Head of School Search

The Mission 

Mount St. Dominic Academy, established by the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell in 1892, is a  Catholic, college preparatory school for young women. We are dedicated to the education of young  women from a variety of ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds. 

The Mount community is committed to seeking the Truth in all aspects of life. The students are able  to realize their individual gifts and talents in an atmosphere that fosters academic excellence, respect  for diversity, appreciation for the gifts of creation, moral integrity and a heritage rich in Christ-centered  values. 

Overview 

For over 125 years, Mount St. Dominic Academy has been empowering young women. With veritas  and caritas at its core, the Mount encourages students to question what they encounter in the world  and to be the positive change they wish to see. The Mount calls on students to find their passions and  put them into action. The Mount prepares students to be global citizens. 

Sponsorship/Ownership 

Mount St. Dominic Academy is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell. The Sisters also  sponsor St. Dominic Academy, Lacordaire Academy and Caldwell University. The Caldwell  Dominicans became an independent congregation in 1881 and began the Mount in 1892. The Sisters  are part of a larger order founded by St. Dominic 800 years ago. There are more than 27,000  Dominican religious in over 100 countries around the world. The Dominican Order is a global  community of preachers, educators and scholars.

An education at the Mount reflects the Four Pillars of Dominican life. Prayer, study, community and  mission are the foundation for a successful and meaningful future. Just as St. Dominic inspired his  followers with loyalty to learning and virtue, the Mount endeavors to inspire action on behalf of justice  and peace and instill a lifelong passion for learning and truth. 

The Mount is committed to the education of young women and seeks to help students reach their full  potential, to become leaders who will make a difference in the world. The single-gender environment  is a critical component of the school’s success in education, one that allows the young women to  focus on their studies, grow into strong leaders and flourish as individuals. 

As a community of changemakers, the Mount’s program provides instruction and resources needed to  develop essential skills in critical analysis, independent inquiry and effective communication.  The curriculum establishes the foundation for a lifetime of seeking truth through knowledge, dialogue  and participation. A Mount education ignites a passion for social justice and civic engagement. In  addition, through the lens of Catholic Social Teachings, students develop their own spirituality while  learning about social justice around the globe, expanding their world vision and investigating how they can effect positive change in society. Courses in social justice and spirituality galvanize students into  action and empower them to advocate for peace, justice, and equality. For more information regarding the special programs available to students with specific interests in STEM, leadership, entrepreneurship and social justice, please follow the link here. 

Co-curricular activities play an integral part in the life of every Mount student and complement the classroom-based endeavors of the students. These opportunities enrich the students’ academic and  spiritual experiences while promoting community and fulfilling the Dominican mission to serve others — both at the Mount and in the world beyond. As an all-girls’ institution, female athletes are always in the spotlight. The school offers numerous opportunities for a range of levels and interests. (athletics) The Mount firmly believes that the arts add texture to the students’ lives and that participation in the  arts helps each of the student develop her voice and communicate her unique vision of the world. (arts) Finally, the Mount offers a broad range of clubs and organizations that present the students with opportunities to get involved, take ownership and lead. These include the Siena Community Service program, the Dominican Preachers group, student government and campus ministry to name but a few.

The Mount girls spoke about the special environment that they have around them, the warm, tight  community of friends, faculty and staff and families. They value the opportunity for academic and  personal growth that is available to them and the strong sense of sisterhood that permeates across  the campus. The young women know that faculty fully support them as they focus on self empowerment through academics, athletics and the arts. Faculty and staff at the Mount are strongly  committed to girls’ education. There is a sense of community underpinned by the history of the Sisters  in developing women who make a difference in the world. 

Sr. Frances Sullivan, O.P. ’60, who has served as head of school for the past 23 years recently  announced her retirement. The timing requires that an interim head be in place for the coming  academic year to assist the board and the school in focusing on specific areas and laying the  foundation for a smooth transition for the permanent head. As such, key areas of focus for the interim head of school are as follows: 

Dominican Catholic Identity: The Dominican charism is integral to all that is done at the Mount. The  school is preparing for the reality that it will most likely not have a Dominican Sister as its next head of  school. With this likely transition from religious to lay leadership, the interim head will be entrusted to  continue to promote the Dominican Catholic identity and to carry on the mission, tradition and  charism of the Dominican Sisters. Specifically, the interim head will ensure that these foundational  elements inform and shape all that is done at the Mount. 

Institutional Advancement: The interim head will be responsible for enhancing meaningful  relationships both internally and externally with all constituents (Sisters, faculty, parents, students,  alums, donors, the greater Caldwell community, etc.). She/he will take a leading role in developing a  comprehensive advancement program, which includes enrollment management, alumnae relations,  fundraising, as well as marketing and outreach to ensure that the school has the necessary resources  to fulfill its vision and mission of educating young women and maintain its strong position in the  Caldwell community. The interim head will articulate and convey to both the external and internal  communities the distinctive value of Mount St. Dominic Academy, its Dominican Catholic identity, the  outstanding academic and co-curricular programs and the wonderful community, all of which are the  hallmarks of the school.  

Finances: The interim head of school will ensure the continued viability of the Mount’s long-term  finances by appropriately weighting income and expense, including tuition affordability, faculty and  staff compensation, other program revenue and intensive fundraising. The interim head, in  collaboration with the board, will work to continue to enhance the resources as well as establish  policies, procedures and practices that protect the long-term financial stability of the school and allow  the school to deliver on its mission.  

Administration/Faculty: Mount St. Dominic Academy benefits from a committed and dedicated  professional faculty, staff and administration. The interim head will continue to effectively engage and  mobilize this talent to carry out the mission of the school. As a leader, she/he will work closely with the  leadership team to facilitate the school’s commitment to academic excellence, ensure the continued  growth of teachers and develop strong working teams while delegating appropriately and ensuring accountability. It is critical that the interim head provides for a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities. In collaboration with the dean of academics, the interim head will be attentive to working with faculty ensuring that they not only bring their expertise and desire to fully embrace the  Mount but will fully model and live out the core values of the school which are informed by the charism  of the Dominican Sisters.  

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The Mount is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and  there is opportunity to build upon this to ensure that the school’s commitment is fully realized. Mount St. Dominic Academy seeks to further develop a more respectful and inclusive community consisting of many interesting and diverse components, all of which have meaningful, valued voices and a stake in enriching and enlivening the Mount. The interim head must be relentless in maintaining a community culture at the Mount that honors and embraces diversity and inclusivity. 

Strategic Vision: With the transition in leadership, there is an opportunity for the interim, in  collaboration with the board, to begin a strategic visioning process, one that establishes an  educational vision for the Mount and that unifies the school, recognizes the realities of current  educational trends, especially in the education of young women, and balances this with what is  appropriate in the context of the Mount’s traditions, core values and beliefs. The board and the interim  head must establish strategic priorities and ensure that they allow the school to continue to be relevant, that it clearly establishes the key objectives to guide the work of the board and school’s leadership and is consistent with the mission and philosophy of the school. 

Caldwell University: The Mount and Caldwell University are both sponsored by the Dominican Sisters and are on a common property. The histories and facilities of the two institutions are very much interconnected and, while there have been efforts over the years to leverage this connection, there is an opportunity to evaluate and determine how the Mount might capitalize on this relationship to potentially enhance its program so that it could provide unique opportunities for the students and  would also have an advantage in a competitive school market.

The board and the school community are interested in candidates who can embrace, articulate and  promote the Mount’s Dominican Catholic identity as well as its dedication to prayer, study, community and mission. Paramount to success is the candidate’s proven ability to embrace the Dominican core values and her/his ability to maintain and model the school’s Dominican Catholic mission.  

The interim head must be a person of faith who is able to build a school’s faith community and is  mission-focused, with demonstrated experience in an educational setting. This individual must be  student-focused, a visionary with a passion for, and leadership experience in, education, particularly in  the education of young women and the willingness to support a culture of learning and high  expectations. In addition to being a strategic thinker and skillful manager, the successful candidate is  an energizing and inspirational individual who can delegate effectively while ensuring accountability.  She/he will have the ability to work closely and comfortably with the board in building a partnership in  governance and leadership as well as the desire to be present, visible and engaged with the Mount  community. A candidate must have strong communication skills, both written and oral, so that all  stakeholders can be appropriately informed of potential needs and issues. 

The interim head will have an understanding of organizational dynamics so that appropriate  professional structures can be established and maintained to ensure strong collaboration among  faculty and staff, mentoring and encouraging them in a direct yet positive way to facilitate their responsibility to providing excellence. The successful candidate will be collaborative and transparent, able to build capacity, be genuinely inviting and respecting the perspectives of others yet be decisive  when required. Finally, this individual will have a true love of and appreciation for the school’s culture, its deep history and traditions and for educating young women.

Mount St. Dominic Academy has engaged the national executive search firm, Educational Directions,  to assist with the search.  

Candidates should submit all information as soon as possible to the search consultants: Mathew Heersche, Ed.D. mheersche@edu-directions.com , Risa Oganesoff Heersche rheersche@edu-directions.com.

Electronic submission of materials is required. Please send materials in a consolidated pdf format. Reference letters should be submitted separately. 

Candidates should submit the following documents. 

• Targeted cover letter explaining their interest and qualifications for the interim head of school  at Mount St. Dominic Academy 

• Brief personal statement that includes the candidate’s vision on leading Mount St. Dominic  Academy 

• Current resume 

• Names, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers of five references

January 27, 2022

 

Dear Mount Community,

On behalf of the Prioress and Council of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, I enthusiastically announce that Dr. Christopher Hampton, member of our faculty and Campus Minister, has been appointed to serve as Interim Head of School at Mount St. Dominic Academy.

We were fortunate to have Dr. Hampton join the Mount last September given the breadth and depth of his experience as an innovative academic leader. Dr. Hampton received his Bachelor’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University (as did his four children) and later received both his Masters in Counseling and Psychology and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford.

Dr. Hampton began his academic career at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut, an all-girls private boarding school, where he served as educator, Enrollment Manager, and Dean of Student Life during his 20 plus years there. He later joined Avon Old Farms School as Director of Alumni and Development before serving as principal at St. Michael Academy, a Catholic co-ed school on Amelia Island, Florida. Prior to his hire at the Mount, Dr. Hampton served as Director of Communications and the Annual Fund at Notre Dame High School of Manhattan, an all-girls high school.

As Campus Minister, Dr. Hampton has been warmly received in his six months at the Mount and we are confident that his broad experience in enrollment management, development, and alumni relations make him a perfect fit as Interim Head of School. We are also confident that Dr. Hampton will continue to have a collaborative working relationship with our principal, Laura Hollenbaugh, and her team. Together, they will lead the Mount to new and creative levels of academic excellence and empowerment of young women in the Dominican Catholic tradition.

Please join me in warmly welcoming Dr. Christopher Hampton in his new position at our beloved Mount community. 

Sincerely,

Madeline Cox-Arleo Chair, MSDA Board of Trustees

March 31, 2021

 

Dear Mount St. Dominic Academy community:

Last month, Sister Fran Sullivan OP ’60 announced her retirement. After more than 23 years, we will miss Sister Fran and she will be a tough act to follow. As soon as we heard from Sister, the Executive Board began in earnest to work on the search for her successor. We have come to learn that the field of Catholic educational leadership has shifted considerably and searches for new leadership have accelerated significantly. Specifically, search calendars are beginning much earlier than they have in the past. Therefore, many schools seeking new permanent leadership for a July 2021 start, and even July 2022, have already begun their searches for new heads of school. In addition to the timing of our search, it is also important to note that following a long serving head, particularly a religious, brings its own unique challenges. In this context, we believe that our first step will be to hire an interim head of school, an experienced leader who can focus on our key strategic priorities and provide an appropriate transition over the next one to two years. 

After careful evaluation, we selected Educational Directions of Portsmouth, RI, a nationally known and highly regarded independent school consulting firm, to work with us. The search will be led by Mathew Heersche and Risa Oganesoff Heersche who bring deep experience as educational leaders in Catholic education (including having worked at several Dominican sponsored schools) and as search professionals, their expertise and enthusiasm, to our search.  

We also need to engage the Mount community in this process. To that end, Mathew and Risa will conduct an onsite visit with all of the appropriate safety protocols. During their time with us, they will interview members of groups within the school (students, faculty, parents, administrators, alumnae, board members) to learn as much about the Mount as possible and what we seek in our next leader. 

Risa and Mathew will begin searching for candidates for the interim position and they will be identifying and evaluating prospects based upon the professional and personal qualities sought in this individual. Mathew and Risa will present a select group of top-level candidates for the search committee’s review. There will be further evaluation and background checks. Our goal is to have several finalists visit the campus and engage with the community. Ultimately, it is from this group that the search committee will select the individual to recommend to the Board of Trustees and the Sisters of St. Dominic Leadership for their review and approval. The committee will be led by ourselves and will include members of the Board executive committee as well as sisters from the leadership council. 

We do want to move forward as expeditiously as possible yet provide enough time to do quality work in terms of recruiting and evaluating candidates for the interim head of school. We will continue to provide updates. Thank you for your continued support of the Mount.

Sincerely,

The Interim Search Committee
Kelly King, Madeline Cox Arleo - Committee Chairs
Stephen Brown
Sister Marie Mueller, OP
Sister Donna Marie O’Brien, OP
Sister Patricia Tavis, OP

 

 

March 11, 2021

 

Dear Friends:

It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement as Head of School at Mount St. Dominic Academy effective July 1, 2021. After 4 years as a student, 15 years as a teacher, and 23 years as Head of School, the time has come for me to move on to the next phase of my life. I leave with the knowledge that the Mount is in a very positive position with excellent leadership, a seasoned faculty and staff, and a wonderful community.   

My earliest memories as a student at the Mount date back to art class in the Tower Room, locker decorating, and mystery day trips to Crystal Cave, Pennsylvania. While our daily activities have evolved, some themes remain; the nervous anticipation of the first day of freshman year; the excitement each time one of our athletic teams secures another championship; or the confidence and pride that emanates from each graduate as they collectively toss their caps in the air. Words cannot fairly express the joy I have felt watching a timid eighth grader grow from someone who is scared of her new experience to someone who graduates as a talented, confident, empowered young woman.

This has been an incredibly challenging year for us at the Mount. I commend our faculty, staff, and administrators for staying the course when our task seemed daunting. The commitment, patience, and hard work that I’ve witnessed from my colleagues each year, but especially this year, reinforce my confidence that our future holds great hope. I am always appreciative of our past and present parents who have made such a sacrifice by choosing to enroll your daughters; it has been a joy and a privilege to be part of your lives, to know you and to share in our mutual love for the Mount. And to our alumnae, Trustees, donors, and friends, many of whom donate time, energy, and funds on a regular basis, I am grateful for your leadership, commitment, and dedication to our mission.

Finally, our students are our shining stars. This group of young women is strong, resilient, hopeful, and full of positive energy. Despite the obstacles thrown in their path, they have all risen to the challenge and will graduate to become effective leaders. The most difficult part of my decision is knowing I will not be present in the day-to-day experiences of these extraordinary individuals. I have a deep love and respect for the Mount, our mission, our 129-year legacy, and the opportunities we present to those who walk these halls. I will cherish the 42 years of memories, lifelong friendships, and experiences I leave with after this year, and the Mount will always hold a very special place in my heart.  

With great respect and affection,

March 11, 2021

 

Dear Mount Community:

I am writing to share with you that our Head of School, Sister Fran Sullivan, OP, has informed the Board that she intends to retire at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 academic school year. We share our deepest gratitude and appreciation for her 23 years of school leadership and wish her happiness and joy as she explores this new stage of her life.

Under Sister Fran’s leadership, the Mount has undergone many changes, including the building of a new athletic center and the evolution of the Doris M. Byrne Performing Art Center. The Library Media Center has expanded to be a space for digital work, the science labs are fully renovated, and the Fine Arts and Innovation Centers have been designated. The athletic programs expanded sports in each season, and our academic programs have grown to include unique selections such as Robotics and a Capstone Program. Technologic differentiators like The L.E.O. Program have further set us apart from other schools in our area. This year in particular, Sister Fran was committed to creating a hybrid learning environment so our students could benefit as much as possible in a pandemic.

As we move forward, the Board of Trustees is dedicated to finding a new Head of School who will provide the leadership necessary to move us into the future while preserving our culture and values. We are forming a search committee and will be seeking an Interim Head of School while we undertake the full search process.  We will also partner with a leading academic search firm to guide us in this endeavor.

We will keep you updated as information becomes available. We look forward to including the perspectives of all constituent groups as we move toward identifying a permanent replacement. I know I speak for the Board when I share my appreciation for Sister Fran’s deep commitment to the Mount, as well as the faculty and staff who continue to educate and support our students.

Sincerely,

The MSDA Board of Trustees