Head of School Search

Fall 2026

• September 17: Head of School Transition and Search Announced
• September 28: Interim Head of School and Search Partner, Spencer Stuart, Announced

Dear McDonogh Community,

There is no place like McDonogh, a school where joy meets purpose every day. It is because I believe that so completely that this is hard news to share.

I am writing to let you know that at the end of this school year, on June 30, I will conclude my service as Head of School at McDonogh.

Forty years ago, McDonogh welcomed me as a seventh-grade scholarship student, the son of a police officer whose family could not afford to enroll me without generous financial aid. What happened next shaped everything that came after: mentors who took me seriously, an abundance of opportunities both in and out of the classroom, and best friends I still have today. I have spent my professional life trying to create that same experience for others, and I have been extraordinarily fortunate to do it here.

Why leave, then? The honest answer is that after nine years, I believe McDonogh is strong — financially, academically, and culturally — and that the School will benefit from a new voice and a fresh set of questions. I also have one more chapter of this work in me, and I'm ready to support another school, The Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Florida, on its journey. Leaving a place you love while it is thriving is harder than leaving one that needs you. It is also, I think, the right way to go.

Between now and the end of June, nothing changes. I am committed to the full academic year — to the students in our care, to the initiatives already underway, and to working closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure a seamless transition to McDonogh's next leader.

My gratitude runs deep. To our three Board Presidents, the late Howard Klein '76, Rob Young '86, and Mike Cummings, and to every trustee I have served alongside: thank you for governance that was rigorous, generous, and always focused on students. To our administrative team, faculty, and staff: you are the finest educators and professionals I have worked with anywhere, and what you do every day cannot be automated, rushed, or replaced. And to our students — talented, accomplished, honorable, and above all committed to a culture of kindness — you are the reason any of this matters.

I will always bleed orange and black, and I cannot wait to watch McDonogh continue to soar.

Today and always, it is a great day to be an Eagle.

With respect and love,

David J. Farace '87
Head of School

Dear McDonogh Community,

Every school community moves through seasons of celebration and change. Today, we write with news that carries something of both. Dave Farace '87 has shared that he will step down as Head of School at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.

As our 13th Head of School, Dave has led with both care and conviction, willing to make hard decisions while never losing sight of the people at the center of them, and always pushing McDonogh forward while protecting what makes the School special. His legacy is defined by his deep and unwavering commitment.

Under Dave's leadership, McDonogh completed a $97 million capital and endowment campaign — the largest in the School's history — that delivered a new 66,000-square-foot Middle School building; nearly doubled the School's endowment from $98 million to $188 million; and reduced School debt by 36%. He strengthened the academic program with three signature offerings in Experiential Service-Learning, Environmental Science, and Civic Leadership; moved the Upper School beyond the AP curriculum; launched a dual credit program that allows students to earn college credits from local colleges and universities; and built a faculty growth system centered on goal-setting and professional learning. Enrollment reached a record high; McDonogh athletics earned 25 IAAM and MIAA championships with more than 175 students going on to play the sport they love in college in the past five years; and the School was awarded back-to-back recognition as USA Today's No. 1 school for athletics in Maryland in 2025 and 2026. These accomplishments were matched by the countless everyday moments — the decisions, conversations, and quiet acts of leadership — that shaped McDonogh just as profoundly.

What makes these accomplishments all the more remarkable is the backdrop against which Dave achieved them. He guided McDonogh through challenges few leaders face in an entire career: a global pandemic, a period of deep political and racial unrest, economic headwinds, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies reshaping how schools operate. Through it all, Dave's leadership has embodied our mission to give something more than we take.

For Dave, this decision comes from a place of both pride and possibility. Having helped lead McDonogh to its current position of strength, he feels the time is right to take on a new challenge and bring what he has accomplished here to another school community. He does so with a full heart. Leaving McDonogh is not easy, and his affection for the School runs deep. But Dave also believes, as we do, that some of the most important work a leader does is knowing when the moment is right to entrust the role to someone new, and having the wisdom to act on it. A change in leadership is healthy for a thriving institution, and the best time to make one is from a position of strength rather than necessity. This timing also reflects a natural transition point for McDonogh, with a major campaign complete, a new academic strategic plan launched, and a strong leadership team in place. Dave will move on knowing McDonogh is healthy and well-positioned for what comes next, and he moves forward genuinely ready to support another school as he has led ours.

Rest assured that there will be opportunities to celebrate Dave and his lasting impact on McDonogh throughout the remainder of this school year.

Looking Ahead

The Board of Trustees is now tasked with the important responsibility of selecting McDonogh's next Head of School. As a nationally recognized leader in education, we anticipate that McDonogh will attract exceptional candidates.

To lead this important work, the Board has appointed Stacey Boyer '76 to chair our Head of School Search Committee. This is one of the most important responsibilities we carry as a Board, and we are committed to a diligent, thoughtful, and inclusive process. We will share more information about the search in the weeks ahead.

A school is never the work of one person, but the right leader at the right moment can help it reach new heights. Dave has been that person for McDonogh. We thank him for all he has given, and we look ahead with gratitude, pride, and optimism.

With appreciation,

Michael Cummings
President, Board of Trustees

H. Stacey Boyer '76
Vice President, Board of Trustees

Dear McDonogh Community,

As we begin the search for McDonogh's next Head of School, I am pleased to share two important updates. Both reflect a commitment to guiding the School through this transition with care and continuity.

2027–2028 Interim Head of School

I am delighted to announce that Charlie Britton has agreed to serve as Interim Head of School for the 2027–2028 school year. Charlie is no stranger to McDonogh, having served as Head of School from 2007 to 2018 and led the School through 11 years of remarkable growth and transformation.

Charlie's impact extended across campus. Under his leadership, the McDonogh Forever Capital Campaign surpassed its goal, raising more than $80 million to fund an ambitious Campus Master Plan that reshaped the campus with the Naylor STEM Building, the Edward St. John Student Center, and the Rosenberg Campus Green. A new turf field and baseball facility were built, John McDonogh Stadium was renovated, the Eagles Nest Riding Arena was constructed, and Memorial Court was redesigned and rededicated. On the other end of campus, the Esther Ann Brown Adler Wing was added to Dudley Hall to house our first-ever prekindergarten program, and the Fader Innovation Center opened its doors. Marc Village was also constructed, expanding on-campus housing for faculty and staff.

Just as important as his impact on the campus itself, Charlie made character development a top priority, championing the Character Compass and its values of respect, responsibility, honesty, kindness, and service. In recognition of that dedication, Trustees endowed and named a faculty position in his honor: the Charles W. Britton Director of Character and Service. Charlie also strengthened the academic experience, launching LifeReady, Roots Farm, Folio Collaborative, robotics, and a nationally recognized debate program.

During his tenure, Charlie was admired for his warmth, devotion to students, and enduring commitment to the McDonogh experience. Among his annual goals, he always listed one that captured the essence of who he is: "Keep positive relationships flourishing on campus and enhance the spirit of joy at McDonogh."

After retiring from McDonogh in 2018, Charlie worked as a senior consultant at Carney Sandoe & Associates, an independent school search firm, from 2019 to 2025, and served as an interim Head of School at Sant Bani School in New Hampshire during the 2020–2021 academic year. In 2025, Charlie founded Britton Education Group, a consulting firm helping schools and nonprofits with strategic planning and fundraising. He has served two terms as Board President of the Boothbay Region YMCA and volunteered as manager for the municipal outdoor ice rink for the past three winters.

He and his wife, Jen, have been residing in Southport, Maine, where Jen served for five years as the Director of the Southport Memorial Library and now works part-time in the Bowdoin College Admission Office. They have two children, Trevor '12, a senior data analyst, and Annie '15, a scientist who works in AI.

Both Charlie and Jen look forward to returning to McDonogh and reengaging with the School community they both hold so dear. We look forward to sharing more about opportunities to meet the Brittons in the months ahead.

Head of School Search

I am also pleased to share that, after a thorough selection process, we have partnered with Spencer Stuart, a highly regarded global leadership and search firm. The team at Spencer Stuart will be led by Aaron Mieszczanski and Mary Gorman. Aaron and Mary bring impressive track records of leading searches for independent schools worldwide, alongside extensive experience as independent school leaders in their own careers. They both share a deep appreciation for our School community and are confident that our search will generate interest from an outstanding pool of candidates.

Next Steps

• Search Committee: The Board of Trustees will assemble a Search Committee to work closely with our consultants. The Committee will evaluate candidates and make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees, which will make a final decision about our next Head of School.
• Community Engagement: Our goal is for the search process to be thorough and inclusive, and your voice in selecting our next leader is important. There will be multiple opportunities to share your thoughts and input in the weeks and months ahead.
• Search Timing: The search process will formally commence this fall, with the goal of having the new Head of School begin on July 1, 2028.
• Ongoing Updates: We have created a Head of School Search webpage where you can learn more about the search and stay up to date on the process.

With a strong school year ahead led by Dave Farace, Charlie's familiar leadership to follow, and an experienced partner guiding our search, McDonogh is well-positioned for this next chapter. We will keep you informed at every stage through email updates and the search page, and I look forward to hearing your voices along the way.

With gratitude,

H. Stacey Boyer '76
Vice President, Board of Trustees
Head of School Search Chair