Search Process
The San Diego French-American School Board of Trustees has embarked upon the search for the next Head of School following the announcement of the departure of current Head of School, Mark Rosenblum in June of 2024.
The Board has engaged Carney, Sandoe & Associates, a top tier search firm with extensive experience in Independent, International and French-American Schools to lead the search for our next Head of School. They will guide us both in the search and in the transition process, ensuring it is seamless for our community.
A search committee was also formed to lead our community through this important process. The members of that committee and our search partner look forward to engaging with and hearing from many of you along the way. Please continue to check back here for updates and new information.
Our Search Team
Our Search Partner: Carney Sandoe & Associates
We are quite fortunate to have the very talented duo of Deb Welch and Cathy Shelburne from Carney Sandoe & Associates leading us through this process. Deb has vast experience in international independent schools, including having been a Head of School; while Cathy has an equally impressive background, most recently as the Director of Professional Learning with the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) for eight years.
Our Search Committee
Our Search Committee is made up of five trustees:
- Aaron Brennan
- Emiline Cairncross
- Etienne Chaponniere
- Fernanda Coelho
- Erica Murphy
The committee is headed by Aaron Brennan, a parent at the school for the past 13 years and future Board Chair. He is currently serving as the Treasurer of the Board. If you would like to contact him with suggestions, possible candidates, or questions about the process, please reach out to him at: Treasurer@sdfas.org.
Our Search Timeline
Communications
Dear San Diego French-American School Community,
The Board of Trustees would like to extend our warmest new year’s wishes and hope that 2022 was a fantastic year for you and your families. We are grateful that our school is vibrant with student learning, campus improvements and community involvement. We are proud that our children continue to flourish.
We are starting the new year with an important announcement. Our Head of School, Mark Rosenblum, will be departing San Diego French-American School at the end of next school year in June of 2024. Please join us in expressing our gratitude to Mark for what will be 7 years of service at our school.
Mark is San Diego French-American School’s third Head of School. This was Mark’s first headship, and he demonstrated deep commitment to and passion for our school’s mission and program vision. During his tenure, San Diego French-American School developed a new strategic plan, established an endowment to support financial aid and professional development, navigated Covid and launched a branding update. San Diego French-American School also extended its footprint with the addition of the Ocean View and Montessori campuses. Finally, San Diego French-American School attracted additional top-tier staff and faculty who will continue to provide our students unmatched opportunities to grow, embody the school’s values and become the best versions of themselves. Mark is now ready to pursue the next steps in his global citizenship journey.
As we move forward and continue to take our school to the next level, we have both the responsibility and opportunity to find the next leader of San Diego French-American School. The Board has engaged Carney, Sandoe & Associates, a top tier search firm with extensive experience in Independent, International and French-American Schools to lead the search for a new Head of School. They will guide us both in the search and in the transition process, ensuring it is seamless for our community. We will be communicating information about the search committee and a more specific timeline for our search in the coming months. We envision a robust process with input from faculty, staff and members of our community.
Please join the Board of Trustees in thanking Mark, his wife Stacy and their son Julian (San Diego French-American School alum ’22) for their contributions to our community. We wish Mark the best in his future career endeavors, and we look forward to the next steps for the San Diego French-American School.
Sincerely,
Fernanda Coelho
Board Chair, on behalf of the San Diego French-American School Board of Trustees
Dear San Diego French-American School Community,
We hope the first weeks of school after the holiday break have been joyful for your families. As promised, we are reaching out to provide you with an update on the Head of School search process and to alert you to some important upcoming events.
We also want to reaffirm our commitment to making this process very inclusive, and to that end, there will be multiple opportunities for parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and students to provide input on the priorities for our School, and ideal qualities for the next Head of School through confidential online surveys and in-person meetings (on campus) conducted by our independent search firm, Carney Sandoe & Associates (CS&A).
The Search Team
We are quite fortunate to have the very talented duo of Deb Welch and Cathy Shelburne leading us through this process. Deb has vast experience in international independent schools, including having been a Head of School; you can see her full bio here. Cathy has an equally impressive background, most recently as the Director of Professional Learning with the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) for eight years; her full bio can be found here.
Another important part of the process is the formation of a Search Committee. You might be wondering, “You hired a search firm; what does a search committee do?” Quite a lot actually; here’s a partial list:
- Provide feedback on and final approval of the Head of School Position Description
- Manage logistics relating to CS&A and candidate site visits
- Review the application materials of candidates presented by CS&A
- Plan, organize, and conduct interviews with candidates starting with initial interviews through finalist interviews
- Conduct due diligence, reference checks, and background checks
- Consolidate stakeholder feedback
- Make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for their vote on the next Head of School.
Our Search Committee is made up of five trustees headed by Aaron Brennan, a parent at the school for the past 13 years (Chase SDFAS ’23 & Olivia SDFAS ’22) and future Board Chair. He is currently serving as the Treasurer of the Board. If you would like to contact him with suggestions, possible candidates, or questions about the process, please reach out to him at: Treasurer@sdfas.org.
This process will actually move pretty fast. Nothing is set in stone, but we hope to be able to announce a new Head of School before the end of this school year. A picture speaks a thousand words, so the saying goes, so please check out the above infographic of our hoped-for timeline. This new webpage is dedicated to keeping you informed about this process. Here, you will find all updates and past communication about the search.
Meetings with Search Consultants
Our team from CS&A, Deb & Cathy, will be visiting SDFAS a week from today, Tuesday, January 24th and Wednesday, January 25th, to meet with faculty, staff, and parents. In those sessions, Deb and Cathy will ask for anonymous input from the community about qualities and characteristics you want in your next school leader.
- For faculty and staff, Deb and Cathy will conduct sessions on Tuesday, January 24th and Wednesday, January 25th in the Auditorium at noon. Lunch will be served. Please RSVP to one of the dates by emailing Stephanie at admin@sdfas.org. Deb and Cathy will also conduct one-on-one sessions with the Senior Leadership Team.
- For parents, there will be a “Wine & Cheese” session on Tuesday, January 24th at 5:00pm in the Auditorium and a “Coffee and Croissants” session on Wednesday, January 25th between 8:30- 9:15am also in the Auditorium. Please RSVP to one of the dates by emailing Stephanie at admin@sdfas.org. (Please join us even if you did not RSVP. The RSVP just helps us get a general headcount.)
Online Survey (closing Jan 26th)
We know that not everyone will be able to attend one of these sessions. CS&A created a short survey where you can give your input remotely. Please note that this survey closes on January 26th. (Click here for the survey)
Your Board of Trustees is committed to finding an extraordinary leader who embraces the SDFAS mission and values and who can lead our school into an exciting and successful future. We cannot do this by ourselves.
We thank you in advance for your participation and support in this important and exciting initiative.
Sincerely,
Fernanda Coelho
Board Chair, on behalf of the San Diego French-American School Board of Trustees
Dear SDFAS Community,
It is our pleasure to announce that the Board of Trustees has voted to appoint Mme Isabelle David as SDFAS’s fourth Head of School starting in July 2024. Mme David succeeds Mr. Andres Bordes who founded the school and led it for twelve years, Mr. Christian Jarlov who led it for seven years, and Mr. Mark Rosenblum who in June of 2024 will have led it for seven years.
In our search to find the most exceptional leader to guide our school and community, the Head of School Search Committee worked closely with premier educational search firm Carney Sandoe and Associates to launch an international search that yielded incredible talent from near and far. Guided by your voices, our school’s mission statement, our values, our strategic plan, and an in-depth interview process, the Committee diligently sought a leader that could skillfully manage our growing school; develop and implement strategic plans; attract and retain the best faculty and staff; further strengthen our diverse community; refine our communication including using more French; and solidify the school’s operations and financial sustainability.
We were determined to find a visionary leader with an inquisitive mind, strong moral compass, and an unwavering dedication to our values of open-mindedness, intellectual curiosity, integrity, empathy, and resilience.
We are thrilled to announce that Mme David embodies all of these qualities and more. She brings a wealth of experience, professionalism, and a profound commitment to excellence, leveraging both her academic and management backgrounds.
Mme David has a Bachelor of Arts from the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle and a Masters degree from Université d’Angers (both with honors). She is fully trilingual – French, English, and German – and has knowledge of Spanish, Italian, and Russian. She has lived in France and Austria. She comes to us from the French American School of Chicago (EFAC), a K-12 school where she has been the director for the past eleven years. Among her many achievements, she was awarded the rank of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (awarded by the Education Minister of France for services rendered to French Education and Culture). She is also the President of the Association of French Schools in North America (AFSA), a role she has held since 2016, and has strong relationships with the Mission Laïque Francaise.
As we embark on this exciting new chapter in our school’s journey, we embrace this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to Mme David and her husband Tim Brown, a highly regarded architect and associate professor of architecture at Clemson University.
Although Mme David’s official start date is July 2024, you can expect to see her on certain occasions during the next school year as we work closely with her and Mark Rosenblum to ensure a seamless transition.
We invite our entire SDFAS community to join us in celebrating Mme David’s appointment as our next Head of School, and we look forward to a bright future under her leadership.
Warm regards,
Aaron Brennan, Chair of the SDFAS Search Committee
Fernanda Coelho, Chair of the SDFAS Board of Trustees
Chère Communauté,
Nous avons le plaisir d’annoncer que le conseil d’administration a voté en faveur de la nomination de Mme Isabelle David au poste de directrice de SDFAS à compter de juillet 2024. Mme David succède à M. Andres Bordes qui a fondé l’école et l’a dirigée pendant douze ans, à M. Christian Jarlov qui l’a dirigée pendant sept ans, et à M. Mark Rosenblum qui l’aura dirigée pendant sept ans en juin 2024.
Afin de trouver le meilleur dirigeant possible pour guider notre école et notre communauté, le Comité de Recherche a travaillé en collaboration avec Carney Sandoe and Associates, une firme de recrutement pédagogique réputée. Nous avons initié une recherche globale qui a permis de trouver des candidats exceptionnels. Guidé par vos commentaires, la mission de notre école, nos valeurs, notre plan stratégique, et un processus d’entretiens approfondi, le comité a cherché un dirigeant capable de gérer habilement notre école en pleine croissance; d’élaborer et de mettre en œuvre des plans stratégiques; d’attirer les meilleurs professeurs et membres du personnel; de renforcer davantage notre communauté multiculturelle; d’affiner notre communication, notamment en augmentant l’utilisation de la langue française; et finalement de renforcer l’administration et la viabilité financière de l’école.
Nous étions déterminés à trouver un dirigeant visionnaire doté d’un esprit curieux et d’une déontologie exemplaire ainsi que dédié à nos valeurs d’ouverture d’esprit, de curiosité intellectuelle, d’intégrité, d’empathie, et de résilience.
Nous sommes ravis d’annoncer que Mme David incarne toutes ces qualités parmi beaucoup d’autres. Elle nous apporte une vaste expérience, un professionnalisme exceptionnel, et un réel engagement envers l’excellence académique tirant parti de ses expériences passées dans le monde de l’éducation et de l’entreprise.
Mme David est titulaire d’une licence de l’Université Nouvelle Sorbonne et d’une maîtrise de l’Université d’Angers (toutes deux avec mention). Elle est trilingue – en français, anglais et allemand – et a des connaissances en espagnol, italien et russe. Elle a vécu en France et en Autriche. Elle nous arrive de L’École Franco-Américaine de Chicago (EFAC), un établissement offrant une éducation française de la maternelle à la terminale dont elle est la directrice depuis onze ans. Parmi ses nombreux succès, elle a reçu le titre de Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (décerné par le ministre de l’Éducation nationale pour services rendus à la culture et à l’éducation française). Elle est également présidente de l’Association des Écoles Françaises d’Amérique du Nord (AEFA), poste qu’elle occupe depuis 2016, et entretient de solides relations avec la Mission Laïque Française.
Nous voulons utiliser cette occasion pour souhaiter chaleureusement la bienvenue à Mme David et à son mari Tim Brown, un architecte réputé et professeur agrégé d’architecture à l’Université de Clemson.
Bien que la date officielle d’entrée en fonction de Mme David n’est qu’en juillet 2024, elle nous rendra visite à plusieurs occasions au cours de l’année scolaire 2023-2024. En effet nous travaillons en collaboration avec elle et Mark Rosenblum pour transférer les responsabilités.
Nous invitons toute la communauté de SDFAS à se joindre à nous pour célébrer Mme David en tant que prochaine directrice d’école, et nous nous réjouissons à l’idée d’un brillant avenir sous sa direction.
Bien cordialement,
Aaron Brennan, président du comité de recherche du chef d’établissement
Fernanda Coelho, présidente du conseil d’administration de SDFAS
Warm Greetings and Introduction from the Next Head of School
Dear San Diego French American School Community,
With great pleasure, I would like to introduce myself as the next Head of School of San Diego French American School (SDFAS). I am honored and thankful to be joining your school and collaborating with such a dynamic and diverse community of students, parents, faculty, and staff members.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Board of Trustees, as well as to SDFAS’ faculty, staff, and students, for the warm welcome I have received thus far. From the moment I began working with SDFAS’ search committee, I was struck by the school’s vibrant atmosphere, its commitment to academic excellence, and the strong multilingual learning environment.
My overarching goal as the Head of School is to ensure that every student at SDFAS receives a holistic education that fosters not only academic knowledge and intellectual curiosity but also character development, empathy, open-mindedness, and resilience. I firmly believe in cultivating an inclusive and collaborative multilingual learning environment where students feel empowered to explore their passions and embrace their individuality. By nurturing a love for learning and encouraging creativity, we will instill in our students the confidence and skills necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Collaboration and open communication are vital components of any successful educational institution, and I encourage each of you to share your ideas, concerns, and aspirations with me. Together, we can create a shared vision that celebrates diversity, promotes excellence, and ensures the continued success of our students.
Although my official start date at SDFAS is in July 2024, I plan on working closely with your current Head of School in the coming weeks and months to ensure a seamless transition and future handover of responsibilities. I look forward to learning about your current structure and traditions and getting to know each member of the SDFAS school community better.
I am honored and excited to serve as the next Head of School at San Diego French American School and to have the opportunity to meet each one of you personally.
Warmest regards,
Isabelle David
Salutations chaleureuses et présentation de la prochaine cheffe d’établissement
Chère communauté de l’École Franco Américaine de San Diego,
C’est avec joie que je me présente comme la prochaine cheffe d’établissement de l’École Franco-Américaine de San Diego (SDFAS). Je suis profondément honorée et reconnaissante de rejoindre votre école et de m’associer à une communauté aussi dynamique et diversifiée d’élèves, de parents, d’enseignants et de membres du personnel.
Je tiens à exprimer ma sincère gratitude au conseil d’administration, au corps enseignant ainsi qu’au personnel et aux élèves de l’école pour l’accueil chaleureux qui m’a été réservé jusqu’à présent. Dès que j’ai commencé à travailler avec le comité de recherche du SDFAS, j’ai été frappée par l’atmosphère dynamique de l’école, son engagement en faveur de l’excellence de l’enseignement et son solide environnement d’apprentissage multilingue.
Mon objectif principal en tant que cheffe d’établissement est de veiller à ce que chaque élève de SDFAS reçoive une éducation complète qui favorise non seulement les savoirs et la curiosité intellectuelle, mais aussi le développement du caractère, l’empathie, l’ouverture d’esprit et la résilience. Je crois fermement qu’il faut cultiver un environnement d’apprentissage multilingue, inclusif et collaboratif, où les élèves se sentent capables d’explorer leurs passions et d’exprimer leur individualité. En cultivant l’amour de l’apprentissage et en encourageant la créativité, nous inculquerons à nos élèves la confiance et les compétences dont ils ont besoin pour s’épanouir dans un monde en constante évolution.
Un travail d’équipe et une communication transparente sont des composantes essentielles à tout établissement d’enseignement qui se veut performant ; j’encourage donc chacun d’entre vous à me faire part de ses idées, de ses préoccupations et de ses aspirations. Ensemble, nous pouvons créer une vision commune capable de promouvoir diversité, excellence et de garantir la réussite durable de nos élèves.
Bien que mon entrée en fonction à SDFAS soit prévue pour juillet 2024, j’ai l’intention au cours des semaines et des mois à venir de travailler en étroite collaboration avec votre chef d’établissement actuel afin d’assurer une transition et un transfert de responsabilités en douceur. J’ai hâte de découvrir votre structure et vos traditions actuelles, et d’apprendre à mieux connaître chaque membre de la communauté scolaire de SDFAS.
Je tiens à réitérer tout le plaisir et l’honneur que j’éprouve à l’idée d’être la prochaine cheffe d’établissement de l’École Franco Américaine de San Diego et d’avoir l’occasion de rencontrer chacun d’entre vous personnellement.
Avec mes plus sincères salutations,
Isabelle David
