitsky said. “While lots of people including me have done volunteer hours, more focus should be put on doing five minute favors within our own community.”

Others also sought a head of school that pays greater attention to everyday issues on campus.

“Some principals in my experience are caught up in too much “blue sky” thinking instead of working to make changes that will immediately affect the school,” prep Harry Saunders said.

In addition, many students valued the worth of a principal with dynamic accessibility and charisma. Upper Michael Shao described this as a “presence” he found important. “This principal should interact with the students and the teachers and make important decisions in a fashion that creates the most pragmatic outcome for the Academy,” Shao said.

Rossitto also spoke of the importance of a principal with a strong and likable character, that worked well in interactions with various groups affiliated with the Academy. “The principal needs to be somebody who can walk into the dining hall and hold a presence and conversation with the students, and then walk into a faculty or board meeting and hold a similar presence with a very different group,” she said.

Despite varying opinions of students across campus, there seemed to be consensus in the preeminence of a principal that is relatable for and open to connecting with students, and deeply committed to Exeter’s mission.