<p>So, about that Head of School change…;-P</p>
<p>Every donation to a school’s Annual Fund is a gift. No school has a right to expect a gift. No school has a right to coerce a donation by social pressure. Focusing too fiercely on supposed “metrics” can lead us into very dark places.</p>
<p>Every school should educate parents about the need for an Annual Fund. Past a certain point, trying to pressure families into donation through shame is…abhorrent. Criticizing other schools for supposed differences in donation rates–although the rates are computed in different manners–is far from the “love of one’s fellow man” which should motivate philanthropy.</p>
<p>“Youth from Every Quarter” as a guiding principle does mean that some of the families invited to the school are not able to donate to the Annual Fund. The students may be able to donate more in the future, but at present there isn’t an extra $10. It’s very odd to be debating whether FA families are able to donate to the Annual Fund at a time when our financial system is imploding under the pressure of people who took on more debt than they could afford. </p>
<p>It’s also just possible that FA families know of other causes which, in their opinion, are more worthy. $10 to a school which draws $39 Million in endowment income? $10 which probably doesn’t cover the cost of production of the mailing materials? Maybe, just maybe, they would rather donate that $10 to the local Food Bank. </p>
<p>And maybe they’re right.</p>
<p>Pulsar, a great boarding school hopes for all those things: current parent donations, future donating potential of a student, volunteer efforts. I’ve been following this thread and while I’m not a fan of Parlabane’s tone, I do think his/her point is interesting. It does follow, at least to me, that there is something different about the relationship between Exeter and its parents versus Andover and its parents. I don’t think the difference is explained by your argument. </p>
<p>Whatever may account for Exeter’s low parent-donor participation rate, the metric seems relatively immaterial. Whether you like this School or not, its enormous and continued success as one of the truly great boarding schools in the world is inarguable.</p>
<p>Sorry, edited out my agree to disagree/call a truce sentence by accident, Parlabane.</p>
<p>Thanks Periwinkle. Much more graciously stated than my post. Had that same thought about where we give our $10.</p>
<p>And yes, sorry Seven for again hijacking the thread.</p>
<p>I’m kind of an idiot where heads are concerned, but it’s an interesting thing to consider in the abstract. What, if you had to pick just one thing, would you look for in a head? </p>
<p>To me it would be moral compass. I’d look, bottom line, not just at speeches but at where their past fundraising efforts have been focused (new buildings? more scholarships?); how much time they spend “in the trenches”–classes, parent meetings, dorms; etc.</p>
<p>Peri - for the love of God:</p>
<p>“Focusing too fiercely on supposed “metrics” can lead us into very dark places.”</p>
<p>Exeter fans/applicants/students/parents on this site are, without question or argument, the biggest, “boastiest” stats people around…except when it’s the rare stat they don’t like.</p>
<p>I don’t see why the answer to the problem can’t simply be: “yeah, we need to do better in this area and we will.” Why does the response always have to be defensive, along with an explanation of why the stat is not important, or why Exeter is misunderstood, or is just an angry argument from someone “unaffiliated” with the School?</p>
<p>Some problems can only be in some peoples mind. 
Every one please go donate to your church or temple or you may not be religious.</p>
<p>Parlabane:</p>
<p>Where, exactly, are you seeing all that “boastiness” about stats? Specifically? Got posts? I agree we jump quickly to Exeter’s defense, but I’d argue it’s because people LOVE to dis Exeter, not because we’re boasty. (love that word, though!).</p>
<p>Sigh. Done it again Seven. Sorry.</p>
<p>Parlabane, it’s much easier to achieve a high rate of parent participation when the parents are middle class and wealthy. IF one has the luxury to talk of “philanthropic priorities,” THEN the school which is supporting one’s child should be among them. At all these schools, the cost of the education offered outstrips tuition.</p>
<p>Taking Annual Fund parental participation rates as proof of different parent bodies’ “love of or connectedness to the school” isn’t fitting, in my opinion. There’s a certain aggressiveness in fundraising which leaves a sour taste. Literally, the cost of raising that $10 from a divorced schoolteacher raising two children can be more than $10. You’ll have to forgive me when I say that I don’t see extracting that $10, in order to create a marginally higher statistic for the info sheet, as a virtuous act.</p>
<p>I’ve made annual fund calls, and all someone has to say is that they do not plan to participate. After that, there are no more calls. I suspect most schools follow this rule. So there are no evil plans to “extract $10 from a divorced schoolteacher raising two children,” unless that person indicates that she might participate but needs to think about it. In that case, there is a follow-up call, often several months later. The typical divorced spouse suggests that her ex-husband should be called, but she cannot participate. If the ex makes a donation, that would count for that family.</p>
<p>While I don’t know that other schools follow these guidelines, I suspect that they do. Parent Fund volunteers are provided a set of rules and guidelines and are asked to adhere to them. </p>
<p>Going back to the OP, it is possible to have some difficulty when a new Headmaster is a poor fit for that school, or wants to make substantial changes. This can result in faculty turnover and a dissatisfied atmosphere at the school. Also, while it is often not a major event, there might be a few dissatisfied faculty/staff who tossed their hat in the ring for the Headmster job but not received the position. I suspect that inappropriate Headmasters are more common at day schools without very high compensation. I think Headmasters at boarding schools with a strong group of Trustees are very well compensated and closely vetted.</p>
<p>With a caveat that a great compensation and close vetting may not guarantee success, otherwise we wouldn’t have failed head masters!</p>
<p>Saw an FB update that the former SAS Assistant Headmaster was recently formally installed as the head of Morristown Beard, a well-regarded day school in NJ.</p>
<p>Bumping this thread to see how parents with students at schools with a first-year head are finding the transition to new leadership.</p>
<p>We met Dr. Curtis and his wife at Parents Weekend and have heard him speak a few times. He’s very personable/easy to talk to and his qualifications, in our opinion, are quite good. I do think he has some big shoes to fill. Some of the kids have noted that he is less formal than Dr. Shanahan (not always in a suit/tie), but I think they consider him very approachable. Our overall impression is positive. We’re new to Choate, and we hope to get to know Dr. Curtis better as we continue this journey. It must be very difficult assuming a mantle of this this size and distinction and making it your own. This will take time. I think it’s important to allow Dr. Curtis the latitute he needs to be successful in his new role and to enthusiastically support him as he begins to steer this ship.</p>
<p>SevenDad - For the second time, we have a child starting at a boarding school the same year as a new head begins! Our oldest child began her first year at Miss. Porter’s at the same time that Kate Windsor started her role as headmistress. Windsor had big shoes to fill (the retired former head was much beloved, and someone I had known for several years) as well as an immediate lawsuit to handle. In our opinion, Windsor did a phenomenal job transitioning into a major role at a new school whilst having to manage much more than she must have anticipated. She did have the benefit of “inheriting” a very solid, well supported school, and she has continued to lead well.
Our second child is in her first year at St. Paul’s, with a new rector. From what we hear, and see, this has been a smooth transition. This may be helped by the fact that the new rector is a graduate of SPS and has been a part of the school community for several years already. There have been no “bumps in the road” that we are aware of, and he certainly was a solid and engaged presence during Parents Weekend. He is already intimately familiar with the character and culture of the School. I suppose one of the biggest adjustments for him and his peers would be his stepping into the ultimate leadership role of rector after having been well known in other positions. From what we see, all is well!</p>
<p>Tabor Academy has named a new Head, John H. Quirk, Jr.: [Tabor</a> Academy ~ Head of School Search](<a href=“http://www.taboracademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=149054]Tabor”>http://www.taboracademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=149054)</p>
<p>IF you ask a head master, he will say that alot of his job is fund raising. But they also lead the school.
The direction of a school will probably not change in the first couple of years after a change at the top, but there will be changes. These range from dress codes to study hours (closed study halls) etc. While the HM usually cannot dictate the changes, he/she is given lots of leeway and can “lead” the discussion of the different faculty committees that do make the changes.</p>