SACRED HEART SCHOOL OVERVIEW OF PRINCIPAL SEARCH PROCESS

The details of the principal search are structured similarly to the search of six years ago when we hired Kristen Fink.  Interview questions and case studies presented to candidates have been updated.
 
Every candidate must go through an initial vetting process performed by the Archdiocese of Chicago.  They begin this process by submitting their name and pertinent documents at the Archdiocesan Applitrack portal.  Resumes and documentation of candidates that meet all the basic Archdiocesan requirements are forwarded to Father Lanza.
 
The Search Committee works with Father Lanza to interview suitable candidates surfaced through Applitrack.  For the purposes of our process, the School Board becomes the “Search Committee.”
 
Parent input is received by the Search Committee through a specially designed survey.  The deadline for completed parent surveys is Wednesday, April 28.
 
Teacher Input

• They submit interview questions to the Search Committee.
• They also submit to Father Lanza the qualities or characteristics they want to see in the incoming principal. 

 
Round 1 Interviews

• Each candidate goes through a first round of interviews with 3 successive interview teams held on the same evening. 
• This type of successive interviewing worked well for us six years ago.  It enabled each team of interviewers to question the candidates with a specifically defined focus.
• Each team of 4 interviewers is made up of a teacher, a parish staff member, and school parents.

 
Round 2 Interviews

• The entire Search Committee interviews candidates.
• Questions differ from those of the first round.  (All together, 93 interview questions have been proposed.)

 
Round 3 Interviews

• Candidates meet one on one with the Pastor, who is present throughout the process.

 
Offering a Contract

• The Pastor consults with the Search Committee to determine the candidate that best fits our school.
• Pastor offers a contract to the candidate.

​Parent Input
We will deploy a parent survey today.  Please fill out the parent survey and return before or on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
 
Pray to God daily and ask the Holy Spirit to guide the work of the Search Committee and the Pastor in this process.  Ask the Holy Spirit to send candidates our way.
 
If you are able before April 29 to send Father Lanza an email via our administrative assistant, he would appreciate your  concrete response to any of the following questions:

• What information is important about Sacred Heart School?
• What makes our school unique?
• What makes our school an attractive choice for the candidate?

 
Our first Round 1 interviews will begin April 29, 2021.

Final Decision
Keep in mind that the Pastor has the final decision in regard to the selection of the new principal for Sacred Heart School, and does not take that decision lightly, nor without the input gathered throughout this process from teachers, administrators of this process, parents and primarily the school board, which acts as the  Search Committee for this principal search process.