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NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL Sherman Oaks, California

PRESIDENT Start Date: July 1, 2021 www.ndhs.org Mission Notre Dame High School, a Catholic, college preparatory school in the Holy Cross tradition, educates the hearts and minds of students who are diverse in talent, ethnicity, and society. As a faith community, Notre Dame strives to provide each student with a rich academic background, an appropriate sense of self, an opportunity for growth, a commitment to family, community, nation, and the world, and a respect for the spiritual dignity of all persons.

OVERVIEW

Notre Dame High School is a rigorous, forward-thinking, Catholic secondary school located in Sherman Oaks, California, just north of Los Angeles. Founded by Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1947 and still sponsored by them, Notre Dame has been coeducational since 1983 and serves students from a range of cultural and economic backgrounds.

A highly acclaimed “School of Excellence,” Notre Dame High School offers an engaging, innovative, college preparatory curriculum that prepares students for post-secondary education and life beyond. The school’s mission also focuses on developing students as ethical people of service. All students are taught to value the Catholic faith and , while also respecting other faith traditions.

Notre Dame seeks a dynamic leader as its next President starting July 1, 2021. The successful candidate will be an experienced educational leader devoted to the school’s mission and programs. The President is appointed by the Board of Directors as the chief executive officer of the school and is ultimately responsible for the financial stability and strength of school operations, as well as working with the Board of Directors to establish and achieve future goals that perpetuate the school mission. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead an impressive secondary school with deep ties to its community and an unwavering commitment to its Catholic mission.

Discover how students are educated in heart and mind in this video.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 2 Fast Facts Founded: 1947 Total students: 1,240 (50% female; 50% male) Percentage of non-Catholic students: 45% Total faculty: 102 Average faculty tenure: 16 years Faculty with advanced degrees: 88% Student/teacher ratio: 12:1 Curricular offerings: 47 AP and Honors courses Financial aid budget: $4.2 million Students receiving financial aid: 49%

SCHOOL HISTORY

After having established the in South Bend, , a group of Holy Cross Brothers traveled to Southern California in 1942, where they were invited to staff St. Anthony High School in Long Beach. After the Second Word War, a need arose for a new Catholic high school in the nearby San Fernando Valley. In 1947, the Brothers opened Notre Dame High School as an all-boys school with a freshman class of 125 and a faculty of five.

In 1983-84, Notre Dame began a new era of coeducation with the admission of the first female students (66 sophomores and 119 freshmen). Notre Dame’s program and campus has grown significantly since then — and is now positioned as a leading school for 21st-century learning in the Catholic tradition of excellence and engagement.

THE SCHOOL

The Holy Cross tradition shapes Notre Dame High School’s perspective on teaching and learning. The school provides a supportive, nurturing environment for young people as they engage with ideas and explore new possibilities in preparation for lifelong service and contribution to the world. The four pillars that define a Holy Cross education and shape the teaching at Notre Dame are derived from the words of Blessed , founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross: Educating Hearts and Minds; Being Family; Building Respect; and Bringing Hope.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 3 Notre Dame focuses on preparing students well for university admission and life beyond. Graduates are knowledgeable and ethical; utilize technological innovations effectively and responsibly; communicate and collaborate effectively in a variety of educational, professional, and personal settings; think critically and creatively; and possess the organizational skills necessary to solve problems and achieve goals.

Exceptional offerings in athletics, visual and performing arts, and community service also enable students to uncover their talents and interests and develop a strong sense of self and community engagement. Notre Dame teachers and administrators partner with parents to guide students on the path to adulthood.

Notre Dame High School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA). It is a member of the Holy Cross Institute and the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA). The School was named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.

SPIRITUAL LIFE

“We shall always place education side by side with instruction; the mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart. While we prepare useful citizens for society, we shall likewise do our utmost to prepare citizens for eternal life.”

These words from Blessed Fr. Basil Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, capture the spirit of Notre Dame High School, and are the source of the school’s motto of “Educating Hearts and Minds.” The Holy Cross educational philosophy is based on Moreau’s classic work, Christian Education.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 4 College Matriculation Of the 285 students in the Class of 2019, 95% applied to and were accepted to a four-year college or university. Ninety-nine percent matriculated to two- or four-year schools across the U.S. and internationally. Among others, the list includes: Auburn University Bard College Bates College Carnegie Mellon University Chapman University Clemson University College of the Holy Cross Colorado State University Denison University DePaul University Emerson College The George Washington University The Catholic, Holy Cross mission of Notre Dame is Loyola Marymount University accomplished through a structured and sequential Loyola University, theology curriculum, a robust campus ministry program, Miami University, Oxford and through the lived example of the administration, State University faculty, and staff. In addition to four years of classroom The New School instruction in the religious studies, Notre Dame High New York University School requires students to complete 100 hours of Oberlin College community service by the time of graduation. The entire The community participates in regular liturgy and prayer, and Pepperdine University students participate in grade-level retreats. Southern Methodist University Spellman College ACADEMICS Trinity University Forward thinking and academically rigorous, Notre Dame High School’s curriculum encourages students to United States Naval Academy discover themselves and the world around them. As a , Berkeley result, students leave Notre Dame as confident, critical University of California, Los Angeles thinkers who possess the tools for leadership. Consistent with the school’s commitment to admitting students with University of Denver a range of interests and abilities, Notre Dame’s academic University of Notre Dame programs reflect the diversity of its student population. University of Pennsylvania Learning at Notre Dame is about inspiring passion and University of Southern California fueling a sense of purpose. CARNEYSANDOE.COM 5 “At Notre Dame, I can be myself.” -High School student

Notre Dame offers a robust college preparatory curriculum, a rigorous honors and Advanced Placement (AP) program, and a variety of engaging electives. The minimum graduation requirements include four years of English and theology, three-and-a-half years of social studies, three years of mathematics and science, two years of a language other than English, one year of physical education and the visual and performing arts, and one semester of computer science.

The extensive elective program provides courses designed for students to explore individual interests such as engineering and technology, TV production, sports medicine, journalism, broadcasting and media, photography, music, theatre, dance, art, cultural studies, social science, advanced science topics, and more.

The school features a one-to-one iPad program. It also offers a signature technology program, with courses in robotics, computer programming, game development, and web design.

THE ARTS

The Visual Arts Department provides students with a dynamic opportunity to explore and develop their creative talents in a studio setting. Steeped in drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography, new technologies are embraced to create a multidisciplinary experience. Taught by working artists, the learning process is delineated into investigating, conceptualizing, prototyping, and execution phases. Students are encouraged to discover solutions that are relevant in today’s contemporary world.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 6 The goal of the Performing Arts program is to elicit creative self-expression, critical thinking, and artistry through course offerings, performances, and productions. Notre Dame is known for a strong music program that includes courses in music theory, music technology, chorus, jazz band, guitar, and the award-winning Irish Knight Band. Students of all grade levels have opportunities to grow in the study of acting, singing, dancing, music, and technical theater in a rigorous, pre-professional program.

ATHLETICS

Notre Dame has a tradition of athletic excellence. Student-athletes compete in 15 sports with more than 50 teams. The school participates in the Mission League and the Sunshine League, which are two of the most competitive leagues in California. Notre Dame students are regularly recruited to compete athletically for colleges and universities throughout the United States. Many graduates have gone on to play professionally.

The school prides itself on the philosophy that athletes are students first. All coaches are highly experienced, and in the Holy Cross tradition, encourage the development of their players as hard workers, teammates, and respectful people. The school encourages students to participate in more than one sport.

Fall sports include cross country, football, girls golf, girls tennis, girls volleyball, boys water polo, boys beach volleyball, and cheer/song. Winter sports include boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls water polo, and cheer/song. Spring sports include baseball, boys golf, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, softball, boys swimming, girls swimming, boys tennis, boys track and field, girls track and field, boys volleyball, girls beach volleyball, and cheer/song.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 7 SCHOOL LIFE

Notre Dame is a school where all students feel welcome, and everyone is encouraged to find ways to be involved. With nearly 50 clubs, an extensive co-curricular/extracurricular program, intramurals, and a variety of Associated Student Body (ASB) activities and events, there are many opportunities for all students to become involved in campus life. Clubs range from the Surf Club to Women in STEM, from Robotics to the Pre-Med Club, from Equality Now to the Film Club, and from the Black Student Union to Art Now.

Students at Notre Dame also enjoy many traditional high school experiences, such as pep rallies and school dances.

CAMPUS

Notre Dame High School is located on a 17-acre campus in a Sherman Oaks neighborhood just north of Riverside Drive. The campus has grown significantly since the mission-style Moreau Building (formerly the Riverside Building) was built in 1947.

Two major classroom buildings were added in the past two decades: the Fritz B. Burns Center for Arts and Technology (January 2001) and the Hampton Science Center (January 2007). The 2011-2016 “Light the Way” capital campaign enabled several more campus improvements. The Holy Cross Center (formerly the Brother’s Residence) was remodeled in 2011-12 to house administration and campus operations. The library was renovated in 2012 with new technology, furnishings, and workspace. In 2014, the Joseph P. Rawlinson Aquatic Center and Marine Corps Memorial Stadium were completed.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 8 The Fritz B. Burns Gymnasium was expanded in 2016 to include the Donahue Family Fitness Center and a new gym lobby. A new $7-million, three-level parking structure will be completed during the 2020- 2021 school year. This is the first project of a multi-year $30-million master plan.

SHERMAN OAKS, CALIFORNIA

Sherman Oaks is a 9.1-square-mile neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, with a population around 64,000. Founded in 1927, the neighborhood includes a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains, which gives Sherman Oaks a lower population density than some other communities in the greater Los Angeles region. As a result, Sherman Oaks has a true neighborhood feel and is considered one of the best places to live in the area. There are numerous shops, restaurants, and cafes along Ventura Boulevard. The neighborhood also includes a range of leisure opportunities, from parks and hiking trails to fashionable shopping.

Given its proximity to Studio City and Burbank, Sherman Oaks has been the home to numerous film actors and directors, along with many others who work in the film industry. This includes many Notre Dame parents. One of the best attributes of Sherman Oaks is its proximity to all that Los Angeles has to offer.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 9 OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

This is a time of great promise for Notre Dame High School. The community is excited about the possibilities of new leadership and a renewed commitment to the values and high aspirations of this outstanding school. The next President will have the opportunity to build on this solid institutional platform and lead a strong Catholic school with a dedicated administration and faculty and powerful Holy Cross sponsorship. He/she will:

• Working closely with the Principal, continue to enrich the student experience while addressing the particular learning needs of each student. • Position Notre Dame to continue welcoming and attracting a diverse community of students and faculty by creating an environment anchored on diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. • Live the Holy Cross identity of the school, “Educating hearts and minds.” • Maintain a strategic and long-term focus while simultaneously building meaningful connections with all members of the Notre Dame community.

Some of the challenges at Notre Dame High School are common to other schools around the country. The next President will need to creatively and proactively address the following:

• Keep tuition affordable for the students that the school is committed to serve as a Catholic school in the tradition of the Brothers of the Holy Cross. • Continue to enhance the facilities and program offerings to stay competitive in the unique educational landscape of Los Angeles.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 10 DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

The school operates in the President/Principal model and seeks a dynamic and highly relational leader with outstanding platform skills and a genuine passion for the Catholic identity and Holy Cross values of the school. Fundraising will also be a top priority as the board has approved an ambitious and timely first-of-its-kind capital campaign and master plan that await the arrival of the next President.

In addition, the qualities most desired include the following:

• A charismatic, collaborative team builder and excellent communicator who will raise the profile and powerful value proposition of the school throughout the community. • An engaging servant leader who will connect with all constituents, empowering and celebrating all members of the Notre Dame community. • A commitment to equity and inclusion and the leadership drive to continue implementing the school’s welcoming and inclusive ethos. • A proven institution builder who will work closely with the Advancement Office in building a best-of- breed fundraising capacity.

The board welcomes candidates from other Catholic or independent and charter schools as well as accomplished executives from other mission-critical career venues such as higher education; non-profit foundations, associations, charities, and the like; or the corporate, civic, and professional services arenas. While knowledge of education and secondary school operations is preferred, other qualities and experiences are also valued, especially visionary, entrepreneurial leadership and the ability to inspire, lead a high performing team, and create demand for the extraordinary gifts of a Notre Dame High School education.

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 11 TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials:

• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position; • A current résumé; • A one-page statement of educational philosophy and practice; • A list of five professional references with name, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

Karen Neitzel Search Consultant [email protected]

Bob Regan Senior Consultant Group Practice Leader, Catholic Schools Practice [email protected]

CARNEYSANDOE.COM 12