Head of School Search

November 13, 2025

As the holiday season approaches, we are pleased to write to you about Carolina Day School’s search for a long-term Head of School. In this update, we will touch on the process we will follow, an anticipated timeline, and the ways our community will be invited to participate and share input as the search unfolds. 

Following Ben Farrell’s appointment as Interim Head of School through July 2027, the Head of School Search Committee turned its attention to selecting a professional search firm to guide us through the process of identifying our next leader. After reviewing proposals, conducting several in-depth interviews, and checking references, we are pleased to share that we have engaged Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), an internationally recognized firm specializing in education search, recruitment, and consulting. With more than 45 years of experience partnering with independent schools across the country and around the world, CS&A brings a deep understanding of school leadership and community culture. We are delighted to be working with Mark Davis and Jamie Estes as our consultants and are confident that this partnership will yield excellent results.

We are also pleased to share that the following individuals have volunteered to serve on the Head of School Search Committee that will lead the search process in partnership with our consultants:

• Kristi Goodrum, Trustee, Parent of Alice ’31, Search Committee Chair

• Emily Roberts, Trustee, Parent of Grace ’30 and Penny ’37, Board of Trustees Chair

• Barry Johnson, Trustee, Parent of Ash ’28 and Harper ’31, Board of Trustees Vice Chair

• Jennifer Bock, Trustee, Parent of Carson ’15 and Spencer ’17 

• Elizabeth Mailander, Trustee, Parent of Connor ’21 and Abraham ’25

• Tim Mitrovich, Trustee, Parent of Lillie ’33 and Naomi ’36

• Rob Weintraub, Trustee, Parent of Stella ’34 and Charlotte ’38

We are grateful to these devoted members of the Carolina Day community and want this search to be inclusive, thoughtful, and as transparent as possible, providing the school community with meaningful opportunities to share perspectives and hopes for the school’s future. Our consultants will visit campus December 2–4. During the campus visit, consultants will meet with groups of faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and trustees. Ahead of that visit, we will distribute a community-wide survey. Please take time to complete the survey; your input is incredibly valuable to this process.

Insights gathered through the conversations on campus and the survey, along with additional materials provided by the school, will inform the development of a Position Description. This Position Description will introduce Carolina Day and the Head of School opportunity to a national and international pool of prospective candidates. Once completed, the Position Description will be widely shared through CS&A’s networks and also posted on our website.

While we are committed to keeping the process as open and communicative as possible, we must also respect the need for confidentiality at certain stages. Protecting candidate privacy allows us to attract and engage the most talented leaders nationally and internationally.

Our highest priority is to find an inspiring and visionary leader to guide Carolina Day into its next chapter. We will continue to keep you informed through regular updates and a forthcoming Head of School Search webpage.

We are honored to lead this effort and grateful for your continued support and engagement. If you have any questions, please contact the committee at headsearch@carolinaday.org.

Warmly,

Kristi Goodrum
Chair, Head of School Search Committee

Emily Roberts
Chair, Board of Trustees

November 21, 2025

Dear Parents,

Before we head into the Thanksgiving Break we would like to share an update with you about the Head of School Search in advance of the December 2-4 on-campus visits with our Carney Sandoe search consultants, Mark Davis and Jaime Estes.

In an effort to give all parents a chance to share their thoughts and experiences regarding Carolina Day School, there will be two opportunities to provide feedback:  

On Monday, December 1, all parents will receive a link to a brief online survey.  The survey will be open December 1-8, and your feedback will provide our consultants with valuable insights and information that will help inform the creation of the CDS Head of School position description.

On Tuesday, December 2, all parents are invited to participate in a conversation directly with Mark and Jaime by Zoom.  The link to the parent Zoom meeting and the online survey will be sent together in an email on Monday, December 1.  

On behalf of the Head of School Search Committee, we look forward to your participation, are grateful for your feedback, and wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving Break.

With gratitude,

Kristi Goodrum

Chair, Head of School Search Committee

Dear Carolina Day School Community,

As we approach the end of the calendar year, we want to share an update on our search for Carolina Day School’s next Head of School and announce the release of the Position Description.

December 2-4, Mark Davis and Jamie Estes from Carney, Sandoe & Associates were on campus and met with students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and trustees. During their visit, they observed CDS in action as they toured the school and engaged in candid discussions about the school’s strengths and aspirations. Their conversations, combined with the results of the recent community survey, provided a rich and nuanced view of what makes Carolina Day distinct and where our community hopes strong leadership may guide us.

Informed by the direct input, our consultants prepared the Head of School Position Description, now available HERE. This document introduces CDS to prospective candidates and outlines the opportunity, expectations, and institutional priorities that will shape the next chapter of leadership.

Community Survey Highlights

We are grateful to all of the CDS community members who completed the survey. Respondents included faculty and staff, current and former parents, alumni, trustees, and friends of the school—a testament to the community’s investment in the search and its hopes for CDS’s future.

Several clear themes emerged:

What Participants Said CDS Does Well
Respondents consistently praised the academic program and faculty dedication. Many noted the school’s thoughtful attention to student well-being, its culture of meeting students where they are, and the value of a safe, supportive learning environment. Families spoke with pride about experiential learning, strong program offerings, and the profound impact of the Key School and the support structures that follow students into the Upper School. Many also commented on the school’s sense of community and students' affection for CDS.

Where Participants Hope CDS Grows and Leadership is Needed

Respondents expressed a desire for clear direction and a focused vision for what a school of our size can do exceptionally well. Priorities included strong support for all students, maintaining small class sizes, sustaining robust arts, athletics, and STEM, and addressing facilities needs. Community members also emphasized the importance of warmth, belonging, transparency, and stability, along with thoughtful long-term planning and meaningful engagement with all constituents.

Next Steps

The perspectives shared across the group conversations and survey responses directly informed the Position Description now available to the broader market. Over the coming weeks, Mark and Jamie will introduce CDS to potential candidates, deepen outreach across national networks, and begin evaluating early applicants. The community’s participation has helped shape this work powerfully, and the committee is encouraged by the strong interest we are already receiving.

Thank you to every member of the community who contributed time, insight, and candor during this early phase. Your engagement helped ensure this process reflects CDS’s values and ambitions.

We look forward to sharing additional updates as the search progresses and wish you a happy and restful holiday season. 

Sincerely,

Kristi Goodrum, Search Chair

Emily Roberts, Board Chair

Dear Carolina Day Community,

We are pleased to share that the search for Carolina Day School’s Head of School continues to go very well. The open position and opportunity generated significant interest and is attracting a talented, diverse, and highly qualified group of candidates who are excited about the potential to join our community. Their enthusiasm is a reflection of Carolina Day’s excellent reputation in the national independent school sector, our strong faculty and staff, students, and community.

Our consultants at Carney Sandoe & Associates continue to recruit prospective applicants, review submissions, and learn more about each candidate to thoughtfully shape a prospect pool in close partnership with the Search Committee. In the coming weeks, we will begin connecting directly with top applicants to explore their leadership experience, accomplishments, and alignment with Carolina Day’s mission and values. From those initial reviews, we will curate a pool of candidates to move forward for more in depth conversations and interviews.

We are very grateful for the support and engagement of our community during this process. Your involvement directly informed the creation of the Position Statement that is attracting candidates who recognize and value what makes Carolina Day so special. Our school’s sense of purpose, warmth, and commitment to student-centered learning is clearly resonating with exceptional leaders from all over the country.

We look forward to sharing additional updates as the search continues. In the meantime, thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Kristi Goodrum, Search Chair

Emily Roberts, Board Chair

Dear Carolina Day Community,

As we continue moving through the search process, we’re pleased to share a brief update. The recruitment phase has produced a strong and compelling group of leaders from across the independent school community. Through thoughtful outreach, screening, and initial conversations, the consultants have identified a group of candidates whose experience and leadership reflect Carolina Day’s mission and values. We are encouraged by the strength and promise of this candidate pool.

Soon, the search committee will review materials from these top candidates and prepare for the next stage of the process. This is a natural transition from broad outreach to focused consideration as the committee determines which candidates will advance.

The search remains on schedule and is progressing as planned. Thank you for your continued support and engagement. We look forward to sharing further updates as the work moves ahead.

Sincerely,

Kristi Goodrum, Search Chair

Emily Roberts, Board Chair

Dear Carolina Day Community,

We are pleased to share an update on our Head of School search. This winter, our search committee reviewed an impressive pool of applicants, each bringing unique strengths and experiences. Selecting our Semifinalists was no easy task, given the depth of talent and passion among the candidates. After thoughtful consideration, we have invited eight Semifinalists to continue in the process. Soon, each will interview with the Search Committee, share their stories, and learn more about the people, programs, and traditions that make Carolina Day School such a vibrant community.

Following these meetings, the Search Committee will invite a select group of Finalists to visit campus in April. During their visits, candidates will spend time with students, faculty, staff, and parents. We will seek feedback from all corners of our community, as your insights are vital to the committee’s work. These visits will offer each candidate a genuine glimpse into the spirit of Carolina Day and the people who bring our mission to life. We look forward to sharing more about these important days soon.

We are encouraged by the progress so far and remain confident that, together, we will find a Head of School who leads with wisdom, care, and a deep appreciation for all that makes our community unique.

There is still much work ahead, but the positive momentum of this search reflects the strength and spirit of our community. Candidates have told us they are inspired by our mission and by the teachers, staff, students, and alumni who make Carolina Day such a remarkable place.

If you have any questions or feedback, we encourage you to reach out to us at headsearch@carolinaday.org.

Warmly,
Kristi Goodrum, Search Chair
Emily Roberts, Board Chair

Dear Carolina Day Community,

We are pleased to share that the Head of School search is entering its final stages. Over the past several months, the Search Committee has worked closely with our consultants to identify and engage a strong and diverse pool of candidates. Following in-depth, in-person interviews with a group of extremely impressive semifinalists, the Committee has invited three finalists to campus for comprehensive visits.

Each finalist will spend two days at Carolina Day School for final interviews and engagement sessions. These in-person visits are a critical part of the process, offering candidates the opportunity to experience Carolina Day’s culture and community firsthand, while also allowing us to engage more deeply with each of them.

The dates of these visits are as follows:

• Candidate 1: April 9–10
• Candidate 2: April 14–15
• Candidate 3: April 20–21

During each visit, finalists will meet with a range of constituent groups, including faculty, staff, trustees, students, and invited community representatives. Participants in these meetings will be asked to provide feedback through a survey following the visit. This feedback will play an important role in informing the Search Committee’s deliberations as it prepares a recommendation for the Board of Trustees.

As part of the scheduled visits, we will host a meet and greet session with each candidate specifically for the parent community. These gatherings are intended as an opportunity for parents to meet and engage directly with the finalists. We encourage parents to save the following dates: April 10, April 15, and April 21. More specific details regarding the timing and format of the parent sessions will be shared soon.

We are committed to maintaining transparency within our community while continuing to uphold an appropriate level of confidentiality out of respect for our candidates and the communities they actively serve. The selected finalists are currently working with their schools on appropriate preparations in advance of their candidacies going public. Candidate names and background information will be made available in advance to those participating in scheduled meetings during the campus visits.

This is an exciting and important moment for Carolina Day School. We are grateful for the community’s continued engagement and look forward to the conversations ahead as we welcome these impressive candidates to campus.

Sincerely,
Kristi Goodrum, Search Chair
Emily Roberts, Board Chair

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Head of School Search Committee, we are delighted to announce Ben Farrell as Carolina Day School’s next Head of School, effective July 1, 2026. Ben emerged as the clear front-runner following a rigorous 9-month national search shaped by extensive community engagement and feedback. His selection was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees, and his naming marks an exciting and affirming new chapter for our school.
 
Since assuming the role of Interim Head of School in August 2025, Ben has led Carolina Day with clarity, warmth, and purpose. During this important period of transition, he quickly became a visible, trusted, and deeply engaged presence across campus, instilling confidence, strengthening communication, and establishing a clear path forward for the school community. His leadership has been defined by accessibility, collaboration, vision, and a steadfast belief in the power of strong relationships to shape institutional success.
 
Working closely with the senior leadership team and Board of Trustees, Ben has prioritized strategic alignment, clarity, and shared decision-making while fostering a culture rooted in trust, transparency, and community engagement. Over the past year, his leadership has reinforced Carolina Day’s sense of mission, momentum, and optimism for the future.
 
Ben brings more than two decades of leadership experience across independent schools, higher education, and international education settings. Prior to Carolina Day, he served as Interim Head of School at New England Innovation Academy and as Head of School at the International Montessori School of Beijing, where he led enrollment growth, expanded academic divisions, and guided the school through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. His previous leadership and teaching experience at The Webb Schools, Columbia University, Bowdoin College, The Thacher School, and Waynflete School reflects a longstanding commitment to student-centered learning, institutional strategy, and vibrant school communities. 
 
Ben holds a Master’s degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University; and a Bachelor’s degree in History and American Studies from Colby College (Maine). He also completed graduate coursework in Cross-Cultural Conflict Transformation and Reconciliation at the School for International Training (Vermont). 
 
Ben’s appointment follows an extensive and highly competitive national search process conducted in partnership with Carney, Sandoe & Associates. The search attracted 74 formal applicants from across the independent school landscape. From this pool, 17 candidates were selected for further consideration, followed by 8 semifinalists who participated in in-person interviews with the Committee. Ultimately, 3 finalists were invited to campus for comprehensive visits that included meaningful engagement with faculty, staff, students, trustees, and parents. Feedback from community members remained central throughout every stage, and clearly reflected Ben Farrell as the strongly preferred candidate within all constituency groups. 
 
Reflecting on his appointment, Ben shared:
 
“I am both thrilled and humbled to be the next permanent Head of School here at Carolina Day. I believe so deeply in this community and what it means to the city, Western North Carolina, and the larger world. Education is our collective work in building hope for our shared future, and our future is alive and well here at Carolina Day.     
 
“I have been moved time and again by the palpable sense of community that exists here. It’s in the confidence of a kindergarten class advocating for themselves with the older kids in the Woodlands. It’s in the ways that our students at Key learn to believe in their own power. It’s seen in the growing confidence of our Middle School students, understanding that their voices matter and that they can do hard things. It’s hardwired into the Upper School as they take the lead and grow past perceived limits. As someone new to these mountains, I see something special and necessary here that allows all of us to build and grow together.”
 
Speaking to the profound work of guiding young people, Ben added, “The important work of childhood, of adolescence, and of young adulthood rises unbidden and rushes past us, all the while smiling, learning, growing, and often tumbling by each day.”
 
Throughout this process, we sought a leader who embodies Carolina Day’s mission while possessing the strategic insight, educational excellence, and relational leadership necessary to guide the school into its next chapter. In Ben Farrell, we found not only these qualities, but a leader who has already demonstrated them in action within our own community.
 
We extend our deepest gratitude to the many students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees whose thoughtful participation and feedback shaped this process. Your engagement ensured a search that was inclusive, thorough, and reflective of Carolina Day’s shared aspirations.
 
Please join us in congratulating Ben Farrell and his family on his appointment as Carolina Day School’s next Head of School. We are filled with confidence, gratitude, and tremendous enthusiasm for what lies ahead.
 
With gratitude,
 
Sincerely,

Emily Roberts
Board Chair

Kristi Goodrum 
Search Committee Chair
 
With deep appreciation for their dedicated service, we wish to acknowledge the trustees who volunteered their time and leadership on the Head of School Search Committee to guide this process in partnership with Carney, Sandoe & Associates:
    •    Kristi Goodrum, Head of School Search Committee Chair
    •    Emily Roberts, Board of Trustees Chair
    •    Jennifer Bock
    •    Barry Johnson
    •    Elizabeth Mailander
    •    Tim Mitrovich
    •    Rob Weintraub