Head of School Search
Berkeley Preparatory School Seeking Next Head of School
In July 2025, Berkeley Preparatory School’s Board of Trustees announced the launch of a national search for its next Head of School. To lead this important process, the Board assembled a Head of School Search Committee and engaged the education recruitment firm Carney Sandoe & Associates (see more on both below).
Ongoing updates about the search will be shared with the Berkeley community via email, and questions about the process may be directed to headofschoolsearch@360zhuji.net.
The Board of Trustees is grateful to all who have offered their support and encouragement during this important moment in Berkeley’s history.
Head of School Search Committee
Chad Harrod ’95 (Chair) Trustee, alumnus, and current parent
Kathleen Nestor (Vice Chair) Trustee, parent of an alumna, and current parent
Lee A. “Tripp” Crouch ’86 Trustee, alumnus, and parent of alumni
Anne Faber Trustee and current parent
Bob Gries Former Trustee and parent of an alumna
Ami Patel Pagidipati ’02 Trustee, alumna, and current parent
Gala Wan Trustee and current parent
Head of School Search Advisory Committee
Adam Abelson ’11 Alumnus
Meai Chang Faculty, parent of alumni, and current parent
Carlo DiNota Faculty
Brett Divers ’85 Former Trustee (Chair), alumnus, and parent of alumni
Stephanie Estes Staff and parent of alumni
Dan Harari ’05 Alumnus and current parent
Lindsey Jackson Current parent and past faculty
Abbie King Staff and current parent
Libby Ridley Lifsey ’03 Alumna and current parent
Sydney Hughes Mattera ’11 Alumna and faculty
Dax Nelson ’96 Trustee, Alumni Executive Committee President, alumnus, and current parent
Melaney Amos O’Carroll ’84 Alumna, staff, and parent of alumni
Verla Strain Faculty and current parent
Carney Sandoe & Associates
Berkeley Preparatory School has retained Carney Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), an internationally recognized education search and recruitment, consulting, and coaching firm, to partner with us in the search for our next Head of School. CS&A brings deep knowledge of independent schools from over 45 years of experience guiding schools through their searches for exceptional heads of school, senior administrators, and faculty. Carney Sandoe is known for its highly personalized approach to understanding the particular strengths, needs, and cultures of schools and then supporting them through the identification, recruitment, and hiring of excellent leaders, whose skills and experiences align with the school’s needs. We are excited to work with Bob Vitalo, Allison Stiles, and Michael Robinson as our consultants.
