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Introducing Our New Head of School 

It is with great delight and enthusiasm that the Community School Board of Trustee announces that Laurie Smilack will be our next Head of School beginning July 1, 2025.

Laurie was selected with unanimous Board approval from a very diverse pool of more than 230 candidates following a rigorous national search process that engaged constituents throughout our community. She brings more than 25 years of elementary and early childhood education experience and an outstanding track record of achievement as both a classroom educator and a school administrator and leader. Laurie has a deep love for and familiarity with our school, having graduated from Community and having taught 4th grade at Community in the early 2000s. She credits her experiences as a Community student with inspiring her career in elementary education.

Laurie will join us after seven years as Upper Elementary Division Head at New City School in St. Louis. For 15 years prior, she was a teacher and then Assistant Principal and Director of Curriculum and Instruction in the lower division of The Lovett School, a leading K-12 independent school in Atlanta, GA. Laurie has been married for 25 years to her husband, Zac, and has twin children who are currently juniors in high school.  

Laurie is described by colleagues from throughout her career as an extraordinary leader and educator who is warm, collaborative, and inclusive to all members of a school community. She is a relationship builder and has great expertise in teaching, curriculum design, and school operations. Laurie received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our Board, faculty, staff, parents, and students during her recent campus visit, and we are so thrilled that our search attracted a leader and educator of her caliber.

The Board of Trustees is grateful to the entire school community for its engagement and support during this process. We believe the results of this collective work will position Community to thrive for decades to come. We express special thanks to the Head of School Search Committee, the Faculty and Staff Advisory Committee, our search consultants with Carney Sandoe, and our retiring Head of School, Bob Cooke, who gave us ample notice of his retirement plans so that we could run a national search, and who was generous with his time and guidance along the way.

Please join us in welcoming Laurie and her family back to Community School!

Sincerely,

Brad Foss
President of the Community School Board of Trustees

A Message from Laurie Smilack

Dear Friends of Community School,

I am truly honored to be chosen as the next Head of Community School. I have always known it was a remarkable place, and my recent days there have only deepened my appreciation. Every faculty and staff member, parent, and administrator I met expressed their immense love for the school, while the children I engaged with moved throughout their day with joy and a strong connection to one another.

A defining moment for me happened during lunch when students, teachers, and staff gathered to sing together before eating. It was a heartwarming experience that showcased the heart of Community. I feel incredibly fortunate to know I will get to share in that magic every day at Community School—a place full of endless possibilities.

Community School has held a special place in my heart for most of my life—I am both a graduate (Class of 1987) and a former teacher. It is where I first discovered my passion for learning and felt empowered to educate the whole child, “mind, body, and spirit.” The opportunity to serve as the Head of Community School is a homecoming and with this appointment, my journey has come full circle.

The elementary years are foundational to children’s development. During this time, they develop the habits of mind that shape their future identities, learning, and growth. My experiences at Community School instilled in me a profound sense of belonging, which I have always strived to recreate for every child in my care. I look forward to meeting each of you and learning about your hopes and dreams for your children and the school. I am deeply committed to ensuring that Community School remains a place where both you and your children feel connected and truly valued.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Search Committee for their time, thoughtful efforts, and dedication to the school. I am also grateful to the Faculty and Staff Advisory Committee, the Administrative Leadership Team, and the parents and friends of the school who took time away from their responsibilities to welcome me and help me get to know who Community School is today. These interactions reinforced what a wonderful place Community is. I feel especially honored to follow in the inspiring legacy of Bob Cooke. Community is thriving because of all of you, and I am excited to help continue that momentum for years to come.

With gratitude (and incredible excitement),

Laurie Smilack

Search Committee 

The ultimate responsibility for hiring a new Head of School rests with the Board of Trustees. To aid in that effort, the Board appointed a Search Committee comprised of trustees. This group brought a deep understanding of Community School and represented a broad range of perspectives and voices.

The members of the Search Committee included:

  • Brad Foss, Search Chair and Board of Trustees President
  • Sophia Baig, Board Member
  • Tiffany Charles, Board Member
  • Stacey Kamps, Board of Trustees Past President
  • Michael Laycob '93, Board Member and Executive Committee Member
  • Katie Schankman, Board Member
  • Jason Schnuck '93, Board Member

Faculty/Staff Advisory Committee

The school also formed a Faculty/Staff Advisory Committee, made up of a small group of teachers, staff, and administration. This committee had additional duties as we evaluated candidates, interviewed the finalists, provided other support in the process, and provided feedback to the Search Committee.

The members of the Faculty/Staff Advisory Committee included:

  • Nikki Dantuono, Upper Division Director
  • Joe Mohr, Woodshop teacher
  • Nina Nichols, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Assistant Director of Admission
  • Dana Scott Saulsberry, Director of Admission
  • Ellen Watts, Senior Kindergarten teacher
  • Madeline Wilder, Fifth Grade teacher
  • Colleen Wyss, Third Grade teacher

Search Consultants 

Community School retained Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), an internationally recognized education search and recruitment, consulting, and coaching firm, to partner with us in the search for our next Head of School. CS&A brings deep knowledge of independent schools from over 45 years of experience guiding schools through their searches for exceptional heads of school, senior administrators, and faculty. Carney Sandoe is known for its highly personalized approach to understanding the particular strengths, needs, and cultures of schools and then supporting them through the identification, recruitment, and hiring of excellent leaders, whose skills and experiences align with the school’s needs.

Search Timeline

May 2024
The Head of School Search Committee and consultants from Carney, Sandoe & Associates engaged with Community School parents, students, alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees. Our community participated in meetings and a survey seeking input on the important qualities necessary for Community's next Head of School. 

The consultants developed a position description that reflects the collective aspirations of our community. Interested and qualified candidates were invited to apply. 

Summer 2024 
The consultants conducted preliminary screenings of candidates and preliminary and semi-finalist interviews. 

September 2024
The consultants invited a small group of finalists to Community School for public, on-campus interviews and forums.

On September 24, the Community School Board of Trustees announced that Laurie Smilack will be our next Head of School beginning July 1, 2025.