Head of School search
After 11 years at Overlake, Head of School Matt Horvat left at the end of the 2022-23 school year to pursue another opportunity to lead a school abroad. (see announcement letters here). Under the guidance of the Board of Trustees and the Head of School Search Committee, the school began the thoughtful process to select the next head of school. The committee was responsible for hiring an interim head of school for the 2023-24 school year as well as finding the next permanent head of school to begin in the 2024-25 school year.
The Search Committee partnered with Spencer Stuart in developing the opportunity statement for the next leaders.
Meet our next school leaders
Eric Temple is serving as the Interim Head of School for 2023-24 school year. Eric will work closely with the Board of Trustees and the Administrative team prior to the permanent Head of School arriving for the 2024-25 school year.
Gretchen Warner will be Overlake's next Head of School beginning July 2024. "I believe fiercely in everything that Overlake is: a school that is thoughtfully future-focused with a commitment to equity and inclusivity, a school that empowers students to shape their community in important ways, and a school that inspires students to become “multifaceted individuals” with a “passion for learning, ready for any path that contributes to a better world.” These are the very values that have always been fundamental to me as an educator. Overlake’s mission is also my own. I look forward to partnering and collaborating with the people in the Overlake community as we build a bold future for the school, as guided by Overlake’s vision, values, and the core mission of championing students.”
Communications from the search committee
Jan. 3, 2023 - letter from Board of Trustees Chair, Maurice Carson
Jan. 19, 2023 - letter from HOS Search Committee
Feb. 15, 2023 - letter from HOS Search Committee
March 23, 2023 - Interim HOS announced
April 27, 2023 - letter from HOS Search Committee
June 2, 2023 - Finalist candidate for permanent HoS announced
June 14, 2023 - Gretchen Warner named HoS beginning the 2024-25 school year
Frequently Asked Questions
Given the independent school market and HoS hiring season, our ability to find and attract the best possible permanent HoS for Overlake requires a longer hiring lead-time. Having Eric Temple, our Interim Head of School, allows the board to create a thoughtful process that allows the community to participate in the process.
Eric Temple, Overlake's interim HoS will continue to execute on the current strategic plan as well as maintain all the current school initiatives. He will continue to meet with school leadership, including administration and department chairs, in order to maintain current school operations. Eric brings with him 18 years of previous experience working as a head of school for two different independent schools in California.
The search for both the interim Head of School (Hos) and the permanent HoS is the job of the Overlake Board of Trustees (BoT). A search committee, comprised of six board members and three employees, has been formed:
Board Members:
Maurice Carson, President, Board of Trustees
Priscilla Austin
Elizabeth Huang
Prienca Punhani
Juli Rasmussen
Mohammed Samji
Employees:
Mike Davidson
Joanna Guiler ('03)
Marshall McCurties
In addition, the Search Committee has retained the executive search firm, Spencer Stuart, to run the search. The three consultants on the team all have experience in hiring for head of school positions at independent schools across the country as well as the Seattle area.
The Board of Trustees only has one employee, the HoS. All other employees are the responsibility of the HoS or the immediate subordinates of the HoS. It is those individuals who make the hiring decisions and operational decisions within the school.
The BoT understands the need for continuity in school operations and is therefore committed to ensuring there is an interim HoS chosen before the end of the 2022-23 school year and a permanent HoS will be selected during the early part of the 2023-24 school year to commence at Overlake for the start of the 2024-25 school year.
The strategic plan, approved by the BoT in May 2021, continues to be the focus of much of the school’s work. This work will continue to be supported by the BoT as well as the new Interim and permanent HoS. Doors to Discovery, the three-phased capital campaign, was approved as part of the previous strategic plan developed in 2015 and is an on-going fundraising priority for the school regardless of who is the HoS.
Absolutely. The work to create the mission/vision/values was done with the collective community and not the work of one individual. The school’s new mission and vision was recently endorsed and adopted by the BoT in May 2022.