August 12, 2024
Members of the Chesapeake Academy Community:
With Catherine L. Emery ready to serve as our Interim Head of School for the 2024-2025 school year—with the full and enthusiastic support of the Board or Trustees and faculty team—I am pleased to announce the formation of the Search Committee that will lead our community in finding our next Head of School who will assume that role on July 1, 2025.
Selecting the next leader for our special school is both a tremendous responsibility and a unique challenge. It requires a well-run process that can successfully cast a net for a proven leader who is qualified and experienced, a natural fit with our school culture, inspired by the challenges of a small school with big aspirations for its students, and uniquely positioned to thrive in our community.
The following individuals have graciously agreed to serve on the Search Committee for our next Head of School:
Co-Chairs
- Bill Chapman – Past officer and trustee, alumnus parent
- Debbie Newman – Current board Vice Chair, alumni parent
Committee Members
- Kelly Antonio – Past faculty, past Director of Admissions, alumni parent
- John Clair (ex officio) – Current board Chair, current parent
- Michele Faulkner – Past board Chair, alumni parent
- Lisa McLaughlin – Current trustee, current parent
- Ron Mihills – Past board Chair
- Jeff Szyperski – Past board Chair, alumni parent
All members of the committee are also longtime CA volunteers and donors, and most have also served on past search committees for the school. We are extremely grateful to the committee members for the commitment of time, energy, experience, and passion they will bring to this important task.
The Search Committee has been charged to act both expeditiously and thoroughly in assessing candidates and making its ultimate recommendation to the Board of Trustees. To aid in this process, we have secured the services of The Education Group (TEG), an experienced and highly respected educational consulting firm with an unparalleled track record in the recruitment of successful heads of school. The Search Committee, under the leadership of Debbie and Bill, will drive the selection process, which will be facilitated and supported by our consultants from TEG. The Board will then make the final decision concerning our next Head of School, after consideration of the Search Committee’s recommendation. We expect to complete this process by the new year.
The national search is already underway, and a “Head of School Search” page has been added to the Chesapeake Academy website to keep you informed and updated on the search.
These are exciting days as we get ready to kick off a successful new school year and look ahead to what we believe will be a very bright future for our school.
Sincerely,
John Clair
Chair Board of Trustees and CA Parent
(Henry & Lucas ’25, Annabel ’27)