Dear Lamplighter Community,

We are pleased to share an update regarding the Head of School transition process. Throughout the spring, the Lamplighter community will celebrate Dr. Hill’s remarkable tenure as our Catherine M. Rose Head of School. Just as we Hug Out Dr. Hill by honoring her leadership and legacy, we will eagerly welcome Mr. Mike Johnson when he begins his tenure this summer.

To ensure that the passing of the torch at Lamplighter goes smoothly, we have retained Julia Eells with Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A) to guide us through the transition process. Not only does CS&A bring expertise in and a thoughtful, research-backed approach to guiding independent schools through planned leadership changes, they also have a deep understanding of Lamplighter’s community given our work with them during our Head of School search. We look forward to partnering with Julia and are confident that our continued collaboration with CS&A will help Lamplighter effectively transfer knowledge, retain its unique culture, and nurture new relationships.

To help lead our community through the transition process, the Board of Trustees has assembled a Transition Committee. The Transition Committee members, listed below, represent many facets of the Lamplighter community, including leadership team members, faculty, staff, alumni, current and past parents, and trustees. The Committee will assist with ensuring that all community members have an opportunity to participate in the transition and that Mr. Johnson is fully supported by Lamplighter as he steps into his role here. We will begin this journey with two campus visits: one in March that will focus on building relationships with faculty and staff and one in May that will allow parents and the Board of Trustees to spend time with him. During both visits, he will have plenty of opportunities to interact with our students.

As he experiences the Lamplighter Spirit in person, we know that everyone will do their part to Hug In Mr. Johnson and his family! We look forward to sharing details and opportunities to welcome him in the weeks to come. 

Sincerely,

Liz Cullum Helfrich ’90 and Thomas Morton, Transition Committee Co-Chairs

Transition Committee Members

Liz Curlin, Early Childhood Faculty Member

Liz Cullum Helfrich ’90, Trustee, P ’18, ’21

Margaret Johansen Hirsch ’89, Chair, Board of Trustees, P ’23, ’26

Kemberly Merritt, Chief Financial Officer

Matthew Miller ’88, Trustee, P ’20, ’22

Thomas Morton, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, P ’21, ’22, ’25

Valentina Ortiz, Admission & Placement Coordinator

Elizabeth Selzer, Chief Advancement Officer

Anne Yarbrough ’81, Lower School Faculty Member