As the search for the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools’ new director of schools begins, faculty and students will have the opportunity to weigh in on what kind of person they’d like to see hired. An email was sent to students, parents and employees on March 2, detailing how the search will be conducted and including a feedback form.

To find the next director, the school is partnering with Isaacson, Miller, a national search firm specializing in finding educators suitable for specific environments. Students will be able to add their thoughts into the process through a form, which will then be taken into consideration by Isaacson, Miller.

Additionally, a search advisory committee will convene to provide additional information, comprising Lab board members and administrators, including board co-chair Jason Tyler and high school principal Martin Woods. The search committee emphasizes feedback from members of the community, which they will incorporate through student and faculty conversations, and nominations for the search.

In the email, the co-chairs of the search advisory committee wrote: “In the weeks ahead, there will be multiple opportunities for you to share perspectives on the defining characteristics of the next director, along with opportunities that lie ahead for the Laboratory Schools.”

The full text of the email appears below:

Dear Members of the Laboratory Schools Community,

It is with great pride and a shared sense of purpose that we officially launch the search for the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools’ next director of schools. As we embark on this important journey, our goal is to lead a deliberate and informed process that reflects the enduring strengths of the Laboratory Schools and positions the Schools for sustained excellence in the years ahead.

To guide this search, we’ve partnered with Isaacson, Miller, a national search firm with deep experience placing leaders in both the N–12 and higher education sectors. Their excellent team will partner with Lab’s Search Advisory Committee to conduct a comprehensive effort designed to attract exceptional candidates aligned with Lab’s mission and aspirations. 

We are grateful to the following group of Lab community members who will lend their diverse perspectives to serve on the Search Advisory Committee with us:

Andrea Ellis ’03, Member, Board of the Laboratory Schools

Carla Ellis, Associate Director of Schools

Seth Green, Member, Board of the Laboratory Schools 

Darlyn Heckman ’00, Member, Board of the Laboratory Schools 

Martin Woods, Principal, University High School

Your perspective is the most valuable tool that we have. Please take four minutes to share your thoughts through this brief survey; your input will directly impact the priorities and opportunities for this role as Isaacson, Miller begins their outreach. In the weeks ahead, there will be multiple opportunities for you to share perspectives on the defining characteristics of the next director, along with opportunities that lie ahead for the Laboratory Schools:

Stakeholder Meetings: Conversations with faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and—most importantly—students to ensure a wide range of perspectives are heard.

Direct Feedback: Thoughts and nominations for the search may be submitted at any time through the Isaacson, Miller webpage.

We look forward to engaging with you throughout the search process and will provide updates as the search progresses. Thank you for your continued partnership.