Dear Members of the SJP Community,

 

We are writing with an update on the Board of Trustees’ search for our next Executive Director. 

 

First, former SJP Director, Roger Setterfield, has rejoined the school as strategic advisor. For those that were not at Back to School Night, Roger served as the director at SJP for many years. He has come out of retirement to support Olivia, Chelsea, staff, and families in this time of transition. We’ve attached some background on his career prior to becoming the SJP Director.

 

Second, we’re pleased to report that the process to find our new executive director is underway. We have formed a search committee that includes current trustees, McKenzie Furber, Laura Jung, Kelsey Wilcox, and Davis Willingham, and SJC Rector, Rev. Martha Korienek. The committee has identified a firm to partner with the committee to guide the search. Our partner, Educational Directions, is a national firm that works with all types of private schools and has had over 600 clients in its 40-year history. You can learn more on their website, www.edudx.com. Most importantly, the Educational Directions consultant Shoshanna Lurie has an understanding of the SF market, SJP’s mission, and a deep appreciation for our community.   

 

Shoshanna is working to get up to speed on everything SJP. As part of this process, she will be visiting our school on October 2, 2026 and will be meeting with members of the community individually and in small groups to gain a deeper understanding of what makes SJP so special. In order to include input from as broad a range of community members as possible, we have also created a community survey. Please complete this survey by 10/5/26. We are grateful for your participation. 

 

• Click HERE for the survey link.

 

In October, EduDx will synthesize all community input and create a position profile in partnership with the search committee. This document is a recruiting tool that they will use as their primary marketing vehicle when seeking and speaking with prospective candidates and also the foundation of a rubric for evaluating candidates during the interview process.  

 

Shoshanna will be reaching out to individual heads of schools, executive directors of schools and educational organizations, and regional independent school associations to notify them of our opening. Over the next several weeks, she will be identifying and screening top, mission-aligned prospects. 

 

Thank you so much for your support of St. James Preschool as we engage in this exciting process. 

 

McKenzie Furber and Laura Jung,

Executive Director Search Committee Chairs