In-person Interviewing–CEO Succession Planning Team

**Dr. Adam Tobias**
Board of Trustees President
ecsboard@ecspgh.org

From the desk of Adam Tobias, ECS Board of Trustees President and the CEO Succession Planning Team

Thank you for your continued support and communication throughout ECS’s next CEO selection process. As we reach the final stretch of the search process, we are delighted to share a summary of the overall candidate pool, and what to expect by the end of the school year:

More than 45,000 prospective candidates in the On-Ramps network were notified via email based on their aligned skills and experiences. Additionally, e-blasts went out on February 1st and March 22nd, and the role was posted on external job boards.
OnRamps conducted personal outreach to 202 prospects.
134 candidates submitted applications.
26 candidates were assessed by On-Ramps. These assessments focused on gaining a deeper understanding of a candidate’s career trajectory and alignment to the core competencies during two rounds of interviews.
10 candidates interviewed with Nikole Sheaffer, Kristan Abeshouse, and David Turner. In this first meeting with ECS, candidates discussed their backgrounds, interest in the role, and educational leadership experience.
Currently, 7 candidates are advancing to a 90-minute strategic thought exercise with the following ECS stakeholders:

Staff

Kristan Abeshouse, Director of Partnerships, Family Engagement, and the Student Experience
Vicky Hsieh, ED of Innovation and Strategy
Freida Kinney, Human Resources Director
Michelle Resnick, Chief Financial Officer
Nikole Sheaffer, Co-Chair, CEO Succession Planning Team

Members of the Board of Trustees

Megan Leitch, Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company
Jill Sarada, Director of Falk Laboratory School and Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh
Adam Tobias, Emergency Physician at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Board President (optional)
David Turner, Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law

These interviews are confidential, and we are unable to share the names or details of the candidates to protect the confidentiality of the professionals applying. Please know the entire group is remarkable in both professional and personal spaces.

Once the strategic thought exercise interviews conclude, we will invite up to 3 candidates for a full-day visit. We are finalizing the schedule logistics now and building leaders, union reps, and other administrative team members will receive calendar invites to participate in a specific part of the day. Visits will include tours of each of the four schools, meetings with direct reports, and meetings with union representatives and principals. Additionally, an employee roundtable and a parent/caregiver roundtable will be available for volunteers that can attend all three scheduled days and times If we receive more interest than we can accommodate (6-8 parent/caregivers to maintain a small and hospitable setting), a lottery will be conducted.

The day will conclude with a walk in Frick Park with Mr. McCann.

The full-day visits will occur on: