Staff Search Committee

Perhaps unsurprisingly, when it’s time to search for a new staff member for school, students are part of the process. Over the past two weeks, students have been part of interviewing three candidates out of many more who submitted applications and resumes. I think it’s worth sharing what these interviews have been like. The questions our students asked say a lot about them and our community.

About 8 students on our Staff Search Committee joined each of the interviews - two were video calls and one was in person. None of these students needed to join the committee or come to the interviews, but it’s their community and so it matters to them who might become a staff member. They made a list of the qualities they’re looking for in a candidate:

- Relevant

- Good with kids

- Socially progressive

- Patient

- Open-minded

- Responsible

- Likes to play

- Emotionally mature

- Curious

- Calm

During the interviews they asked things like: what the candidate’s stances are on things like AI and the building of the pyramids, what their favorite foods, movies, music, ice cream, ramen, dinosaur, and book genres are, what made them interested in Sudbury, and how they might react to situations like conflict between students or a student breaking their arm. They asked where they stand on identity politics and what they imagine a day at Sudbury would be like for them as a staff member.

As staff, we noticed which candidates students seemed to feel the most comfortable around and the questions candidates posed to students. After the interviews, it was wonderful to hear students process, to hear their concerns as well as the clear enthusiasm from all of them for the thoughtful answers from the candidate we’re ultimately moving forward with.

Like so many things at Sudbury, the process matters. This process could have been run entirely by staff, board members, and even parents, but for us, students have to be part of the process, and at this point they expect to be central to it. We want students to expect to be part of every aspect of school life. It’s a participatory universe here. ❤️