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Dr. Paul Sally, New Trier’s Superintendent since 2017, has announced plans to retire at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, capping a successful 30-year career at New Trier. The Board of Education has hired the search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) to help lead the recruitment, engagement, and interview process for his successor. This web page includes the steps involved in the search, including a proposed timeline and community engagement efforts.
More than 1,000 community members help develop Leadership Profile for the next superintendent
Thank you to the more than 1,000 community members, parents, students, staff, and alumni who participated in New Trier’s online survey and focus groups to help determine the qualities and attributes District 203 seeks in its next leader.
The search firm HYA incorporated this input into a Leadership Profile that the Board of Education will use to recruit and develop interview questions for potential candidates. You can access this profile below.
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Proposed Timeline
MILESTONE DATE Recruiting and advertising July 1 to September 30 Focus Groups and Forums August 26 - September 6 Online Survey August 26 - September 6 District Strengths, Challenges, and Leadership Profile Report Presentation September 16 HYA Screening September 1 - 30 Presentation of Slate and Interview Workshop October 7 First Round Interviews October 16-17 Finalist Interviews (scope and process TBD) October 28 – November 1 Board Deliberations November 7 Board Selects Superintendent November 18 Superintendent Assumes Responsibility July 1,2025 -
Application Requirements
- Cover Letter explaining why the applicant wants the position, relating what excites them about the opportunity, and showing that they are the right fit for the job
- Resume
- Names, titles, contact information for three references
- 90 second (maximum) video introduction
- Example of written communication to parents, staff, students, and/or the greater community
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Engagement: Student and Staff Focus Groups
Students
- Northfield and Winnetka
- Affinity Groups and Student Leadership
Staff
- Northfield and Winnetka
- Leadership Teams
- Administrative Council
- Support Staff and Physical Plant Services Leadership and Representatives
- Open Staff Forum (online)
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Engagement: Parent and Community Focus Groups
Parents
- New Trier Parents" Association
- New Trier Fine Arts Association
- New Trier Booster Club
- Parents of Students with IEPs and/or 504
- Recent Alumni
- Open Forums (in person and online)
Community
- Sender district superintendents
- Community Leaders (villages, business, service, and faith leaders)
- New Trier Educational Foundation
- Former Board Members, Caucus Members
- Open Forums (in person and online)
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Engagement: Survey
- HYA Collaborates with Board Liaisons to finalize online community survey
- Groups for disaggregated analysis and reporting
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- Students
- Certified Staff
- Support Staff
- Parents of Current Students
- Parents of Future NTHS Students
- Community Members without students in NTHS or Sender Districts/Schools
- Alumni
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Executive Summary presented at the September 16 Board Meeting with full written report to follow:
- Strengths of the District
- Challenges of the District
- Leadership Profile
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Draft of Desired Qualifications/Attributes
- Demonstrated successful leadership in a high achieving, highly engaged public school district
- An earned doctorate
- Demonstrated understanding of the high school teaching experience
- An exceptional communicator with outstanding oral and written communication skills, an authentic and active listener, inspiring speaker, and successful experience with media communication
- The proven ability to genuinely engage with the full array of stakeholders as an immersive presence in the schools and community
- The ability to manage conflict and change with confidence and equanimity
- Impeccable integrity and unquestionable trustworthiness
- A sense of humor, abundant compassion, and authentic positivity
- Unwavering commitment to and focus on student and staff success
