A Letter from Board President Joseph Lin

After 22 years as the Head of Chandler School, John Finch has let me and the Board of Trustees know that he will retire at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

John’s dedication to our children and community has made a lasting impact. He led Chandler through significant periods of growth overseeing major capital projects including the rebuilding of the Middle School Campus, the Seco Parking Structure and Tower projects and most recently, the Center for Innovation.

As the fourth head in Chandler’s 72-year history, John has sustained Chandler’s mission to provide each student with the highest quality and most academically challenging education in a nurturing, balanced and diverse environment. He’s strengthened our program by implementing innovative best practices including technology and STEAM programs and maker initiatives. He has recruited a talented administration, faculty and staff, and has been a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Throughout the years, we’ve seen John’s care and connection to the students and their families. He’s shaken the hands and learned the names of every student at the school which has created that true sense of belonging at Chandler. Today, I continue to see first-hand his care, humility and patience as we work through the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a testament to his courage and composure that he continues to successfully steer our school through these challenging times, and we are fortunate to have John in the Head’s office.

John’s leadership and strong legacy have positioned Chandler well for the future. Chandler is in the strongest possible position to attract a new head of school to lead us in the years ahead. We will conduct a national search, which will begin this month, and our expectation is to make a final decision by the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

The Board of Trustees is creating a Head of School Search Committee to lead the efforts of finding Chandler’s next Head. I am pleased to inform you that Khalilah El-Amin ‘91, parent, trustee, Chandler alumna, current DEI Chair, and the next Board Chair, will lead the Head of School Search Committee. Other members of the Search Committee are trustees Erin Baker, Shelan Joseph, Irvin Kaw, Debbie Reed, Steve Wilson and myself. We have engaged Joan Beauregard and Marcus Hurlbut of the search firm Educators’ Collaborative to provide professional support for our search. Both are former heads of school and bring a wealth of experience in education and head of school searches. 

In the coming months, we will be reaching out to the community for input on the search and evaluating candidates. The search process will be thorough, transparent and inclusive and we are committed to keeping you informed about our progress. 

On behalf of the Board, I thank John (and his wife Aileen), for his many contributions and dedication to our community. As we embark on this exciting journey in search of our next head of school, please join me and the Board in showing John our appreciation and giving him our full support as he completes the final chapter of his distinguished career with Chandler.

 

 

Sincerely,

Joseph Lin, MD (father of William ’22, Caroline ’25 and Eleanor ‘30)