Gowan Group Advances Villa Maria School's Leadership

Gowan Group is pleased to announce the successful completion of two Administrative Searches for Villa Maria School!

Diane McManus has been named Head of School elect. Stephen Bennhoff is the newly selected Assistant Head of School for External Relations. Gowan Group coordinated both searches from conception to completion, and accomplished each within a compressed six-month period. Gowan Group is proud to have worked with Villa Maria School's Board of Trustees, as well as their Head of School Search Committee to reach a positive conclusion to each search.

Our Process: Beginning a Head of School Search 

Gowan Group Consultants began the process of finding candidates for Villa Maria School in December, 2015. A formal announcement from Barbara Ryan, Chairperson of Board of Trustees, was sent to the school community in January, 2016.

A Head of School Search Link on the school's website provided updates throughout Gowan Group's research, interviews, focus groups, and communication.

The Head of School Search Link included the following:

Chris Pryor, Gowan Group's President & Founder, and I are proud of these outstanding selections for these challenging positions. Villa Maria is positioned to advance its standing in the Special Education sector given the exceptional professionals assuming new leadership positions.

About: New Heads of School

Head of School, Diane McManus

Ms. McManus is a longtime State of New York educator and administrator.  She is a certified special education teacher and school management executive. She comes to Villa Maria from Good Counsel Academy where she served as Assistant Principal. Diane has degrees from Lehman College (B.A. in English) and Iona College (M.Ed. English Education).  She looks forward to carrying on the fine work of Sister Carol Ann who so compassionately and expertly has run Villa Maria for decades. Diane lives in Purchase, NY with her husband and children.

Assistant Head of School, Stephen Bennhoff

Mr. Bennhoff is the former Head of School at Pine Point in Connecticut, an independent day school serving PS through 9th grade. An experienced teacher and coach, Stephen most recently served as Director of Enrollment Management at St. Michael’s Country Day School in Newport, RI. Michael graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Art History. He earned as Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1999. In addition to Michael's professional accomplishments, he is an avid sailor and outdoorsman, and, an accomplished musician. He and his son look forward to their move to Fairfield County this summer.

Written by David Beecher, Managing Director, Gowan Group. To learn more about Gowan Group's Head of School Searches, e-mail Chris Pryor.

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Visibility of Mission Statements: Digital Media Sharing

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HOW DO INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS COMMUNICATE THEIR MISSION STATEMENT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA?

For Independent Schools, a strong Mission Statement establishes purpose, values, academics, character building, and citizenship. Mission Statements are the foundations in which the school community operates.

The interactivity of digital media has given schools exciting opportunities to show, share and deliver its Mission Statement in various ways. The process of establishing an online image is simplified by translating the words within a school's Mission Statement using digital media.

SHOWCASE ONE PART OF YOUR MISSION STATEMENT EACH MONTH

Emphasizing small pieces of a Mission Statement positively positions a school's key message and brand image online. Underscoring different attributes of a Mission Statement through digital media is an incredible marketing tool to translate into pictures, videos and real-time events.

SUGGESTIONS FOR GETTING STARTED THIS WEEK

Use digital media to illustrate your school’s Mission Statement to share with your social network. Here are some tips to bring visibility to your school’s online identity:

  • Short video clips of students participating in community service with your school.
  • Post pictures of student artwork exemplifying their creativity across all grade-levels.
  • Pictures with accompanying quotations from students regarding their passion for learning.

GOWAN GROUP

Hailey Feldman, Director of Digital Marketing, recommends digital media content sharing with your school's social network. Social media posts provides prospective and current families with a visual comprehension of your school's Mission Statement. Increasing social media outreach results in a better understanding of your school's values, increases student enrollment, and retention.

Interested in learning more about online identity and online branding? Contact hfeldman@thegowangroup.com for a free 30 minute phone call discussing a Digital Marketing Plan for your school.

Westport, Connecticut