Head of School Search

July 22, 2026

Dear GA Community,

I hope you are having a wonderful summer. On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to share an update on the search for GA’s next Head of School, an undertaking that is especially meaningful as we approach GA’s Bicentennial and look ahead to the school’s next 200 years.

Head of School Search & Community Survey
As previously shared, the Board has established a search committee, co-chaired by trustees Annie Day Thorp ’02 P’31,’33 and Trent Carmichael P’13,’15,’21,’38, and charged it with conducting a comprehensive search. The full committee is now in place, and its members reflect the breadth of the GA community—current and past parents, alumnae, and faculty:

Annie Day Thorp ’02, P’31,’33 Committee Co-chair, Trustee
Trent Carmichael P’13,’15,’21,’38 Committee Co-chair, Trustee
Richard Chilton P’10,’14,’18, Ex Officio, GA Board Chair & Trustee 2003-2012
Mandell Crawley P’32, Trustee
Susan Bonney Doyle, MS Faculty 2002-2021, US Faculty 2021-Present
James Ho P’28,’31, Trustee
Parinaz Pahlavi P’25,’31, LS Faculty 2003-Present
Nicole Roberts P’32,’34, Trustee
Lauren Berkley Saunders ’92, P’22, Trustee 2013-2023, Chair 2022 Strategic Plan
Krissy Schmitz P’21,’26, Trustee, GAPA President 2019-2020
Alexandra Steel Scott ’00, P’34,’36, Chair of the Board of Trustees

Over the past few weeks, the co-chairs conducted a thorough process with leading search firms and the Board supports their recommendation: Spencer Stuart. We were impressed by the team’s thoughtful, detailed plan for the search, backed by relevant experience and deep familiarity with our school. Our work will be led by Mary Gorman and Michele Haertel P’01, GP’38,’39. As senior partners in Spencer Stuart’s education and social impact practice, Mary and Michele bring more than 15 years of experience leading head searches for independent schools nationally and abroad. Additionally, Michele’s long-standing connection to GA gives her a strong understanding of our community and culture.

Your input is critical to the success of the search, and we want to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey below and share your aspirations for GA, the qualities you would like to see in our next head, and the values that define the GA experience. The survey will stay open through the summer, although we would appreciate your response by August 15. As we return to school, the Spencer Stuart team will be visiting campus to meet with members of our community.

Head Search Survey
You can also reach out directly at any point. You are welcome to email the Committee with comments, questions, or candidate nominations. All communication to this inbox is confidential, and the Spencer Stuart team will monitor it regularly.

As the search continues we will post information and updates on this page. Thank you, as always, for your partnership, support, and commitment to our school and our girls. Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Alexandra Steel Scott ’00 P’34, ’36
Chair, Board of Trustees