John Green
Each month RG175 does a "deeper dive" to get to know one of our Independent School colleagues. This month we are spotlighting RG175's newest consultant, John Green. John worked for 32 years at four independent boarding schools including Fessenden School, Western Reserve Academy, St. Paul's School, and Peddie School where he served as head of school for 12 years. At Fessenden, Western Reserve and St. Paul's, John played nearly every conceivable role in a residential school including teacher, coach, dormitory supervisor, department head, director of college counseling, director of admissions and dean of faculty before moving on to Peddie.
What are you looking forward to most about being a consultant in the search?
As a believer in an independent school education, I look forward to maintaining my life-long relationship with the independent school community. I look forward to meeting and learning from administrators with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences who share with me an ongoing commitment to young people and their intellectual and personal growth. I look forward to playing a role in helping these administrators realize their aspirations and in helping schools find their new leaders.
What are you looking forward to most about being a mentor?
Years ago, I served as a secondary school teacher in every sense of that word … in classrooms, on athletic fields, in dormitories wherever I thought I could help young people become their best selves. When making the transition into administration, I maintained that role as mentor now more for my colleagues ... in departments, on committees, and visiting teams ... than for my students. Mentoring was and remains among the most rewarding experiences of my career.
What are some of your former achievements when you were a head?
During my headship, I conceived and executed two ambitious strategic plans that resulted in a new Science Center, History House and Athletic Center, a 65% increase in the number of applications and 12% increase in selectivity, and innovative programming including the establishment of sister-schools in Shanghai, China and New Delhi, India. While proud of these achievements, I sincerely hope that I had a positive impact on the lives of those students and colleagues with whom I interacted for over 40 years.
Why did you choose RG175?
Serving in residential schools in particular, I came to appreciate deeply the importance of authentic relationships in our lives and of a positive collaborative community. Stepping away from my headship, I wanted to maintain and seek these types of relationships and, ideally, in the context of a group of committed professionals who wanted to do something transformative together. RG175 has recruited these professionals and is also structured to provide this collaborative experience for those working in the firm.
What are your thoughts on the search process?
As a former head of school, I thought I had a good handle on the nature of the search process but I now know that I underestimated the insight, dedication, and experience required of those who conduct a search as well as the number and range of services that our partners provide our clients. Former heads know—more than most—the critical importance of leadership in any school and, as such, ours appreciate the pressure search committees feel to “get it right” and are determined to help committees to do just that.
Why are you doing this? Concerned with leadership in independent schools?
As one who committed himself within independent schools to providing access and equity to students and teachers who had not historically enjoyed access and equity and as one who committed himself to providing opportunity to those historically locked out of opportunity punctuated by my six years of leadership at The TEAK Fellowship, I am interested in identifying and introducing talented candidates who have not historically played a part in our searches to independent schools badly in need of their leadership.