HOME >
In April 2025, Head of School Brendan Sullivan informed the Board of Trustees of his decision to conclude his tenure at St. Michael’s School at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. Over the coming months, as the Search Committee conducts its work to find St. Michael’s next Head of School, please check back here for updates on the process and its progress.
Search Committee updates
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the search process work?
Through the late spring and summer, our consultants from The Education Group (TEG) will be cultivating a pool of qualified candidates for SMS’s next Head of School. TEG will conduct preliminary interviews with candidates, check selected references for each, and present a slate of candidates to the Search Committee. The members of the Search Committee will review the candidates’ materials and narrow the slate to a group of semi-finalists who will be interviewed via Zoom. After those interviews, the committee will select finalists who will be invited to visit SMS’s campus.
What are the roles of the Search Committee and the Board of Trustees in the process?
The Board is responsible for hiring and evaluating the Head of School, with the approval of the Church Vestry and the Rector. The Search Committee will be actively engaged in the process from the start and invest considerable time in getting to know the candidates. The Search Committee will recommend one candidate to the Board, who will receive the recommendation, ask questions of the Search Committee, and decide whether it supports offering the position to the recommended candidate.
Do parents, faculty, and friends of the school have any involvement in the process?
At the beginning of the search process, all constituents were invited to participate in a community-wide survey that informed the Search Committee and TEG on the type of Head who would be best for SMS. In addition, TEG consultants were on campus for two days in May, and met with anyone who attended an in-person session. When finalists visit the campus this fall, open meetings will be held where parents, faculty, administrators, and others will have the opportunity to meet the candidates and ask them questions.
When will the new Head of School be named?
The timing of the search depends on several factors including the candidates’ availability to visit—realizing that many candidates have opening of school responsibilities in their current roles. We expect visits to take place by January 2026, and the board hopes to make a decision by the end of that month. This will enable the Head-elect to make visits to Tucson, transition from his or her current position, secure housing, and get to know the school before the start date of July 1, 2026.
Questions?
The Search Committee is committed to an inclusive search process. We intend to keep the community informed throughout while also respecting the confidentiality of the candidate recruitment process. If you have questions about this process, or if you have someone to recommend for the Head of School position, please reach out to the Search Committee.
Non-Discrimination Policy
St. Michael’s is open and inclusive of all religious traditions and embraces diversity as a value to be sought, including in its employment and admissions policies and practices. St. Michael’s School is accredited by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES) and is a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES). St. Michael’s School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment and admissions decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, age, disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.