About

Head of School Search

WELCOME TO THE HEAD OF SCHOOL SEARCH PAGE
 

FROM THE CHAIR OF THE HEAD OF SCHOOL SEARCH COMMITTEE, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS, AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

We began our search for a new Head of School (HOS) with a thoughtful and inclusive search process that affirmed the qualities we identified as essential in our next HOS: strong leadership skills, integrity, a passion for progressive education and children, and an excitement to join with the faculty and Boards to continue to provide a progressive education, while defining excellence in a Preschool-8 school.
 
Our consultant team interviewed faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni and administrators, gathered information through a survey of the entire Orchard community and relied on the perspectives of Search Committee members to help craft a position description that attracted over 120 applicants. From that initial pool we identified a dynamic and diverse group of 14 outstanding candidates. The Search Committee interviewed nine of these individuals, which resulted in the invitation of 5 finalists who together embodied a rich diversity of personal background and professional experience. Each was highly qualified and presented different and inspiring visions for Orchard. Unfortunately, due to timing of our search, two of our finalists accepted other HOS opportunities and one declined the invitation to come due to personal reasons.    
 
The two finalists who visited met with a broad representation of our community which resulted in feedback to the Search Committee from the community and the candidates. After consideration of everyone’s input, rather than select one of the search finalists to lead the school in July 2025, the Search Committee determined that the search should be paused until the Search Committee has time to work with the boards and our community to determine when it will be appropriate to  relaunch our search for our next leader. The Search Committee made that recommendation to the boards yesterday and this recommendation was approved. The pause will give the Orchard community the opportunity to leverage what we learned during the search and allow the boards, Ed, the faculty and staff more time to advance key initiatives.  Additionally, when we re-commence the search we will have the opportunity to do it much earlier so that we do not lose qualified candidates to other searches. 

The Orchard School
 
This year we have had the extraordinary opportunity to have Ed Hollinger as our Interim HOS. Since joining our community in August, Ed has been a welcomed and valued member of Orchard. He has quickly connected with our community, leading with confidence. With appreciation for the great work Ed is doing, the boards have invited Ed to serve as our HOS for two years through the 2027 school year. The boards will work with Ed on a plan to address what we have learned through the surveys conducted, the search process, and insights Ed has gleaned during his time at Orchard. We are thrilled that he has accepted this invitation with enthusiasm!
 
Ed will continue to work together with the Boards, the faculty/staff, students, families, and alumni, on goals and objectives that continue to build upon Orchard’s long history of progressive education and living out the values of our mission to develop and educate the whole child.
 
We wish you a wonderful winter break and remain deeply grateful for your continued support of and trust in The Orchard School.
 
Warm regards,
Deb Thornburgh, Search Chair
Philip Genetos, President of the Board of Governors
Will Lawson,  Chair of the Board of Trustees
searchcommittee@orchard.org

ARCHIVES: UPDATES AND INFORMATION ON THE HOS SEARCH PROCESS

List of 4 frequently asked questions.

  • READ MORE ABOUT THE HOS SEARCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS

    The Orchard School

    Head of School Search Committee are (L to R): Kevin Martin, Julianne Wingate, Katie Dillon '98, Deb Thornburgh, Adrianne Glidewell-Smith '94, Shawn Odle

    Kevin J. Martin

    I am a C-suite executive with over 30 years of experience owning and operating companies in multiple industries. I am a collaborative and innovative problem solver with uncompromising integrity. I have been an active participant in the Central Indiana community, including leadership roles with the Indianapolis Tennis Championships, Woodstock Club, Penrod, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Humane Society, and the Kelley School of Business Alumni Board. Since April 2017, I have served on The Orchard School’s board of governors and recently joined Brightlane’s board. My wife Patty and I are the proud parents of two Orchard graduates – Zech (’11) and Helen (’14).
     

    Julie Wingate 

    I first came to the Orchard community in the fall of 1983 when my son, Chris, joined Jinny Bork’s Junior Kindergarten class. Gordon Thompson was Head of School. I joined the volunteer group working as an aide in the classroom and served with the Parents Association. As a former high school teacher, I admired what was happening in the classroom at Orchard and decided to join the faculty in 1988 in the Early Childhood division. I taught preschool for 30 years, retiring in 2020. I am currently a member of the Board of Trustees, co-chair of the Diversity Committee, and a member of the Head of School Search Committee.
     

    Katie Fehsenfeld Dillon '98

    The Orchard School has been a central part of my life. I am lucky to have experienced Orchard through many different lenses. I am an alum, class of 1998. I am a parent to three students entering 5th grade, 3rd grade, and Kindergarten. I have also been a teacher at Orchard, working in Kindergarten from 2017-2020 and as a substitute teacher for the last few years.
     

    Deb Thornburgh

    My husband John (Jack) and I became Orchard parents in 1987 when our daughter, Meredith Thornburgh White, ’97, entered Junior Kindergarten. Our two sons, John (’02) and Jacob (’08), followed, and all three children went on to successful high school, college, and career experiences. We are also proud grandparents of Maggie White (’23) and Ruth White (’28). I volunteered in many ways over the years, including serving as the Parents’ Association President and as an Orchard in Bloom Co-Chair. In 2003, I joined the faculty/staff as the Coordinator of The Dignity Center program. In 2007, I initiated the IMAGINE Middle School Program as a component of the Dignity Center work. I went on to serve as Director of Development from 2017 until my retirement in December of 2019. In January of 2024, I joined the Board of Governors. I serve on the Executive Committee and chair the Head of School Search Committee.
     

    Adrianne Glidewell-Smith '94

    I am a 1994 alumna of The Orchard School and the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. I attended Orchard from Pre-K through 8th grade and credit Orchard with laying the foundation for my lifelong love of learning and the outdoors. I have a deep appreciation for independent education and have devoted my career to fundraising for independent schools. My husband Tyler and I have two boys who attend Orchard. Truman is a rising 7th grader and Harrison is a rising 4th grader.
     

    Shawn Odle

    I am deeply committed to The Orchard School community. I serve on the Board of Trustees, where I chair the enrollment management committee. I am married to Pendana Odle and am the proud parent of a rising 7th grader who has attended The Orchard School since Pre-Kindergarten. I have also volunteered my time as a coach with the Orchard Track and Field team for the past two seasons. Currently, I am the Manager of Adjudication Partnership at Zelis Healthcare, a leading healthcare technology company. I hold an MBA in Marketing from the University of Indianapolis - School of Business and a bachelor's degree in Communications from DePauw University. I served on the Board of Directors for the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis and as a co-chair of the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee.

  • HOS SEARCH CONSULTANT INFO AND COMPLETED VISIT DATES

    The Head of School Search Committee is pleased to announce that we have engaged Carney, Sandoe & Associates to help us lead a global search for Orchard's next Head of School. Throughout the process, we are committed to keeping the Orchard community informed while also respecting the confidentiality of the candidate recruitment process.
     
    A vital component of the process will be a visit to the school by our consultants, Bob Vitalo and Burke Zalosh, on Wednesday, September 4th, and Thursday, September 5th. During their visit, they will meet with parents, faculty, administrators, staff, trustees, and students to develop a highly informed profile of the qualities and abilities that our school community is seeking in its next leader. It is critically important that we hear your thoughts and receive input from you throughout the search process.
     
    Please note September 4th and 5th in your calendar. A schedule of available opportunities to share your input with our consultants will be sent out soon. These meetings will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about the search and to voice your ideas about the qualities you value in Orchard's next Head of School.

    Wednesday, September 4th
    Parent Drop-in Meeting: 8:00-8:45 AM
     
    Thursday, September 5th
    Open Parents’ Association Meeting: 8:00-8:45 AM
     
    Thursday, September 5th
    Alumni Session: 1:30-2:00 PM
     
    Thursday, September 5th
    Friends of Orchard and Donors Session: 2:00-2:30 PM

  • SEARCH PROCESS UPDATES: EMAIL ARCHIVES

    ALL COMMUNITY EMAILS:

    EMAIL 1
    Subject Line: Leadership Announcements & Future Plans
    7-01-2024

    EMAIL 2
    Subject Line: HOS Search Committee Update
    7-17-2024

    EMAIL 3
    Subject Line: HOS Search Consultant Update & Upcoming Visits
    8-7-2024

    EMAIL 4
    Subject Line: Important Update from the HOS Search Committee
    8-21-2024

    EMAIL 5
    Subject Line: HOS Search Committee Update - Position Statement
    9-13-2024

    EMAIL 6
    Subject Line: HOS Search Committee Update: Progress - Next Steps
    9-26-2024

    EMAIL 7
    Subject Line: Update on the Head of School Search Process 
    10-30-24

    EMAIL 8
    Subject Line: Important Update from the HOS Search Committee
    12-19-24
     

    WEEKLY OBSERVER EMAILS:

    Links to the community survey and other information were in the past four Observers.

    Orchard community, if you are not receiving the all community emails, please reach out to Director of Marketing and Communications James Layne at jlayne@orchard.org.
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students: The Orchard School values diversity and seeks talented students. Orchard admits students of any race, color, national origin and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Orchard does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or age in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and athletic and other school-administered programs.