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Over the past six months, the Head of School Search Committee has engaged in a comprehensive process to identify and select a new Head to succeed Jonathan Lamb upon his retirement at the end of this academic year. We conducted a national search for his successor and we were met with tremendous interest in the position. From this large pool of applicants, our search committee identified eight semi-finalists which eventually became three exceptionally qualified finalists. Each of those finalists visited SKS for three days, and during their visit, met with various constituent groups–students, alumni, parents, faculty and staff, administrators, and the Board of Trustees.
From the beginning we were clear in our objectives for the search and the qualities that our next Head of School needed to possess. Our search focused, first and foremost, on finding someone who recognized, appreciated, and celebrated the special feeling and magic of our collective experiences on the Mountain; to grow that history along with The Storm King School’s commitment to developing responsible and productive citizens; and to have a strong emphasis on strengthening the School’s long term viability by creating and implementing a more sustainable financial model for the future.
I am pleased to announce that we have found a well-known and highly respected career administrator and educator who has both the personal and professional qualities that were mandated in our search for our next Head of School, as well as the vision to lead SKS into its next chapter. Upon recommendation of the Search Committee and unanimous approval by the Board, we have enthusiastically offered the position to Lisa Shambaugh, currently the Assistant Head of School for Enrollment and Strategic Projects at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland. Lisa accepted our offer with equal enthusiasm. Starting on July 1, 2024, she will assume the role of Head of School at The Storm King School.
Lisa began her career in college admissions at Barnard College, did alumni work and admission outreach at University of California, Berkeley, and worked for Crystal Springs Uplands School in California and Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C., before joining the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School community nine years ago. Lisa is originally from Colorado and brings an international perspective to her work; she has lived in six states and four countries, including Italy, France, Ireland, and Japan, where she taught English. She holds degrees from Vassar College and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Lisa was selected for the NAIS Aspiring Heads Fellowship in 2018-19.
While at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Lisa has been a key member of the senior administrative team overseeing a time of transformative growth for the school in both enrollment and reputation. She has led the international student program and headed up a multi-year initiative to create and refine professional growth pathways for employees. A trained diversity practitioner and facilitator, Lisa has written on anti-bias practices in admissions for the NAIS Independent School magazine, has presented nationally at conferences, and has co-facilitated parent and faculty seminars at St. Andrew’s and at Georgetown Day School. Regionally, she has served on and/or led multiple admission-related committees of area independent school associations and speaks regularly on enrollment-related topics.
Lisa wrote in her application, As a Head of School, building on all that I have learned, I would be excited by the opportunities to innovate, to focus on the balance of educational challenge and student well-being, to foster joy and love, and to sustain a culture of belonging in a diverse community. Her synergy with the SKS mission and core values, her appreciation for the people she met during her visit, and the enthusiasm she has demonstrated for our school all contribute to our excitement about her appointment.
One comment offered after meeting Lisa captures what so many had expressed in response to her visit: I can “see” her in the role of leading and representing the school - her professionalism, grace, warmth, knowledge, intelligence and openness will be evident to our community and serve us well. She will have relationships with students. She will bring positive energy…She also writes beautifully. I embrace her fundraising approach about telling our stories…
Lisa is married to Jay Shambaugh, an economist and professor, who currently serves as Under Secretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Lisa and Jay have two adult children, Tyler and Jack. Tyler lives in Colorado, and Jack attends the New School in New York City. The whole family is excited to join the SKS community.
This appointment marks an exciting chapter in the history of our school, and we believe that Lisa will build upon the strong foundation laid by outgoing Head of School Jonathan Lamb. We are immensely grateful to Jon for his exemplary leadership and contributions to our community. We cannot mention him, though, without giving a nod, as well, to Toni Scherrer–his wife and our Associate Director of
Admissions. We will miss them both when the time comes.
In the months ahead, we will organize opportunities to say a proper goodbye to Jon and Toni, and to meet and get to know Lisa and her family. Our consultants, Sally Mixsell and Eric Temple from Educators Collaborative, will be assisting with the transition and first year of Lisa’s tenure. I would like to express my gratitude to my fellow co-chair, Roger Auerbacher, the search committee members, advisory committee members, faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni who actively participated in the search process. Your input was invaluable in making this important–and ultimately very gratifying–decision.
Thank you all for your continued support, dedication, and commitment to The Storm King School. I know that Lisa can count on you as she joins the SKS community. We are excited for you to get to know and work alongside Lisa as together we continue our rich legacy and face the challenges of the future.
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