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About

Head of School Search

School Search Communications

List of 9 items.

  • November 17, 2022 - New Head of School Announcement

    Dear Monte Cassino Community,
     
    Following an extensive nationwide search, the Monastic Council and I  are pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Burke as the new Head of School at Monte Cassino, effective July 1, 2023.
     
    Chris currently serves as the Director of Development at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School in Cordova, TN. He has worked at the elementary, secondary and college levels as a teacher, coach and administrator. He has experience in academic leadership as well as admissions and advancement. As a result, he has experience in all of the areas that are part of a Head of School’s responsibility—program, faculty, student life, fundraising, enrollment management, etc.
     
    Chris looks forward to becoming an integral part of the Monte community. He shared, “From the moment I stepped on the Monte campus, I felt at home. Being formed by Benedictine education in elementary and high school, I am excited to embrace the Benedictine values that are the fabric of this mission-centered community. These values ignite a life of purpose and provide a healthy view of God, self, and others. I believe in an educational experience that is innovative, challenging, relevant, and, most importantly, rooted in growth and joy. I want our students to develop their gifts and talents to be the best versions of themselves, fully prepared to meet our world’s greatest needs. It is with great joy and humility I accept the distinct honor of leading the next chapter of Monte Cassino School. I look forward to building upon the legacy of excellence established at Monte and doing my best every day “so that in all things God may be glorified.”
     
    The Monastic Council and I are deeply grateful to the search committee for the time they dedicated to this important endeavor.  Their commitment has made the process a great success. We are also grateful to the board of directors whose support and input has been invaluable throughout the search process.  We also thank the many other members of the Monte Cassino community, including faculty, staff, administrators, students, parents, and alumni, for providing thoughtful feedback on the finalists. Your emails and survey comments reinforced the choice of Chris as the next Head of  School for Monte Cassino.
     
    We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Tracie Kutmas who has ably served as our Interim Head since last July. Her commitment to Monte Cassino and to our students is truly remarkable and deeply appreciated. The Sisters are grateful for her commitment to partnering with all members of the school community to ensure a smooth transition in leadership.
     
    We are excited to welcome Chris, Martha and their daughters to the Monte Cassino community. I know we all look forward to working with Chris to continually foster our Benedictine spirituality and Monte Cassino’s commitment to excellence, embracing our Benedictine  values, working “together to educate each student as a child of God, in innovative ways that challenge the mind, grow the heart and nurture the spirit.” (Monte Cassino School Mission Statement)
     
    Sincerely,
     
    Sister Marie Therese Long, OSB
    President, Monte Cassino School

  • October 3, 2022 - Candidate Update

    October 3, 2022
     
    Dear members of the Monte Cassino community,
    We would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on the search process for Monte Cassino's new head of school.
     
    Recently, the search committee met and interviewed a number of candidates for the position. Each offered broad skills, talents and experiences. After thoughtful deliberation, the search committee reached unanimous consensus to invite back three candidates for additional meetings and interviews and to meet with various members of our community.
     
    Each finalist will be on campus for separate two-day visits in October. During this time, finalists will visit classes, meet with faculty, administration, staff, parents, students, board members and alumni. This is an opportunity for our community to learn more about each finalist and for each finalist to learn more about us. 
     
    The entire Monte Cassino community will have an opportunity to meet these individuals.  Dates for the current parents, alumni parents, and alumni to meet each finalist are as follows:
     
     Finalist # 1:   Monday October 10th – 8:15-9:15 am in the Middle School Cafe
                            Monday October 10th – 6:00-7:00 pm in the MPAC

     Finalist # 2:   Thursday October 20th – 6:00-7:00 pm in the MPAC
                            Friday October 21st – 8:15-9:15 am in the MPAC
     
     Finalist # 3:   Monday October 24th – 8:15-9:15 am in the Middle School Cafe 
                            Monday October 24th – 6:00-7:00 pm in the MPAC
     
    Faculty, staff, and administration, will receive a separate schedule for their meetings with the candidates. Information on each candidate will be sent prior to their respective visits. For those who attend these sessions, a link to an online feedback form will be made available to share your thoughts about each finalist with the search committee.
     
    Please note that the search committee will be thoroughly investigating references for each finalist. Due to the serious nature of this process and professional courtesies we must provide to the candidates, we ask that you allow the search committee, and the search committee only, to conduct these reference checks. In keeping with the respectful and professional protocol we have agreed to with the candidates, if you know someone who would be appropriate for the committee to speak with, please contact us so we may reach out to the person directly.
     
    We would like to briefly remind you of the overall process for the hiring of our next head of school. Hiring the head of school is one of the most important responsibilities of the board and the Sisters. To assist in the process, an ad hoc search committee was established. This group is responsible for doing all of the work associated with the search. They have gathered all the data necessary through evaluation of candidate materials, interviews, reference checks, observations, analysis, etc., to find the right person to lead Monte Cassino. Ultimately, based on this work, the committee will be presenting its recommendation to the Monastic Council and the board for their review and final decision.
    This is an exciting time for our community and we look forward to the final phases of our search for the next head of Monte Cassino. We will provide you with more details just prior to the finalists’ respective visits. 
     
    Sincerely,
    David Jeter                                                                                         Larry Rooney
    Board Chair                                                                                        Search Chair

  • August 19, 2022 - Head of School Search Update

    August 19, 2022
    Dear members of the Monte Cassino community,
    We hope that you had a wonderful summer. On behalf of the head of school search committee, we would like to provide you with a brief update on the search process.
    Our search professionals from Educational Directions, Mathew Heersche and Risa Oganesoff Heersche, have been recruiting candidates through summer. Their work has involved reaching out to Catholic educational leaders throughout the country, utilizing Educational Directions’ comprehensive database, contacting national and regional associations and professional organizations as well as leadership programs at various Catholic universities, and advertising in appropriate websites such as The Blue Sheet, an executive search report published by Educational Directions.
    At this point, Mathew and Risa are working with a number of individuals throughout the United States who have expressed an interest in the position. Their work with candidates involves multiple conversations, comprehensive interviews and initial reference checks to determine who would be the best fit for the head of school position. They will ultimately develop a group of top candidates for consideration by the search committee. The candidates’ files, which include each candidate’s cover letter, resume, statement of educational philosophy, letters of reference and a reference list, as well as other information provided by Educational Directions, will be presented to the search committee.
    As a reminder, it is from this group of top candidates that the search committee will select those individuals to be interviewed as semi-finalists. This group will be interviewed by the committee only because candidates are promised confidentiality through the end of the semi-finalist stage. This is consistent with best practices and important for the candidates because of the potential repercussions for them if their present school community knew at this stage of the search while both the school and the candidates are still in discernment.
    After the semi-finalist interviews, the search committee will select finalists. Their names will be announced in an appropriate way to the entire school community. Each finalist will spend time on campus to help them get a sense of our community as well as go through a final interview stage. 
    After the search committee has completed its evaluation of all the data gathered (including deep reference and background checking) and deliberates, the committee will be presenting its recommendation to the Monastic Council and the board for its review and final decision.
    Below is a summary of our target dates for these next phases:
    • September – Selection Committee semi-finalist candidate vetting and interviews.
    • October – Finalist candidates on-campus visits and interviews
    • November – Finalize selection of the New Head of School
    The chosen individual would begin work in July 2023. There will be a variety of opportunities for the new head to meet with members of our community as part of the overall process as we transition to our new leader.
    We will continue to provide regular updates as we move through the next stages of the search process. On behalf of the board, we thank you in advance for your support of Monte Cassino.
    Sincerely,
    David Jeter                                                                   Larry Rooney
    MCS Board Chair                                                         Search Chair

  • May 19, 2022 - Head of School Search Position Profile

  • May 19, 2022 - Head of School Search Update

    May 19, 2022
     
    Dear members of the Monte Cassino community,
     
    As we prepare to wind down the school year, we would like to provide you with a brief update on our head of school search. As noted in our prior communication, our search professionals, Mathew Heersche and Risa Oganesoff Heersche, and the search committee developed the position profile which speaks to what makes Monte Cassino special and outlined the opportunities for our next head of school.  We have posted the Head of School Search Position Profile to the school website, so if you know of anyone interested in applying for the position, please pass along this information.
     
    Mathew and Risa have been reaching out to Catholic educational leaders both nationally and internationally, utilizing a variety of resources to recruit the most promising individuals who most closely align with what we are looking for in our next leader. Over the course of the summer they will continue to evaluate individuals interested in this opportunity, via phone and video interviews and preliminary reference checking. Ultimately, they will present a group of top prospects to the search committee at the beginning of the new school year. The committee, with the assistance from Mathew and Risa, will review the candidates and determine whom they would like to invite for semi-finalist interviews at Monte Cassino. It is important to note that this select group will be interviewed only by the search committee to preserve candidates’ confidentiality until the end of the semi-finalist stage. This is the norm and is done primarily to avoid unnecessary repercussions for candidates who have not informed their respective school communities of their interest in pursuing other opportunities. At the conclusion of the semi-finalist interviews, the search committee will deliberate and select finalists.
     
    Once a group of finalists is selected, each one will be spending time with the various stakeholders in one-on-one meetings, small group meetings and larger forums. The overall purpose of the finalist visits is to allow our community to get a sense of the individual and, just as importantly, to allow the finalist to get a sense of us. Ultimately, both the school and the finalists are trying to determine if there is “mutual fit.” During these final phases, the search committee and our search professionals continue to further evaluate candidates, conduct extensive reference and background checks and collect community feedback to determine whom they will recommend to the Monastic Council and the board for final review and approval.
     
    At this point, it will be relatively quiet for us as Mathew and Risa go about their work of developing a pool of quality candidates. They will keep myself and Larry appropriately informed about their work on a regular basis over the next months. It will become busy for us in September and October as we move into the semi-finalist and finalist phases. Again, our goal timeline is to begin engagement of the next head of Monte Cassino in the Fall of 2022 and commence an organized transition process culminating with the new head commencing work July 2023.
     
    Mathew and Risa have confirmed that this is a very attractive opportunity because Monte Cassino is operating from a position of strength. We have a strong community, grounded in our Benedictine identity and guided by our core values, and have been blessed with stable board and leadership, and committed faculty who are truly dedicated to our students. We are also financially strong and are continually focused on moving forward strategically and excelling.
     
    We will keep all members of our school community informed as we move forward.
     
    Sincerely,
     
    David Jeter                                                                   Larry Rooney
    MCS Board Chair                                                         Search Chair

  • April 12, 2022 - Announcement of Interim HOS

    April 12, 2022
     
    Dear Monte Cassino Community,
     
    As the school year draws towards its close, the search process is underway for a new head of school. Our search committee has been working diligently with the search firm EduDx in a thoughtful process that was presented during the State of School in January. After receiving recommendations from our search firm and the search committee, we realized an interim head of school would be needed for the 2022-2023 school year. On behalf of the monastic council and Benedictine Sisters, we are happy to announce the appointment of Mrs. Tracie Kutmas as Interim Head of School at Monte Cassino, beginning July 1, 2022.
     
    Tracie has served at Monte Cassino over the past two years as Director of Finance and Operations, working closely with Kevin Smith and senior staff in all aspects of school operations. She is committed to the Catholic Benedictine mission and values of Monte Cassino and brings extensive management experience to ensure continuity and innovation.  She has great enthusiasm for all things Monte, not only as a member of the administrative team but as parent of Monte Cassino students.
     
    We are so grateful for Tracie’s acceptance of this interim position, and we are confident in her ability to lead the school in its mission.
     
    The Monastic Council and Board of Directors are committed to identifying a highly qualified leader who believes in our mission and Benedictine values and shares a love for our students.
     
    Thank you for your support for Tracie and your commitment to Monte Cassino School.
     
    Blessings~
     
    Sr. Marie Therese Long, OSB
    Prioress – St. Joseph Monastery
    President- Monte Cassino School, Inc.
     
    David Jeter
    Chair, Monte Cassino School Board

  • March 9, 2022 - Head of School Search Survey Deadline Approaching

    March 8, 2022
     
    Dear members of the Monte Cassino community,
     
    Last week our head of school search professionals from Educational Directions, Risa Oganesoff Heersche and Mathew Heersche and, were on campus to learn about the Monte Cassino community, our culture, the opportunities for the next head of school as well as the qualities sought in this individual. Mathew and Risa greatly appreciated the very warm and gracious welcome they received, experiencing and enjoying a real sense of family at Monte Cassino. They also saw the strong commitment we have to providing the best for our students, all guided by our mission and our Benedictine values.
     
    If you did not have the chance to meet with them or would like to share additional thoughts, there is still an opportunity to complete our online survey. The survey is available by clicking on the following link:
     
     
    The survey will remain open until Monday, March 13.
     
    As a reminder, Risa and Mathew, using the information gathered during their visit as well as the survey, will develop a position profile which will articulate the special qualities of the Monte Cassino community, the areas of focus for the next head of school as well as the qualities sought, both personal and professional. This document will be shared with the search committee for review and approval.
     
    The position profile will be used as part of the recruitment efforts. Over the course of the next few months, Mathew and Risa will reach out to Catholic educational leaders and programs, executive directors of educational organizations and regional school associations to notify them of this wonderful opportunity. They will be identifying and evaluating top prospects and presenting the most appropriate candidates to the search committee for our review. From this group, the search committee will identify the top-level candidates whom the committee will interview. Finalists will be selected after these interviews. There will be opportunities for school community members to meet the finalists once we have narrowed down that group.
     
    We look forward to the search process and will keep all members of our school community informed as to its progress via regular updates.
     
    For the search committee,
     
    Larry Rooney
    Search Chair
     

  • February 25, 2022 - Letter about Surveys

    February 25, 2022
     
    Dear members of the Monte Cassino community:
     
    As noted in our previous communication, our search professionals from EDU, Risa Oganesoff Heersche and Mathew Heersche will be starting the Head of School search process. An important first step is for them to visit Monte Cassino to learn as much as possible about our community. This will enable them to identify the opportunities for the new Head of School and the qualities we will seek for in this individual. They are scheduled be on campus Tuesday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 2.
     
    Matt and Risa will be spending time with members from all our community’s groups and will be asking us what we seek in our next leader. They also want to know:
    • What is the culture of our school?
    • What are the perceived challenges and opportunities of the school?
    • Where do we, as a school, want to be in five years?
    • What experience/leadership styles/personality traits will best meet those needs within our culture?
     
    We have scheduled two town-hall-styled forums to get parents’ feedback.
    • Tuesday, March 1, 6:00pm in the MPAC
    • Wednesday, March 2, 8:15am in the MPAC
     
    In the event you cannot attend one of the parent forums, you can still give your feedback using our online survey. The survey can be accessed at the following link: Monte Cassino Head of School Search Survey. Faculty, staff and administration meetings will be scheduled throughout the school day.
     
    Mathew and Risa will gather all the information from this process, and with the help of the search committee, develop a job description/position profile which will be used as a marketing tool for this wonderful opportunity. Once completed, the position profile will be shared with the school community on the Head of School Search section of the school’s website.
     
    For the search committee,
     
    Larry Rooney
    Search Chair
     

  • February 8, 2022 - Initial letter from Search Committee

    February 8, 2022
    As promised during the State of the School meetings last month, we wanted to provide the community with a progress update concerning the Head of School search process that is underway.
    The Process
    On January 11, 2022, the MCS School Board, under the leadership of Sister Marie Therese Long, President of MCS and myself, David Jeter, MCS Board Chair selected the following people to serve as the Head of School Search Committee:
    • Larry Rooney – Chair of Buildings & Grounds Committee and Monte parent of 1st and 3rd graders
    • Sister Julia Marie Roy – Monastic Council, Director of Mission Integration
    • Sara Barry – Monte parent, Past Board Chair, previous search committee member, Monte parent of an 8th grader
    • Tracie Kutmas – Director of Finance and Operations and Monte parent of PreK-4 and 5th graders
    • Caitriona Harris – Leader of Learning Initiatives (REACH, Camp Monte, Beyond the Bell)
    • David Jeter – Board Chair and Monte parent of 4th and 6th graders
     
    We recognize that the selection of the new Head is one of the most important responsibilities of the Board of Directors and that we want an exceptional individual who believes in our mission and shares a love for our students. The first action in the process was to identify and engage a search firm to assist us in this all-important task. The search committee has spent the last few weeks interviewing search consultant firms from across the country and in our local region who specialize in Head of School placement services. We are excited to announce today that the committee has selected Education Directions (EduDx) and their Catholic Search Team led by Matt and Risa Oganesoff Heersche. Educational Directions was founded in 1987 and is a highly respected national firm. Mathew and Risa bring deep experience, as educational leaders in Catholic education and as search professionals, as well as expertise and enthusiasm to our search. In addition, they have worked with a wide range of sponsored Catholic schools in their search for new leadership and are very familiar with how the values of a religious community inform the life of the school as well as the unique governance and leadership structures.
     
    EduDx and the search committee will kick off the formal search process which will include surveying the entire Monte community and stakeholders for input regarding the next leader of the school. Your input during these next few weeks in invaluable so please look out for the communications and survey information.
    Once a pool of qualified and interested candidates are identified, EduDx and the committee will begin conducting interviews and ultimately will have a finalist group for the Board of Directors and Monsatic Council to consider.
    The Projection
    While we are certainly looking forward to meeting who will become our new Head of School, our greater priority will be to honor the process and select the right person for our community. This will take some time and we hope you trust this team will select someone who will carefully build on the great progress we have made over the last several years.
    Rest assured the school is in an incredibly strong position with great momentum and this Head of School transition will not change our trajectory. The Senior Staff and Board of Directors work very well together and intend to manage this transition with minimal disruption to our students’ growth and day to day operations.
    We are also currently developing a plan should we need to appoint an interim Head of School if the search extends into the summer. Finding the right person who aligns with our school’s values is more important for the long term than making a quick hire.
    Going forward
    We will post a Head of School Search Update on the myMonte Resource Board soon. This letter will be posted there for your reference. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the search, please contact the Search Committee Chair, Larry Rooney, LRooney@manhattanconstruction or me.
    Thank you again for your support!
    David Jeter
    MCS Board Chair
We are excited to announce Chris Burke has accepted the Head of School position and will be joining us from St. Benedict at Auburndale High School in Cordova, TN effective July 1, 2023.  Please see Sister Marie Therese Long's November 17 letter for more details about Chris and the transition. If you have any questions, please email headsearch@montecassino.org and a committee member will reply.

Head of School Search Committee

  • Larry Rooney – Chair of Buildings & Grounds Board Committee, Monte alum, parent of Monte 2nd and 4th graders
  • Joan Anderson – Director of Development and parent of Monte 1st grader
  • Sara Barry – Past Board Chair, previous Head of School Search committee member, parent of Monte alum
  • Caitriona Harris – Leader of Learning Initiatives (REACH, Camp Monte, Beyond the Bell)
  • David Jeter – Board Chair and parent of Monte 5th and 7th graders
  • Sister Julia Marie Roy – Member of Monastic Council, Director of Mission Integration
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