Madison Riehle
Senior Reporter

An advisory group made up of students from each grade has been meeting over pizza during the past month with the four final candidates applying for the head of school.

“I’d like to see somebody who respects the traditions we have in place, but who is also willing to make a change,” sophomore Sarah Bunney, who participated in the focus group, said. “Some- one who can allow the students to make more decisions.”

Three students from each grade were selected by interim head of school Mary Forsyth to interview the candidates. After each interview, students filled out questionnaires for president Anne Marie Krejcarek, who will take into consideration the community’s opinions, but will make the ultimate decision, in hiring a new head.

“I am looking for somebody who has the ability and the vision to go forward with the curriculum,” Krejcarek said. “I want someone who has leadership skills, but still really cares about students. It’s all about a relation- ship with the students, and the faculty.”

While interviewing candidates, students looked for qualities they would like to see in the new head of school, according to junior Alyssa Viscio.

“One woman we talked with was more relatable than others,” Viscio said. “That connection with the faculty and students was one of the important qualities I was looking for.”

Faculty, parents, alumnae and the board of trustees all had the opportunity to interview candidates, while each applicant spent two days on campus over the course of the month.

“Adjusting to a new head each year is hard,” junior Sophia Kelley who has had an acting head, head of school, and an interim head over the past three years, said. “This is something the school needs — someone who is going to be here for a while.”

Carney, Sandoe & Associates, a faculty placement firm, recruited and selected 10 initial candidates who were interviewed over phone by Krejcarek. With help from a faculty search committee, the president chose four candidates to be interviewed on campus.

“I want a bright future for this school because I am going to be part of this community even when I don’t go here anymore,” Kelley said. “This is the type of school that you get married at, you will send your kids, and your kids send their kids. You forget that it isn’t just school, it’s a community.”