Dear USM Community,

Over the past several weeks, our four finalists for the head of school position visited USM. We want to thank our entire community for welcoming these individuals to campus and engaging in the search process. Your participation and feedback have been vitally important.

While each candidate arrived here with a different background, they all left with a deeper understanding of what makes USM special. Before departing, each finalist reflected back to us a recognition of, and an appreciation for, this vibrant community. This feedback was the result of their time spent in classrooms, at lunch tables, and in many conversations with leaders, faculty and staff, parents and guardians, alumni and parents of alumni, and friends of the school—all of whom share a commitment to the excellence that is the hallmark of USM. 

In the coming days, our search committee will complete its work and make a recommendation to the school's Board of Trustees, taking the process to its next phase. However, we want to honor the many important celebrations and milestones that occur at the end of the school year before turning our attention to the future. As such, we look forward to sharing more information about the next head of school after the conclusion of the school year.

In the meantime, we want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for the commitment, passion, and care the USM community has shown throughout this process as we all work together to identify our school's next great leader.

With appreciation, 

Julie Gilpin and Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes
Co-Chairs, USM Head of School Search Committee

Information about the four finalists, including names and credentials, were confidentially emailed to members of the USM community ahead of each of their visits. If you did not receive this information, and would like to, please contact communications@usm.org and provide your name and relationship to the school. The finalists' visit schedules were also shared in the April 22, 2026 message shown below.

Dear USM Community,

We are writing to provide a further update on our head of school search. After interviewing eight semifinalist candidates, the search committee identified four finalists who will, over the next three weeks, each make a two-day visit to USM.

The visit dates previously shared are now confirmed, and begin on campus next Monday, April 27. As parents/guardians, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends of the school, you will have three community forum session options to attend for each finalist, where you can meet the candidates and ask questions. Those dates and times are shown below.

All visitors should enter the building at the west visitor entrance (17 on the campus map) to check in before proceeding to the forum location; guests not already in our visitor management system will be asked to show a photo ID, and all guests will be given a visitor sticker to wear while in the building.

• Candidate A Community Forums:
  • Monday, April 27, 8:30–9:15 a.m., Sperling Hall
  • Monday, April 27, 5:15–6 p.m., Lee Community Room
  • Tuesday, April 28, 8:30–9:15 a.m., Sperling Hall
     
• Candidate B Community Forums:
  • Wednesday, April 29, 8:30–9:15 a.m., Sperling Hall
  • Wednesday, April 29, 5:15–6 p.m., Lee Community Room
  • Thursday, April 30, 8:30–9:15 a.m., Sperling Hall
     
• Candidate C Community Forums:
  • Monday, May 4, 8:30–9:15 a.m., Sperling Hall
  • Monday, May 4, 5:15–6 p.m., Lee Community Room
  • Tuesday, May 5, 8:30–9:15 a.m., Sperling Hall
     
• Candidate D Community Forums:
  • Tuesday, May 12, 8:30–9:15 a.m., Sperling Hall
  • Tuesday, May 12, 5:15–6 p.m., Lee Community Room
  • Wednesday, May 13, 8:30–9:15 a.m., Sperling Hall

Each finalist's name and credentials (along with a reminder of these forum dates and times) will be shared via email 24 hours in advance of their visit to USM. While we understand this approach provides limited notice, all four finalists come to us with extensive experience in education, including having held significant leadership positions, and we want to respect the confidentiality of their candidacy until just prior to their visits.

The intent of these community forums is to provide an opportunity for members of the USM community to meet and talk with each finalist in order to learn more about them, and to give the candidates opportunities to learn more about our community. USM faculty and staff have separate forum times, which have been communicated to them, and the finalists' visits will also include separate time with the search committee, trustees, school leadership, students, and others.

Following each session, our consultant partners at Carney, Sandoe & Associates will collect feedback from forum participants through an online survey tool. The link for each finalist will be shared in the reminder emails and will also be available at each forum. Community feedback is vitally important to the process and will be reviewed and considered as our search committee continues its work.

We are excited for you to meet our four finalists, and for the conversations ahead.

Warmly,

Julie Gilpin and Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes
Co-Chairs, USM Head of School Search Committee

Dear USM Community,

We are pleased to share this update on our head of school search. As you may recall, after our search consultants from Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A) visited in January, we shared a summary of the feedback received from the USM community. Based on that information, we also released a Head of School Position Description, which has guided the candidate search for the last few months.

With more than 140 candidates expressing interest, CS&A conducted an extensive review of the pool and engaged in further discussion with more than 50 applicants. From that impressive pool, our search committee received and reviewed several dossiers to identify semifinalists to interview in person. Given the depth of talent and passion among the candidates, selecting semifinalists was not easy; however, after thoughtful consideration, we invited eight individuals to continue the process. Soon, these candidates will interview with our search committee, share their stories, and learn more about the people, programs, and traditions that make USM a vibrant community.

At this stage, candidate interest remains confidential. Following these semifinalist meetings, the search committee will invite a group of finalists to visit campus, at which point we will share more information about the individuals. Finalists will spend time with members of the USM community, including students, faculty, staff, and parents. We encourage all of you to engage with these finalists and share your thoughts. Feedback from all corners of our community will be collected, which will be essential to the search committee’s further work. We look forward to sharing more information about these important two-day finalist visits, during which members of the USM community will have opportunities to meet the candidates. While a detailed schedule will be shared soon, please note the following tentative on-campus visit dates: April 27-28, April 29-30, May 4-5, and May 12-13.

While there is still much work ahead, we remain confident that we are engaged with a strong pool of candidates and will find a head of school who will lead and steward USM into the future with thoughtful and experience-based wisdom, compassion, and care for the community, as well as a deep appreciation for all that makes our school unique.

If you have any questions or feedback, we encourage you to reach out to us at headsearch@usm.org, or you can view our head of school search webpage at any time for updated information.

Warmly,

Julie Gilpin and Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes
Co-Chairs, USM Head of School Search Committee

Dear USM Community,

We want to update you on the head of school search, which continues to present exciting opportunities for the future of USM and our community. Last week, USM’s search consultants from Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A) visited the school and spoke with a broad cross section of the USM community. Over two days, they toured the campus, walked the halls, ate lunch in our dining rooms, and engaged in confidential discussions about USM’s strengths and challenges with parents, faculty, staff, administrators, students, trustees, alumni, and many others who share a deep and lasting connection to the school. Through these conversations and a companion anonymous questionnaire (with nearly 400 responses from these same broad-based constituencies), CS&A and your search committee gained valuable insight into the desires, aspirations, and opportunities for USM’s next head of school. We thank everyone for their engagement and candor through these thoughtful, constructive and critically important conversations.

CS&A gathered and presented the accumulated anonymous feedback to the search committee. Several themes permeated the questionnaire and discussions:

• An unequivocal appreciation for USM’s commitment to academic excellence, and a high value on the relationships forged at USM, especially, student-faculty relationships. In fact, nearly 70% of respondents to the questionnaire identified academic excellence as what they most value about USM, with small class sizes, the low student-faculty ratio, and the student-faculty relationships being the next most valued attributes.
• The desire that USM’s next head of school prioritize supporting and retaining high-caliber faculty committed to USM (nearly 52% of respondents rated this as the top priority), including work with academic leaders across the three divisions to ensure each student’s academic potential is realized while adhering to the school’s mission.
• A strong hope that USM’s next head of school possesses a proven track record of retaining, recruiting, and developing skilled educators and successful leaders, and that this individual will foster the Common Trust values while furthering the academic excellence that distinguishes USM. Over 66% of respondents identified leadership and management experience as the next head of school’s most important professional experience, while more than 55% identified recruitment, retention, support, and management of faculty and staff.
• The community looks forward to embracing an individual who is a proven leader, highly relational, accessible, inspiring, trustworthy, decisive, and who will drive USM forward with strategy and vision. Nearly 50% of respondents seek a head of school who will be approachable, accessible, and collaborative, while over 40% prioritize that the candidate be honest, trustworthy, and transparent. Respondents also placed high value on leadership skills.

Other notable themes from the questionnaire and discussions include a zeal for fostering school spirit, community cohesion, and a uniting vision while honoring the history and traditions of USM. Many also highlighted the rise of artificial intelligence and its implications for education as an issue the next head of school must thoughtfully navigate. Additionally, respondents noted the importance of the athletic experience at USM, calling for greater emphasis on supporting, building, and advancing these programs and the student experience.

While this highlights some of the overarching themes expressed, CS&A and your search committee worked together to distill much of the collected information into the USM Head of School Position Description. This document reflects the feedback shared above and will help guide the recruitment process. Simultaneously, it offers candidates insight into USM’s community and the characteristics and priorities sought in USM’s next leader.

Notably, CS&A has begun engaging with prospective candidates, and the search committee will proceed with formal, confidential interviews later this spring. The search committee remains confident that USM’s overall strength will attract an impressive candidate pool. We want to thank you for your engagement and support, and also remind you that you will be invited to participate in sessions with our identified finalists in May. Your participation will be important in representing our strong, cohesive, and engaged community.

We will continue to update you as the process continues. If you have questions or comments, please contact us at headsearch@usm.org, or you can view our head of school search webpage at any time for updated information.

Sincerely,

Julie Gilpin and Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes
Co-Chairs, USM Head of School Search Committee

Dear USM Community,

This is a quick reminder that you are invited and encouraged to complete a brief (10 to 15 minute) community questionnaire (link sent in email; contact communications@usm.org for link) to help inform the search process for USM's next head of school. The deadline to complete the questionnaire has been extended, and it will now close at the end of the day on Monday, Jan. 19.

Thank you to those of you who have already completed the questionnaire, and to the many members of our community who participated in one of the listening sessions earlier this week. The questionnaire is designed to be completed by all members of the USM community, regardless of whether or not you attended a listening session.

If you have any questions, please contact us at headsearch@usm.org, or you can view our head of school search webpage at any time for updated information.

Sincerely,

Julie Gilpin and Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes
Co-Chairs, USM Head of School Search Committee

Dear USM Community,

Since the October announcement of our upcoming head of school transition, we—along with fellow trustees—have been preparing for a comprehensive search to identify University School of Milwaukee's next leader. The Board of Trustees anticipates announcing this hire around the end of the 2025–26 school year, with the plan for that individual to begin as USM’s head in July 2027.

Selecting a head of school is one of the Board’s most important responsibilities. We are committed to conducting an inclusive, community-engaged process, and we welcome your thoughts, ideas, and questions in the months ahead. USM is in a great position for this transition, and we expect the role to draw strong interest from around the country—an endorsement of the school’s excellent reputation.

Our Search Consultants

We have engaged Carney Sandoe & Associates (CS&A) to help guide our search. CS&A knows USM well and understands our culture, having helped with searches for several members of the school’s current leadership team. With more than 40 years of experience placing school leaders, CS&A brings expertise, a wide-ranging perspective, and a deep network of relationships with school leaders across the country and around the world. The search committee will work closely with consultants Mark Davis, Darryl Ford, and Burke Zalosh, each of whom brings extensive experience as educators, leaders, and search professionals.

The Search Committee

While the Board has the ultimate responsibility for hiring the next head of school, a search committee representing a cross-section of the USM community will lead the process. Members include trustees, alumni, faculty, current parents, and parents of alumni who offer diverse perspectives and a deep understanding of USM.

• Julie Gilpin (co-chair): trustee; parent of Jack ’25, Luke ’28, Kate ’35
• Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes (co-chair): trustee; parent of Maddie ’27, Jo ’28, Jackie ’30, Emma ’34
• Lafayette Crump '91: trustee; parent of Kendra ’15
• Sri Lazzaro: trustee; parent of Nikhil ’26, Jayin ’28, Rayna ’31
• Mike Lindemann ’96: trustee; parent of Luke ’27, Mac ’29, Valley ’29, Bodhi ’32
• Gretchen (Krieg) Mathews ’06: 6th grade math teacher; parent of Millie ’35, Krieg ’37
• Patti Ptak: 2nd grade teacher; parent of Alex ’22, Makenna (attended PK-8th grade)
• Todd Schoon: trustee; parent of Elizabeth ’22, Michael ’24
• Leslie Tector ’87: Board of Trustees president; parent of Kelly Anne Schroeder ’19, Jack Schroeder ’21
• Susan (Bell) Zarwell ’87: assistant head of Upper School

The Search Process

Our CS&A consultants have already begun the candidate recruitment process. In January 2026, following USM’s winter break, they will distribute a community survey, which we encourage all of you to participate in to provide your candid feedback. During the week of Jan. 12, the CS&A consultants will also hold on-campus listening sessions and interviews with a broad range of community members. Please watch your email for further details about the visit.

We expect to attract a diverse and talented pool of candidates. Throughout the process, we will share updates while also protecting candidate confidentiality—a critical factor for many exceptional leaders considering new opportunities. Following CS&A’s January visit, the search committee will evaluate a wide range of candidates to discern fit with USM, incorporating insights from the survey, listening sessions, and interviews.

Finalists will visit USM in the spring for formal interviews and opportunities to meet as many USM community members as possible. Using feedback from those visits and reference checks, the search committee will recommend a candidate to the Board, which will make the final decision.

Staying in Touch

We will continue to provide updates via email and on the new head of school search page on the USM website. We also invite your input and questions at headsearch@usm.org.

The Board is committed to finding and selecting an exceptional leader who embraces USM's mission and can guide our school into an exciting future. Thank you for your participation and support.

Sincerely,

Julie Gilpin and Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes
Co-Chairs, USM Head of School Search Committee 

Dear USM Community,

On behalf of the school's Board of Trustees, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Steve Hancock for his steadfast leadership and commitment to University School of Milwaukee since he and Stephanie joined our community in 2020. Steve has been thoughtful and gracious in coordinating his departure plans with the board, ensuring ample time to find USM's next great leader. I am confident that he will continue to guide the school with his characteristic resolve and help ensure a smooth transition when he departs at the end of the 2026-27 school year.

When Steve steps away in 2027, he will have served for seven years as USM's head of school, leaving behind a community strengthened by his vision and dedication. Arriving in July 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Steve led the safe reopening of campus and helped guide USM to record enrollment. Under his leadership, USM launched a new strategic plan centered on three commitments: Learners, Leaders, and Citizens; Community, Culture, and the Common Trust; and Resources for the Future. He has also reinforced USM's mission to cultivate excellence in learning, leadership, and citizenship; ensure every student is engaged, known, and valued; and uphold the values of our Common Trust.

Julie Gilpin and Jan Pirozzolo-Mellowes, who are both current trustees and USM parents, have been appointed by the board to serve as co-chairs of the search committee, responsible for leading the school in the process of identifying Steve's successor. The board has retained Carney, Sandoe & Associates, a national educational recruitment, search, and strategic consulting firm, to support this important work. Together, we are committed to an inclusive search process that seeks input from the entire USM community. In the weeks ahead, Julie and Jan will share further details about the process, timeline, and opportunities for engagement.

USM is well-positioned to continue its impressive trajectory under Steve's leadership over the next 18 months, as he remains focused on additional priorities of our strategic plan. In addition to the two new amazing dining spaces that opened in August, there are more important campus transformation projects ahead, with exciting updates to come in late November. We look forward to all Steve will continue to bring to USM, and to celebrating his many contributions. Our next head of school will build on Steve's significant achievements, carrying forward USM's enduring mission and the values of respect, trust, honesty, fairness, and kindness. Steve has my deepest appreciation, as do all of you who make USM such a special community.

Sincerely,

Leslie M. Tector '87
President, Board of Trustees

Dear USM Community,

With heartfelt gratitude for all we have accomplished together, I write to let you know that I will conclude my time as head of school in June 2027. By providing more than 18 months’ notice, I hope to support the Board of Trustees as they conduct a thoughtful and successful search for USM’s next leader.

Returning to my home state in July 2020 was a dream come true for me and my family. USM welcomed us during one of the most challenging moments in modern educational history. Together, with the support of an exceptional leadership team, faculty, and staff, we worked diligently to keep our doors open and our students learning. Many challenges would come in the years to follow, but my steadfast belief in USM’s mission and the guiding principles of our Common Trust helped me lead with conviction and clarity.

Since then, we’ve accomplished much together. We crafted and launched a forward-thinking strategic plan, navigated a successful reaccreditation process, opened new buildings and athletic fields, and implemented significant enhancements to campus security. But what I am most proud of is the exceptional team we have assembled—teachers, coaches, staff, and leaders who live out our mission every day. They show up with purpose and passion, and they inspire me constantly. I have never worked with a finer group of educators and professionals, and USM is truly fortunate to have them.

Stephanie and I will depart USM at the conclusion of the 2026–27 school year. While we are not yet certain what the next chapter will hold, we look forward to listening carefully for the right opportunity to lead and grow. Until then, I remain fully engaged, grateful for each day, and energized by the important, inspiring work still ahead. I also know that, when we leave, we will follow USM’s continued success with a strong sense of pride.

As I look ahead to the next year and a half, I am energized by the opportunities we have to strengthen our programs, deepen our community, and prepare for a smooth and successful transition to new leadership. USM celebrates 175 years of history this year, and it has been the privilege of my 37-year career to serve as the head of such an extraordinary school and community. Thank you for everything you have done, and will continue to do, in support of USM.

With sincere appreciation,

Steve Hancock
Head of School