The Search for the Next President of Merion Mercy Academy

The search for the new President is both national and international in scope.

A primary goal is to make the search process as transparent as possible, with opportunities for community updates and feedback along the way. Confidentiality about individual initial candidates, however, remains a critical component for success. Some potential candidates may not be actively looking for a new position, and others may not want it known at their current institution that they are pursuing an opportunity at Merion Mercy Academy until if/when they become finalists.  As such, the Search Committee will not comment on specific candidates participating (or not participating) in the search. 

Candidates will be evaluated based on how well their skills and characteristics match those desired by the school community. Those skills and characteristics have been identified drawing on the survey responses and constituent conversations and focus groups conducted by Educators' Collaborative consultants.

The Search Committee will go through multiple steps to acquaint themselves with the pool of candidates before narrowing that group down to a small group of finalists, who will then be invited to the campus for interviews and conversations with various constituent groups.

The Search Committee encourages the application of all individuals who have a genuine interest in leading the school, including anyone who is currently employed at the school.

To every extent possible, the Search Committee will attempt to create a level playing field, ensuring that the eventual nominee, as President-elect, is assessed in the context of the entire field of candidates. In addition, the confidentiality of internal candidates is as important as that of candidates from outside the school.

The Search Committee, chaired by Dr. Michelle Williams, is charged with conducting a comprehensive, national, and international search for a new President. The Board of Trustees will refer all inquiries related to the search to the Chair of the Search Committee and Educators’ Collaborative. 

As the process draws to completion, the Board will review the recommendations of the Search Committee, formally resolve to pursue a candidate, bear responsibility for negotiating any terms of employment, and ultimately appoint the new President. The President is the only employee that is hired by and reports directly to the Board of Trustees, and, as a result, choosing a new President is one of the Board's most important responsibilities.

The Search Committee is leading the search process and will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for approval.  The Board, which holds ultimate responsibility for appointing the President, will then forward its recommendation to Mercy Education for ratification.

An Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives of various stakeholder groups, will also support this work. More information and details to follow. 

The Board of Trustees appointed a sub-committee of the Board to identify and select an executive search firm. After a thoughtful and thorough process that included reviewing proposals and conducting initial and follow-up interviews along with reference checks, the sub-committee unanimously recommended to the Board of Trustees the selection of Educators’ Collaborative.

Educators’ Collaborative is a nationally known search consulting firm, specializing in finding presidents/heads for independent schools like ours. George Sanderson and Carol Santos are our dedicated Educators’ Collaborative consultants for this search. Carol and George are both former independent school leaders with deep experience in girls’ education, faith-based schools, leadership development, and financial strategy. As a team, they have assisted many schools with President and Head of School searches.

The search consultants (Carol and George) will provide guidance on format, logistics, procedures, and best practices in the search process. In addition, they will recruit candidates, check references, and support the interview process. Educators’ Collaborative will also provide transition support to the new President after s/he has been officially hired.

The search process is comprised of three general phases, with which there is some overlap.

Phase 1: Discovery

The primary purpose of the Discovery Phase is for the Educators' Collaborative consultants to learn more about the school. That was done through the listening sessions and online survey. In addition, the Educators' Collaborative consultants familiarized themselves with school operations, programs, and policies through numerous documents provided by the school. This phase culminated with the creation of an official position profile document that:

• Shares Merion's great history, mission and identity

• Articulates the values that must remain at the heart of Merion

• Reflects the qualities and leadership attributes our community believes are essential in our next President

• Outlines strategic opportunities and priorities

The position profile was then approved by selected members of the Board of Trustees.

Phase 2: Evaluation

The Evaluation Phase is conducted almost exclusively behind the scenes, as the Educators' Collaborative consultants use the position profile as a tool to recruit and do the initial vetting of candidates.

While qualified candidates will be considered up until the completion of the search, interested candidates are asked to contact the search consultants so that timely vetting can take place.

Phase 3: Selection

In the third phase, the Search Committee is highly active in learning more about candidates, conducting preliminary confidential interviews, selecting the finalists, and assuring that their visits to the school are successful. The work of the Search Committee concludes when it presents its nomination of the candidate of choice to Mercy Education and the Board of Trustees.

No. All related interviews will be built around faculty, staff, and student schedules to avoid disrupting the academic calendar.

The person selected by the Board of Trustees will officially become Merion Mercy’s President on July 1, 2027. Until that time, Mrs. Marianne Grace will continue to lead the school as President. We anticipate that there will be opportunities during the 2026-27 school year when the President-Elect will be on campus and have a chance to learn more about the school, but it is highly probable that the selected individual will have ongoing professional responsibilities elsewhere.