Head of School Search

The School Board leads the executive search and prayerfully determines the Head of School. 

The HOS Search Committee facilitates the executive search process. The HOS Search Committee is a special board committee appointed in accordance with the RCS bylaws by Board President Mark Lietzke and unanimously approved by the School Board.

The members of the search committee are:

Chair: Ryan Underwood
Email: runderwood@rejoiceschool.com
Board Vice President and Parliamentarian
Ryan has nearly 35 years experience in youth, nonprofit, education, leadership, strategy, culture and organizational development across the United States. Ryan is an RCS parent and member of Rejoice Church. 

Member: Staci Henson
Email: shenson@rejoiceschool.com
Board Secretary
Staci is a retired professional educator, beloved former member of the RCS staff and was recognized for the “Excellence in Education” award—RCS’s highest honor for staff or board members. Her education speciality was communication. She helped establish the RCS Theatre program and launch Eagle One News. Staci is a member of Riveted Church.

Member: Kay Barney
Email: kbarney@rejoiceschool.com
Past Board Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer
Kay is a business owner, mechanical engineer, and parent of distinguished RCS alumni. Kay previously served on the 2020 Head of School Search Committee and has been a dedicated volunteer and contributor to many key RCS initiatives in more than a decade of support to RCS. Kay is a member of Asbury Church.

Ex-Officio Member:  Mark Lietzke
Email: mlietzke@rejoiceschool.com
Board President and Past Treasurer
Mark is a business owner, CPA, parent of distinguished RCS alumni, and spouse of a professional educator and retired RCS teacher. His RCS support spans nearly two decades. A personal aspiration of Mark’s in the search process is to find a leader who will deliver the same high quality Christian education for his new grandchildren that has been so impactful for his own children. Mark is a member of Rejoice Church.

No. The HOS Search Committee facilitates the search process. 

The search firm stewards the executive search process and conducts due diligence and extensive background checks for finalist candidates. The School Board engages the final interviews, candidate assessment and selection.

The School Board is composed of a diverse range of expertise including:

• Independent board members with no current or former RCS students
• Parents/Grandparents of current students and/or alumni
• Educators and youth development experts
• For profit and nonprofit Christian executives
• Christian business owners and community leaders
• Membership at a range of Green Country area churches 

The Board will draw on prayer, board experience, RCS strategy, and wise input received during the search process from our community to select the next Head of School.

The duty and requirement in the event of vacancy in the Head of School position is specifically prescribed in Section 2.5.4.1. This section reads:

2.5.4.1 – Head Search Committee
In the event of a permanent vacancy in the position of the Head of School, the President of the Board shall appoint a special Head Search Committee. The duties to be assigned to the Head Search Committee include:

1. Broadcasting the open Head of School position along with corresponding education, experience, and character requirements and expected duties and responsibilities relevant to the position.
2. Screening applicants through reviews of submitted documentation and virtual or in-person interviews.
3. Selecting a list of a minimum of three applicants who best meet or exceed the selection criteria and presenting the information to the Board for consideration.
4. Assisting the Board as necessary in making the final selection for election as the new Head of School.

• Develop a HOS Search plan for approval by the Executive Committee that results in the selection of an excellent candidate pool for Board decision and provides a foundation for future HOS Committees. (Target: Aug 2026; Completed Aug 2026)
• Conduct due diligence to secure a HOS Search Firm, prepare materials and ensure broadcasting the open Head of School position along with corresponding education, experience, and character requirements and expected duties and responsibilities relevant to the position. (Target: Aug 2026; Completed Aug 2026)
• Initiate a school and community prayer team for the process, the candidate and the selection process. (Target: October/November)
• Screen applicants through reviews of submitted documentation and virtual or in-person interviews. (Target: Dec 2026-Jan 2027)
• Select a list of a minimum of three applicants who best meet or exceed the selection criteria and present the information to the Board for consideration. (Target: Feb 2027)
• Assist the Board as necessary in making the final selection for election as the new Head of School (Mar 2027).

WIth God’s favor, the target for announcement is March/April 2027. The plan is for a healthy transition over the subsequent months with our new Head of School starting in July 2027. RCS will certainly accelerate this timeline if the selected finalist is available sooner.

Yes! We invite our community to join RCS in praying for the success of the search process and the leader God has been preparing for our school. Add your name and email address if you would like to be included about specific prayer requests during this journey.

Click here to view the prayer team interest form!

Yes. RCS is partnering with CarterBaldwin Executive Search. We are conducting a nationwide search for active and passive HOS candidates. After referrals and extensive due diligence with 12 well regarded firms, CarterBaldwin was selected to help steward the education executive search process. The RCS Search is led by Chris Hornsby, who directs the firm’s faith-based K-12 education practice along with a strong team of researchers, recruiters, and experts in the Christian education space.

Yes!  Chris Hornsby from CarterBaldwin conducted onsite visits and listening sessions on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2. This included an area site visit, campus tour and hosting 12 different listen and learn sessions. Representatives of staff, students, parents, board and stakeholders of all schools and grade levels provided valuable input. Individual parent and staff input is provided through the strategy and head of school survey emailed to parents and faculty in October. 

CarterBaldwin has faith-based search professionals who conduct executive searches in the public, private, nonprofit, and education space. They have a dedicated practice group for faith-based K-12 education. Chris Hornsby is the partner who leads this practice area and will personally be the lead in helping RCS recruit candidates and guide the process.

Research and referrals. We received recommendations from RCS partners like Herzog, ISM and ACSI. We received referrals from HR practitioners and Christian leaders experienced in executive hiring. The RCS Search Committee researched 12 different firms and recommended 4 qualified semi-finalist candidates. The RCS Board unanimously selected CarterBaldwin.

An “active” candidate for a position is someone who is seeking a new opportunity or position. A “passive” candidate is not actively seeking a position and is often satisfied and fully involved in their current role and unaware of the opportunity. An excellent search process pursues both types of candidates.

Absolutely. RCS welcomes both internal and external candidates for the Head of School position.

YES! We welcome referrals and recommendations from our RCS community and our Eagle network. All applicants and referrals will be confidentially managed by our executive search partner CarterBaldwin. Email RCSHOS@carterbaldwin.com.

Yes. 

Staci Henson brings RCS professional educator insight from her years on staff. Her appointment to the school board was recommended by RCS staff and administration and unanimously approved by the school board. Staci consistently brings the voice of teachers and RCS staff to all matters before the Board. Staci is also a board officer and member of the RCS Executive Committee. 

RCS Interim Head of School Dan Oller is a voting member of the RCS School Board and will  participate in the selection process (unless a candidate). If Dan Oller is a candidate, the HOS Search Committee will recommend the school board consider including an RCS staff representative.

Ryan Underwood brings RCS over three decades of leadership experience in the education, youth development, and nonprofit sector. His experience in both public and private schools, local/state/federal education agencies, and expertise in student and adult professional development is a valuable resource to the Board and the search process.

It is important to know that neither CarterBaldwin nor the RCS Search Committee will select the Head of School. Their role is to facilitate the process on behalf of the Board and RCS community.

Phase 3 of the Search Process “LISTEN” included learning sessions for all stakeholders. Twelve listening sessions were completed with more than 50 RCS stakeholder representatives including over 30 faculty, administration and staff.

The entire RCS community of staff and parents were invited to provide input through the October strategy and head of school survey to share their personal perspective and experience.

Our community is welcome to contribute questions for the search, interview and due diligence phase to our executive search partners at CarterBaldwin. Email: RCSHOS@carterbaldwin.com

The Head of School Profile is not predetermined. The profile is developed during each search process and unique to the calling and requirements of the next RCS season. 

Phase 3 of the Search Process (LISTEN) is the key phase to hear from the RCS community and develop the Head of School Search Profile. This input along with the RCS mission/vision, strategy, statement of faith, culture and leadership characteristics (spiritual leadership, character, education, expertise, and proven executive capabilities) will determine the qualities and qualifications RCS seeks in the next Head of School. 

The School Board will develop the Head of School Profile with input from the RCS executive leadership team. Once completed and approved, nationwide Phase 4 SEARCH will be underway.

RCS is committed to conducting the Head of School search with character, transparency and appropriate confidentiality. Throughout the process, we will communicate regularly with faculty, staff, families, and the RCS community about the progress of the search, including important milestones and opportunities to participate.

At the same time, protecting candidate confidentiality is essential. Many prospective candidates are currently serving in leadership positions and need to be able to explore the RCS opportunity without jeopardizing their responsibilities or relationships with their current schools and organizations. For this reason, candidate names, application materials, interviews, references, and other sensitive information will remain confidential throughout the process.

As the search progresses to the finalist stage, RCS will communicate what opportunities, if any, members of the school community will have to engage with candidates.

Our goal is to be transparent about the process while maintaining appropriate confidentiality about the people participating in it. We ask our community to help protect the integrity of the search by respecting confidentiality, avoiding speculation or rumors, and continuing to pray for the candidates, search process, Board, and God’s direction throughout the journey.

As RCS has matured over the last 35 years–so has our search process. Traditionally the RCS Board has conducted previous searches as a closed process. The Board determined the position description, posted on the RCS website and communication channels (including word of mouth), and relied on partners like ASCI to help amplify the HOS opportunity to their network. This process was conducted by the board exclusively.

This HOS Search Process will be guided by one of the top executive search firms in the country and their faith-based K-12 school practice. This search process is inclusive and involves RCS stakeholders (parents, partners, and students), RCS executive and administrative leadership, opportunities for all staff to contribute throughout the phases of the search journey. 

Being able to rely on an expert level faith-based search practice for research, recruitment, logistics, and guidance to represent RCS and reach a nationwide candidate pool is an important advancement and blessing.

This article from Carter Baldwin provides some powerful thoughts on the components of Christian calling. We encourage you to read it! 

https://carterbaldwin.com/the-components-of-christian-calling/