President Search

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

• Q: Who is leading the Search?

  The Board of Directors has appointed a dedicated Search Committee to lead the search process.  Dr. Karen Hardart, current Vice-Chair of the Board, will serve as Chair of the Search Committee. To assist with this important work, the committee has engaged DRG Talent.  Senior Talent Consultant Andrew Watson, a respected leader and mentor in the field of education, will lead the search on behalf of DRG.  Although DRG is an independent search firm, Andrew brings a wealth of experience involving Catholic schools having recently led presidential searches for Notre Dame Preparatory School, Loyola Blakefield, McQuaid Jesuit, and St Ignatius Loyola Academy.  Everyone involved in the search understands that Catholic Identity must remain at the heart of any leadership transition.

• Q: What is the role of the Search Committee and Board of Directors?

  The Board of Directors has tasked the Search Committee with conducting a national search to identify exceptional candidates for the position of President at Archbishop Spalding High School.
  
  

  Partnering with Andrew Watson of DRG Talent, the Search Committee has developed and distributed a position description and application portal that has already brought in over 50 applications. After an initial review, semifinalists will be invited to interviews with the Committee.  Finalists will then be selected and invited for on-campus visits and further evaluations.
   

  Upon completing interviews, reviewing references, and analyzing feedback from community-wide involvement, the Search Committee will make a formal recommendation to the Board of Directors.  If that recommendation is accepted then the Board of Directors will take their recommendation to the Archdiocese of Baltimore for approval by Archbishop Lori.

• Q: What is the role of DRG talent in the Search?

  Our consultant of DRG Talent will assist in facilitating the search for the next President of Archbishop Spalding High School.  The Search Committee will be responsible for selecting the finalist they recommend to the Board of Directors, with the final decision ultimately made by Archbishop Lori.

• Q: When will the new President start?

  To date, we have received over 50 applications. We are hopeful that there will be a strong pool of qualified and suitable candidates to move forward with semifinalist interviews with the Search Committee members, followed by on-campus interviews with at least three finalists.
  
  The goal is to have the candidate recommended by the Search Committee approved by the Board of Directors and subsequently by Archbishop Lori, with a planned start date of July 1, 2025.
  
  If that timeline cannot be met or a suitable candidate is not identified, the Search Committee will recommend pivoting to an interim President. There is no intention to complete the search until an outstanding new President is identified.

• Q: How can I be involved?

  On May 5 and 6, Andrew Watson visited the Spalding campus and engaged with a wide range of stakeholders. He met with Interim President Greg Komondor, Interim Principal Regina O’Hara, the President’s executive team, the Principal’s leadership team, and numerous faculty members including department and program heads, athletic coaches, teachers, students, and parents.
  
  

  Following these visits, a community-wide survey was distributed to parents, students, alumni, faculty and staff, alumni parents, and Board members. The feedback from this survey has been invaluable in helping us identify candidates who are not only highly qualified but also a strong fit for the Spalding community.
  
  

  Once the finalist candidates have been selected and invited for on-campus visits, we will extend invitations to community members—including alumni, parents, students, faculty, and staff—to meet them. After those visits, we will gather impressions and feedback through a second survey to inform the final decision.

• Q: How will the Spalding community be informed regarding the President Search?

  We will be sending updates via email and updating this webpage. We welcome your feedback at any point during the search.
  
  

  For questions or feedback related to the search process, you may contact our Search Committee Chair, Dr. Karen Hardart, at presidentsearch@spaldinghs.org.

• Q: When will we know the dates for the finalists on campus visit?

  The specific dates for the on-campus visits of the finalists will be determined after the Search Committee meets during the week of May 19th. If the committee decides to move forward with the search and confirms that there are at least three strong candidates available to start by July 1, 2025, the dates for finalist visits will be scheduled shortly thereafter.
  
  You can expect those dates to be communicated to the Spalding community soon after the decision is finalized.