As the new school year begins, we are writing to update you on FXW’s search for its next Head of School. Over the summer, the Search Committee has worked diligently to evaluate and interview a remarkable pool of candidates for our new, permanent Head of School who will begin his/her tenure at the start of the 2027-2028 school year. We are pleased to announce that the Search Committee has completed this confidential phase of its work and has selected four outstanding candidates to visit the school campuses on the following dates:

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I hope that this letter finds each of you enjoying the summer break and spending good, quality time with your families. I want to provide an update on the FXW Head of School search that has been underway since April of the recently ended 2025-2026 academic year. As you know from my earlier updates, the FXW Board of Trustees partnered with Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A) as the School’s recruiting partner for this initiative. CS&A then launched a nationwide search to attract candidates who best meet our extensive experience and leadership criteria.

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As Michael Kennedy and Steve Waller have shared with you, Michael will conclude his tenure as FXW’s Head of School on June 30, 2027. While there will be opportunities to celebrate Michael’s transformational leadership over the next 16 months, the purpose of this letter is to outline the process we will undertake to identify our next Head of School.

The Board of Trustees is committed to finding an extraordinary new leader who, like Michael, embraces our school’s Mission and Charisms and who will lead us through the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We intend to make this process as inclusive as possible. The strength of FXW lies in our vibrant community of parents, faculty, staff, alumni, past parents, and students; all essential stakeholders whose voices and opinions should be heard in connection with a decision as important as the selection of our next Head of School. We welcome your thoughts, ideas, or concerns and invite you to share them with us over the coming months.

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Following Michael Kennedy’s announcement last week, we want to provide you with more information about the search and reiterate how important it is to have your input as this process plays out over the next several months.

As was shared last week, we are partnering with Carney, Sandoe & Associates, the firm who will guide our search. I have asked Mike Moynihan to chair the Head of School Search Committee. Mike is an FXW Trustee, former FXW Board Chair, and parent of two FXW alumni. Other Members of the Committee are:

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FXW’s Future: Leadership Transition Plan through 2026-2027

When I speak publicly, I never want to miss the opportunity to remind our community how fortunate and grateful we are at FXW to have two partner parishes, compelling and impactful Mission and Charisms, a talented and dedicated faculty and staff, and engaged and supportive parents.

It is in that same spirit of good fortune and gratitude, and after thoughtful reflection and conversations with my family, I have shared with Board Chair, Steve Waller, that the 2026–2027 school year will be my last year serving as FXW’s Head of School. This decision comes with my good fortune to have witnessed the extraordinary partnership between our faculty, staff, families, alumni, and friends, a partnership rooted in mission, animated by faith and service, and sustained by a shared belief in what students can become when they are known, challenged, and loved.

The decision was made only with deep gratitude for the 12 years that we will have partnered together and with full confidence in the present strength and bright future of FXW. Serving as your Head of School has been a great privilege on both a personal and professional level.

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Gratitude and Our Path Forward

On behalf of The Frances Xavier Warde School’s Board of Trustees, I am writing today with gratitude as we share important news about the future of our School. As we come to the close of his 11th year of service to The Frances Xavier Warde School, Michael Kennedy has informed the Board of Trustees that he will transition from FXW at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 academic year (June 30, 2027).

This announcement follows thoughtful conversations with the Board and reflects Michael’s desire to begin a well earned next chapter after guiding FXW through one of the most transformative periods in our young history. We are deeply thankful for the clarity and advance notice, which allows us to steward a smooth and deliberate transition.

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The Board of Trustees is committed to an inclusive and community-informed search process. There will be multiple opportunities for input. The first opportunity is with the survey found here.

In addition, all members of the school community will be invited to complete a confidential online survey administered by Carney, Sandoe & Associates. You can also send comments to HeadSearch@fxw.org.

As the search nears its conclusion, members of the community will also have opportunities to meet finalist candidates and share feedback on their impressions.

Our search process will play out in three overlapping phases

Phase 1: Discovery and Outreach [May 2026]

Carney Sandoe will engage with the community through listening sessions and a survey, while also learning about the School’s programs, operations, and culture. Carney will be on campus meeting with faculty & staff and administration. At the same time, they will begin outreach to prospective candidates.

Phase 2: Recruitment and Vetting [Ongoing Throughout Summer 2026]

This phase occurs largely behind the scenes. The consultants will actively recruit candidates and conduct initial interviews and reference checks. Candidates are encouraged to express interest early to ensure full consideration.

Phase 3: Finalist Selection and Evaluation [Fall 2026]

The Search Committee will conduct confidential interviews, identify a group of finalists, and coordinate campus visits. The Committee will then recommend a finalist to the Board of Trustees.

Position posted: April 2026

Start date: July 1, 2027

The Head of School Search Committee leads the search process. Its responsibilities include working closely with the consultants, reviewing candidates, conducting interviews, and ultimately recommending a finalist to the Board of Trustees.

A committee of the Board of Trustees conducted a national search for a consulting firm, reviewing proposals, interviewing firms, and conducting reference checks before unanimously selecting Carney Sandoe, which specializes in leadership searches for independent schools. The consultants guiding this search will support the process by:

• Advising on best practices, structure, and logistics
• Conducting candidate outreach, interviews, and reference checks
• Assisting the Search Committee throughout the process
• Supporting the transition of the incoming Head of School

The search is national in scope and designed to attract a diverse and highly qualified pool of candidates. While the School is committed to transparency and regular communication with the community, candidate confidentiality is essential. Many candidates are currently employed and rely on discretion during the search process. Therefore, the Search Committee will not comment on individual candidates.

The Search Committee welcomes applications from all qualified individuals with a genuine interest in leading the School, including current employees.

All candidates—internal and external—will be evaluated using the same criteria. The confidentiality of internal candidates will be strictly maintained.

Candidates will be assessed based on how well their experience, leadership style, and personal qualities align with the priorities identified by the school community. These priorities will be informed by feedback gathered through Carney Sandoe’s visit and the community survey. The Search Committee will follow a thorough, multi-step evaluation process to narrow the pool to a small group of finalists.

The Board of Trustees holds ultimate responsibility for appointing the Head of School. After receiving the recommendation from the Search Committee, the Board will:

• Review the finalist
• Approve the selection
• Negotiate the terms of employment
• Formally appoint the new Head of School
  

The Head of School is the only employee who reports directly to the Board, making this one of its most important responsibilities.

The newly appointed Head of School will begin on July 1, 2027. Until then, Michael Kennedy will continue to lead the School. During the 2026–2027 academic year, the Head of School–elect may have opportunities to visit campus and engage with the community, while likely fulfilling responsibilities at their current institution.

No. All search-related activities—including meetings, listening sessions, and candidate visits—will be scheduled to minimize disruption to the academic program and daily school operations.