About the Search
We’ve retained Educators Collaborative, a nationally recognized search firm with over 1,000 successful head of school placements since 1971, to lead our search for the next Head of School. The project will be led by managing partner Nat Conard and his colleague Tracy Bennett, both experienced search consultants and former heads of independent schools. They will guide community engagement, develop a Leadership Profile reflecting SMS’s needs and vision, tailor the search plan, recruit and vet candidates, manage logistics, and advise the Search Committee, Board, and school leadership through hiring and the new leader’s first year. This effort begins with broad community input: in early September, Tracy and Nat will spend two days on campus holding listening sessions with students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and trustees, and will also launch an online survey for community members to share their views on SMS’s strengths, opportunities, and the leadership qualities needed in our next Head of School. More details about the September visit will be shared in August.
Timeline
Form Search Committee: This is the foundational step where the institution assembles the group responsible for guiding the hiring process.
Announce Position: Once the committee is formed and the role is defined, the position is publicized to attract qualified candidates.
Engage Community (Campus Visit and Survey): This stage ensures that the broader campus and stakeholder community has a voice in the selection process, building buy-in and transparency.
Develop Leadership Profile: This step involves creating a detailed document that captures the qualifications, experience, and personal attributes the institution seeks in its next leader.
Recruit, Interview, and Vet Candidates: This stage focuses on actively sourcing a strong pool of applicants and conducting initial evaluations to narrow the field to a manageable group of qualified contenders.
Select, Interview, and Conduct Reference Checks for Semifinalists: This step involves a deeper round of evaluation for the narrowed pool of semifinalists, including more extensive interviews and verification of their professional backgrounds.
Host Finalists on Campus; Introduce Them to the Community: This step brings the top candidates to campus for in-person visits, allowing the broader community to meet and engage with each finalist directly.
Gather Community Feedback; Vet Finalists: This stage involves collecting input from those who interacted with the finalists and conducting any remaining due diligence before final decisions are made.
Search Committee Makes Recommendation to the Board; Board Selects New Head of School: This final step involves the search committee presenting its assessment of the finalists to the board, which then makes the ultimate hiring decision.
New Head Prepares for Transition: This step covers the period between selection and start date, during which the incoming leader begins onboarding, planning, and building relationships before officially assuming the role.
New Head Starts: This marks the formal beginning of the new leader’s tenure, as they assume full responsibilities and begin leading the institution.
Community Updates
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A Letter From Samantha
Dear SMS Community,
It is hard to believe that next year will mark my 10th year serving as Head of School at Steamboat Mountain School. When I think back to the summer of 2017, having just moved from Los Angeles to Steamboat to lead the K–8 Emerald Mountain School, I remember being immediately struck by the strength of this community, the dedication of the faculty, and the deep commitment to honoring each student’s potential. Back then, the school was much smaller, 43 students, and we could fit the entire staff in my small kitchen and dining area for staff parties. While small in size, every single member of the community was “all in”, reflecting a level of dedication that I had not encountered in previous school environments. Over the years, we have grown, merged, expanded programs, and strengthened the school in countless ways, all while staying true to the mission and values that make this community so special – and especially by fostering deep relationships that serve as the foundation for all that we do with students. As a school, we are entering a moment of new and exciting opportunity, and as I encourage students and faculty to keep growing, stretching themselves, and seeking new challenges, it feels like the right time to follow that same advice myself. I let Board Chair Mona Gibson and the Board of Trustees know that the 2026-27 school year will be my last at Steamboat Mountain School.
While bittersweet, I am proud of the school’s progress during my tenure, and I am excited for how SMS will surely continue to advance in the future. As I reflect on my time at Steamboat Mountain School, I am impressed by all that we have built together. Through the successful merger of Steamboat Mountain School and Emerald Mountain School, our community has become stronger as a unified K–12 school with a clearer sense of purpose and possibility. We have strengthened the school’s financial position, increased enrollment, expanded philanthropy, invested in both campuses, and built an exceptional leadership team that will serve SMS well moving forward. The most recent accreditation process was a critical moment for the school, affirming the strength of our merger, clarifying our shared vision as one K–12 community, and setting a strong foundation for SMS’s next chapter. Just as importantly, we have deepened our commitment to teaching and learning by strengthening our curriculum, expanding experiential and outdoor education, and investing in research-based instructional practices, all while keeping student growth at the center of every decision. I am especially proud of the ways we have supported faculty and staff through meaningful investments in salaries, benefits, housing, and professional development. These accomplishments reflect the strength of the board and leadership team, who have worked tirelessly to fulfill a promise of delivering an exceptional education for students and families.
It has been a true honor and privilege to lead this incredible community for the past nine years, and I remain devoted to furthering the school’s advancement during the next academic year. While this announcement marks the beginning of a transition, there is still important work ahead, and I remain fully committed to leading SMS with care, focus, and energy throughout the coming year. I will work closely with the Board of Trustees to support a thoughtful and smooth transition, and to ensure that the school is in the strongest possible position for its next leader. Most of all, I will cherish the relationships I have built here: with students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees. Those relationships have been the greatest gift of this work, and they will stay with me long after my time as Head of School comes to a close.
Sincerely and with deep appreciation,
Samantha Coyne Donnel
A Letter From the Board of Trustees
Dear Members of the Steamboat Mountain School Community,
It is with deep gratitude and admiration that we share important news regarding the future leadership of Steamboat Mountain School. After nine extraordinary years of service to SMS, Samantha Coyne Donnel has informed the Board of Trustees that the 2026–2027 school year will be her last as Head of School.
Samantha will be deeply missed by students, families, faculty, and staff, and she will be celebrated for her many accomplishments. The Board of Trustees respects her decision and recognizes that this transition offers Samantha, her family, and the School an opportunity to embrace new possibilities.
During her tenure at SMS, Samantha’s dedication to the students and the School has been unwavering. She has guided SMS through significant growth and change, including increased enrollment, curriculum innovation, enhanced academic programming, faculty development, the challenges of the pandemic, a successful merger, and a highly successful accreditation process. Through her vision and commitment, she leaves the School exceptionally well-positioned, both financially and operationally, to embark on its next chapter.
While her departure is still a year away, the Board of Trustees wants to be transparent so that our community can prepare thoughtfully for what lies ahead. We want to assure you that we are approaching this transition with confidence and optimism. We will continue to benefit from Samantha’s experience, wisdom, and guidance throughout the remainder of her tenure, and we are grateful for her commitment to supporting the School through this process as we seek our next Head of School.
We will be co-chairing a newly formed search committee and have engaged Educators Collaborative, the independent school search firm, to assist us in identifying and selecting an outstanding successor. Because of SMS’s strong reputation, vibrant community, and solid foundation, we are confident that this opportunity will attract an exceptional pool of highly qualified educational leaders. We will actively engage parents, faculty and staff, alumni, and students throughout the process as we define the qualities and vision we seek in our next Head of School. Additional details about the search process will be shared in the coming weeks.
The timing of this transition is especially meaningful. As we engage in strategic planning this year, we are thinking boldly about the School’s future and the opportunities that lie ahead for the next generation of students. This important work will help shape our leadership search and ensure that the next Head of School is prepared to build on our strong foundation while guiding the School toward new opportunities and continued success.
We are fortunate to undertake this search with the support of a dedicated Board of Trustees and in close partnership with the SMS community. We are committed to keeping you informed throughout the process and will provide regular updates through the school’s website and other communications.
There will be many opportunities in the coming year to celebrate Samantha’s remarkable contributions to Steamboat Mountain School and the lasting impact she has made on our community. For now, we are grateful for her continued partnership and look forward to another year of her thoughtful guidance, steadfast commitment to our mission, and unwavering dedication to our students.
With gratitude,
Mona Gibson, chair, Board of Trustees
Will Crump, vice-chair, Board of Trustees
Position Description
The timing of this transition is especially meaningful, coming at a moment of strategic planning when we are thinking boldly about SMS’s future and the opportunities ahead for the next generation of students, work that will directly shape our leadership search and help ensure the next Head of School can build on our strong foundation while guiding the School toward continued success. Our recent accreditation process affirmed the strength of our merger, clarified our shared vision as one K–12 community, and laid a solid foundation for this next chapter. We have also deepened our commitment to teaching and learning by strengthening our curriculum, expanding experiential and outdoor education, and investing in research-based instructional practices, all with student growth at the center of every decision—while making meaningful investments in faculty and staff through improved salaries, benefits, housing, and professional development.
Position description forthcoming, please check back soon.