Head of School Search

MSNV's Next Chapter: Finding a New Head of School.

About the Search

Head of School Search 2026-2027

Welcome to the Montessori School of Northern VA (MSNV)
Head of School Search webpage. This page is dedicated to
keeping our community informed about the progress of our
search for a new Head of School. We are committed to a
transparent and inclusive process, engaging various
stakeholders to ensure we find a head of school who
embodies the values and mission of MSNV.

MSNV has thrived under Kari’s leadership for the last
nine years, and we thank her for her tireless dedication.
Read Kari’s announcement email here. We wish her the
best of luck upon her retirement! We are excited to find
our next Head of School to build the next era of success.

What to Know: FAQs

Who is leading the search process?

The Board of Trustees is responsible for selecting and hiring the next Head of School. To ensure a robust and equitable process, the Board has established a Search Committee, composed of current Trustees–all of whom are parents–and several members of staff. The search committee is chaired by Nicole Kaeding, a parent and President of the Board of Trustees. The committee is tasked with managing the day-to-day aspects of the search for the next Head of School, including soliciting input from the MSNV community, evaluating candidates, and ultimately recommending an outstanding finalist to the full Board for a vote to select the next Head of School.

To guide the school through this important process, the Board has engaged Educators Collaborative. Established in 1971, Educators Collaborative possesses an extensive history, having successfully guided over 1,000 leadership searches for various independent educational institutions.

What is the expected timeline for the search process?

The expected start date for the new Head of School for MSNV is July 1, 2027. Below is the tentative search timeline. Exact timing and milestones can shift slightly as the search progresses. The search committee will provide timely updates to the community as key milestones are hit.

September to Early October 2026: Educators Collaborative (EC) conducts onsite visit and distributes community survey to MSNV stakeholders
October to November 2026: EC posts position announcement. EC also builds and vets candidate pool
November and December 2026: Search Committee narrows candidate pool; Search Committee interviews semi-finalist candidates
January 2027: Finalist candidates visit MSNV. MSNV community has an opportunity to meet each finalist and provide feedback to the Search Committee
January to February 2027: Search Committee proposes leading candidate to Board of Trustees. Board votes.
Early Spring 2027: Board announces new Head of School to the MSNV community
March - June 2027: Board, EC, and Outgoing Head of School lead onboarding and transition plan
July 1, 2027: New Head of School officially begins

What is the role of the Search Committee?

The Search Committee’s role is to consider, evaluate, and interview a pool of candidates in order to narrow it down to the finalist stage. They will participate in anti-bias training and sign Confidentiality Forms to ensure the process is inclusive, equitable, and maintains the high integrity that is desired. The Committee and EC will review dossiers from interested candidates and invite semi-finalists for virtual interviews.

Based on these interactions, the Committee will select finalists to come to MSNV during which time the entire community is invited to meet with each finalist and provide feedback. The Committee will then nominate its top candidate to the Board for selection as the new Head of School.

The Chair of the Search Committee will keep the school community informed and engaged throughout the search process while also maintaining the necessary confidentiality of the candidate recruitment process.

Who is on the Search Committee?

Search Committee members demonstrate a longstanding commitment to the Montessori School of Northern Virginia and are deeply invested in creating a school where children and the community continue to thrive in an authentic Montessori environment. They bring a variety of perspectives to the table.

Search Committee Members:
Nicole Kaeding, Chair and Parent
Janig Baladouni, MSNV Staff and Parent
David Hale, MSNV Staff and Parent
Stacy King, Board Member and Parent
Kathryn Lazaro, MSNV Staff and Parent
Khaleaph Luis, Board Member and Parent
Tyler Martinez, Board Member and Parent
Rachel Pasternack, Board Member and Parent
Brent Tweddle, Board Member and Parent

What is the role of the Board of Trustees?

The Board is responsible for hiring MSNV’s next Head of School. During each finalist visit, the full Board will meet the finalist. Acting on the recommendation of the Search Committee, the Board will appoint the next Head of School. In making its decision, the Board will ensure that the selected candidate is the best fit for our school.

What is the role of Educators Collaborative (EC)?

Our EC consultants, Mary Seppala and Debbie Millon, will advise the Search Committee throughout the process, based on their years of experience in the industry. They will help create the Leadership Profile, which they will use to recruit and vet candidates for the position. They will also conduct interviews of the candidates and check references before presenting a pool of candidates to the Search Committee. The consultants will help prepare the Search Committee and other groups for reviewing and evaluating the dossiers, as well as for semi-finalist and finalist interviews. They facilitate the flow of feedback between the candidates and the Committee. Finally, they will advise the school during the transition period.

Will there be an opportunity to share input?

Yes, all members of the MSNV community will have the opportunity to share their input through a survey. Additionally, community members are invited to meet with Mary and Debbie when they visit campus in October 2026. When finalists are selected and come to campus for a 2-day visit, all members of the MSNV community will have the opportunity to meet with them and provide feedback to the Search Committee via an anonymous survey.