Seward Principal Search

Seward is in the process of looking for a new Principal for the 2024/2025 school year. 

Snapshot of the process

1. Position posted (posted April 26, 2024)
2. Site council meets with district (met May 3, 2024)
3. Seward community survey (closed May 17, 2024)
4. Seward parent and staff hiring committee selected (completed May 13, 2024)
5. Eligible candidates selected by the district and interviewed by the committee (completed May 31, 2024)
6. Committee recommends candidates to the district superintendent (completed May 31, 2024)
7. Final candidate selected by the superintendent (completed mid June, 2024)
8. Position offered and accepted and new principal details announced (completed June 21, 2024)

We hope to have a new principal in place by the start of 2024/2025.

The new principal will hire the assistant principal. In the event that a new principal or a new assistant principal is not named before the start of the school year, an interim will be named for either role. 

July 18 Update

In partnership with Associate Superintendent Yusuf Abdullah, Principal Katie has selected Kevin Jachymowski as Seward's next Associate Principal. 

June 21 Update

We are excited to share that Catherine Hoffman will serve as Seward Montessori’s new principal, effective July 1, 2024. More details will be shared throughout the summer.

June 7 Update

The process to select our new principal is progressing as planned. The next step will be to hear directly from the district by June 21. The results of the Seward Community Survey are available below. 

May 17 Update

Many thanks to those of you who completed the Seward Community Survey. The Principal Selection Committee has been formed including a good mix of staff and parents representing the diverse needs of our community. Interviews with candidates should be complete by the end of May. 

May 10 Update

A Principal Selection Committee is nearly formed. The committee will consist of 10 people who represent Seward staff (licensed and unlicensed, across CH/E1 and E2), Seward parents, and at least one Seward site council member. Because this committee will be interviewing candidates and offering feedback to the district decision-makers, it is vital that the group reflect the racial/cultural demographics of the school community.

To assist the committee and the district, please complete the Seward Community Survey by May 17. We are hoping to schedule interviews the week of May 20 or May 27.

May 3 update

The site council met today with the associate superintendent to go over the process. We are currently forming the Seward hiring committee and hoping to interview candidates by the end of May. Fill out the MPS survey by May 17 to help communicate our hopes for our next principal.

Seward Montessori School Principal Leadership Profile (91 participants)

The most important issues in selecting the next Seward principal should be:

• Montessori experience: trained, taught and led Montessori program
• Prior classroom and administrative/leadership experience; preferably MPS experience
• Special Education experience and knowledge
• Familiar with student and community populations
• Able to hold staff and students accountable
• High expectations for student behavior; create and enforce consistent consequences; intolerance for bullying
• Strong advocate for all students, staff and families
• Communication skills: transparent, consistent, honest, clear and frequent
• Listens to understand students, staff and families
• Welcoming and respective to everyone
• Able to build strong, trusting relationships
• Leads with an equity lens in all areas; improves equitable practices
• Able to create a student culture that is positive, productive and rigorous for all
• Welcomes, understands and responds effectively to input

The following qualities of a new principal may be important:

• Creates a safe space where students feel accepted and valued
• Provides clear, strong visionary leadership for staff
• Able to persist through changes and challenges
• Welcomes and utilizes staff and parent feedback
• Helps foster engagement from all
• Continue to build and retain a diverse staff to support the diverse student body and community
• Collaborative, innovative, personable, approachable, authentic, encouraging, engaged, supportive, nurturing and kind

The following was the most important in regards to a Seward education:

• Diverse school community – multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual
• Team of strong, effective and dedicated teachers and staff
• Collective, welcoming environment
• Montessori programming
• Engaged families and community