January 21, 2021
Dear UHS Faculty, Staff, Students, Families, Alumni, Trustees and Friends,
I hope you are well and safe. This letter provides an update on the Board of Trustee’s process to hire a new Head of School, following my letter and the announcement of Julia’s retirement in June 2022.
As I mentioned in my December letter, the University High School Board of Trustees is entrusted with hiring our next Head of School. Thanks to Julia’s remarkable leadership and the community we have collectively fostered, we are able to approach this search from a position of exceptional institutional strength. In undertaking our search for Julia’s successor, the Board will remain firmly grounded in our school’s core values of inquiry, care, integrity, agency and interconnection, as well as our strategic vision to create a transformational high school experience. Consistent with our shared belief that diversity is excellence in education and guided by our Equity and Community Statement, we will seek to build a strong and diverse pool of candidates for our top leadership position.
I am honored to announce that Raj Atluru and Kay Yun will serve as Co-Chairs of The Head of School Search Committee. Kay (P’19 and P’21) has been a member of the Board since 2016 and serves as the Treasurer and the Chair of the Finance Committee. Raj (P’19, P’22, P’24) has been a member of the Board since 2018 and serves as Chair of the Investment Committee. In addition to myself, our other Search Committee members are:
The Search Committee will be supported by a team from the Education and Nonprofit Practice at Spencer Stuart, a leading global executive search and leadership consulting firm. We are excited to be working with the Spencer Stuart team of Mary Gorman, Susan Clifford, and John Harpole. Spencer Stuart has conducted searches for many of the nation’s leading independent schools, and recent searches include the leadership searches at Phillips Academy in Massachusetts, Punahou in Honolulu, St. John’s School in Houston, and Chapin School in New York. Beyond independent schools, this team has worked on college, university, foundation, and research institute searches across the nation. We have already established a confidential mailbox for our community and the market to use for nominations and general comments: UHShead@spencerstuart.com.
Our goal is to create a process that is transparent, engaging and as open as possible to ensure success. To this end, Kay and Raj will be sharing more information with you about the search process, including opportunities for you to participate in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Additionally, we have created this webpage with up-to-date information about the search process.
In addition to our audacious responsibility to select a new Head of School, we will also be sharing details over the coming months about how we can come together to celebrate Julia for her tremendous leadership and to thank her husband John for his partnership and service to our school.
In closing, I wish to convey sincere appreciation to all the members of the Search Committee. In the meantime, the important work of UHS continues without pause, and the Board of Trustees is deeply grateful for your vital role in the search. Your participation and commitment make it possible to anticipate UHS’ future with enthusiasm and confidence.
Warmly, Katie Albright (P’18 and P’21) Chair, Board of Trustees |