Head Search

Leadership transitions are a normal facet of Independent Schools. Kirby’s mission, values, and strategic vision will remain at the core of everything we do. The search committee is dedicated to finding a leader who will uphold these principles and build on the strong foundation that exists at Kirby.

Christy Hutton will remain Head of School until the end of this academic year, ensuring stability and continuity. The Board is committed to a smooth transition, and we will work closely with the incoming Head of School to ensure they are well-prepared to assume leadership.

Since its inception in 1977, Carney Sandoe & Associates have worked successfully with over 1,800 independent, private, boarding, and charter schools in 48 states and 32 countries to provide exceptional faculty recruitment, head of school search, and strategic consulting services.

"We take the time to learn the unique culture of each school, and we invest heavily in forming long-lasting relationships with our hiring contacts. Our recruitment process is a deeply personal one; we often visit our clients on campus to learn as much as we can about the inner workings of the organization."

We expect to appoint an experienced Interim Head of School before the end of the school year to provide valuable overlap time with Christy Hutton. 

The Board is committed to maintaining transparency throughout the search. Regular updates will be shared on this page and through email communications to keep everyone informed about the progress and key milestones of the search.

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary leader who aligns with Kirby’s mission, values, and strategic vision. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of educational leadership, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, strong financial acumen, and the ability to inspire and engage our entire community. Our search firm partners will work with the search committee to produce an extensive position statement aimed to attract experienced and mission-aligned candidates. If you know someone who would be an excellent candidate for the Head of School position, please send their information to Headsearch@kirby.org. The search committee will ensure that all nominations are considered.

Confidentiality is a key part of the search process to protect both the candidates and the integrity of the process. While we will share regular updates, we will not disclose the names of candidates until the final stages.

We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Please feel free to contact the search committee at Headsearch@kirby.org with any comments, questions, or suggestions regarding the search. The committee will also consider nominees, to nominate a candidate email Headsearch@kirby.org.