About
Head of School Search
Head of School Search
After nine years of leadership, Head of School Binney Caffrey has announced her plans to step down at the end of the 2025 - 2026 school year. We are grateful for her leadership and the many contributions she has made to The Pine School.
The Board of Trustees has appointed Kelly Hilton-Green as Interim Head of School. With nearly 15 years at PINE and deep experience across the School, we are confident in his leadership during this transition. The Board has initiated a national search for PINE’s next Head of School. This process is designed to be thoughtful and disciplined, while honoring what makes PINE distinctive: a commitment to growth and excellence, grounded in a community built on strong relationships, trust, and a shared expectation that we show up for one another.
Following a comprehensive national process that included multiple firms, the Board of Trustees has engaged Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A) to partner with us in this search. A Search Committee has been formed on behalf of the Board of Trustees to work alongside our search firm throughout the process. The Committee serves as a working group, gathering and synthesizing community feedback and supporting initial candidate evaluation and screening. The full Board of Trustees will remain actively engaged throughout and is ultimately responsible for finalist interviews and the final selection of Pine’s next Head of School.
The Board of Trustees has appointed Kelly Hilton-Green as Interim Head of School. With nearly 15 years at PINE and deep experience across the School, we are confident in his leadership during this transition. The Board has initiated a national search for PINE’s next Head of School. This process is designed to be thoughtful and disciplined, while honoring what makes PINE distinctive: a commitment to growth and excellence, grounded in a community built on strong relationships, trust, and a shared expectation that we show up for one another.
Following a comprehensive national process that included multiple firms, the Board of Trustees has engaged Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A) to partner with us in this search. A Search Committee has been formed on behalf of the Board of Trustees to work alongside our search firm throughout the process. The Committee serves as a working group, gathering and synthesizing community feedback and supporting initial candidate evaluation and screening. The full Board of Trustees will remain actively engaged throughout and is ultimately responsible for finalist interviews and the final selection of Pine’s next Head of School.
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About The Search Firm
The Pine School has retained Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A) to partner with us in the search for our next Head of School.CS&A brings more than 45 years of experience working with independent schools and is widely respected for its ability to identify and recruit exceptional leadership. Their approach is highly personalized, grounded in a deep understanding of each school’s culture, priorities, and long-term direction.We will be working closely with Allison Gaines Pell and Beth Dietz as our lead consultants throughout the process.
Community Engagement
A strong outcome in this search depends on meaningful input from the PINE community. In the coming weeks, community members will be invited to share perspectives through a survey. We strongly encourage thoughtful participation. Your input will directly inform the position description and help shape the direction of the search.
CS&A will also conduct an on-campus visit on Friday, May 15th to meet with a broad cross-section of faculty, staff, and other stakeholders.
We encourage thoughtful participation, as this is an important opportunity to help shape PINE’s next chapter.
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Search Process and Timeline
The search will unfold over several phases:- May 2026: Community input and development of the position description
- June - August 2026+: Candidate outreach and recruitment
- August onward: Candidate evaluation and interviews
- Final Selection: Timing to be determined
While we will provide regular updates, certain aspects of the process will remain confidential. This is essential to ensuring access to a strong candidate pool.
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Search Committee
- Chloe Soares: Search Committee Chair, Trustee
- Tom McNicholas: Chair of the Board of Trustees
- Scott Berry: Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees
- Amy Swan: Secretary of the Board of Trustees
- Cris Branden: Trustee
Contact and Updates
A dedicated email address has been established for the search:
Community members are welcome to share thoughts or questions at any time.
PINE’s Board of Trustees is committed to a comprehensive and thoughtful search, with an emphasis on meaningful community engagement. Below are messages that have been shared with the PINE community throughout this process.
Search Updates
- 05/04/2026: Search firm engaged
- 05/15/2026: Search Firm On-Site Visit
- 06/02/2026: Carney Sandoe & Associates Position Description
- 06/03/2026: Search Committee Update
We promote academic, artistic, and athletic excellence in a close-knit learning environment that extends from the classroom to our expansive natural campus and beyond. Our challenging curriculum cultivates intellectual curiosity and honors each student's voice as we strive for inclusivity. From a strong sense of community and connection, Pine School students become inspired and prepared to navigate a complex and changing world.
The Pine School is an independent college preparatory school educating students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade.
