EDEN WARNER CHAIR, ROESSLER-CHADWICK FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES
In Jessica Donovan, Chadwick School has found a superior leader who demonstrates all the key qualities that we as a community desire in our next Head of School. She brings a deep commitment to teaching and developing young minds, a stalwart belief in the value of experiential learning, an extensive commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and she embodies and fully embraces our Core Values and our Mission. As a community, we are excited and enthusiastic about the future under Jessica’s leadership.
Meet Our Next Head Of School Jessica S. Donovan
Jessica S. Donovan joins Chadwick School, Palos Verdes, effective July 1, 2023, and will be Chadwick’s 14th Head of School since it was founded in 1935 by Margaret Lee Chadwick.
Donovan is currently Head of School at Sheridan School, an independent school in Washington, D.C. Donovan has spent more than 23 years working in schools as a teacher and school leader, including roles as Division Director, Assistant Head of School and Head of School. Her work at Sheridan included implementing data-driven curriculum overhauls; leading renovations at both the city and mountain campuses; building a culture of philanthropy; increasing the diversity of faculty, staff and families; and overseeing the strategic plan, while ensuring that all community members have a sense of belonging.
Donovan sits on the board of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, where she chairs the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She also serves on the board of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools, where she is the commissioner for accreditation. Donovan has presented at various conferences on integrated project-based learning, mindfulness, curriculum design and differentiation, and hiring and retaining diverse faculty. She serves as a leadership mentor for underrepresented leaders in independent schools. Donovan earned her B.A. in English and American Literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her M.A. in Independent School Leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. She and her partner, Ed Han, have two sons and two daughters, all between the ages of 19 and 25. When not at school, you’ll find her enjoying homemade meals with her family.
Head of School Search Process
Search Timeline
November 2021 RG175 Survey Results
Thank you to those who participated in the RG175 survey on Chadwick's next Head of School. Learning about your unique perspectives on what traits matter most in our next leader is helpful in selecting the right candidate. Please click below to see the survey results.
Head of School Search Committee
Administrator Panel
Faculty/Staff Panel
Search Consultants
Chadwick has partnered with Resource Group 175 in our Head of School search. RG175 is the premier placement firm serving independent schools around the world since 2002. They are committed to highly personalized leadership and governance consulting to schools, based on the values of integrity, inclusivity, knowledge and flexibility. To reach our search consultants, please email Tom Hudnut at tom@tomhudnut.com and Deborah Reed at dereed2014@gmail.com. You can also find out more about them by clicking below:
Updates to Our Community
Stay informed about the status of our Head of School search by accessing our communications with the community below.
Sent On:
Sent On:
Sent On:
Sent On:
Sent On:
Sent On:
Sent On:
Sent On:
Sent On:
Our Mission
Chadwick Schools develop global citizens with keen minds, exemplary character, self-knowledge and the ability to lead.
Core Values
Compassion
Fairness
Honesty
Respect
Responsibility
855
Students enrolled
from 63 communities in Los Angeles County
8:1
Student/Teacher Ratio
and Student/Advisor Ratio
45%
Students of Color
CORE Competencies
Character
Collaboration
Communication
Courage
Critical & Creative Thinking
Cultural Competence