Head of School Search

Dear Penn Charter Community, The last few weeks have been filled with moments of celebration, reflection and accomplishment. From inspiring concerts and performances to the energy of Color Day to three beautiful end-of-year ceremonies celebrating our fifth, eighth and twelfth grade students and families, each event has highlighted the talents and achievements of our students and the dedication and compassion of our faculty and staff. Together, these milestones showcase the remarkable work taking place every day across academics, athletics and the arts, and we are grateful for all who supported and guided our students all year long. The change of one school year naturally brings reflection and anticipation for the year ahead. As we look toward the future, we are writing to share an announcement about school leadership. After three years of dedicated leadership and service to Penn Charter, Karen Warren Coleman will be stepping away to pursue other professional opportunities and next steps in her career. Her tenure as head of school will end on June 30, 2026. We are grateful for all that Dr. Coleman has achieved during her time at Penn Charter. This includes hiring several members of an exceptional senior leadership team, enhancing safety and security protocols on campus, and gathering essential knowledge and insights to help inform upcoming strategic planning efforts. She led a successful reaccreditation process in partnership with the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), initiated the work needed for our Quaker Self Study and membership renewal process with the Friends Council on Education, and contributed significantly to the opening of the Richard A. Balderston OPC ’69 Lower School. She departs with a number of improved systems in place that will benefit the institution for decades to come. And, of course, she will remain forever undefeated on PC/GA Day.  We have engaged Carney Sandoe & Associates, a nationally recognized search firm specializing in executive search for independent schools, to identify an interim head of school this summer. During this period of transition, board leadership will support a small group of school leaders to ensure smooth school operations. This group will include (in alphabetical order): David Brightbill, Associate Head of School Kathleen Clinchy, Director of Middle School Stephen Graham, Chief Financial Officer Thu-Nga Morris, Director of Lower School Josh Oberfield, Interim Assistant Director of Upper School Marcy Sosa, Assistant Head of School  The strength, experience and dedication of our leadership team provide a solid foundation for the institution during this period of transition, and we have full confidence in their stewardship. We are grateful to Dr. Coleman for her leadership of our community, and we wish her the best in what we know will be impactful future chapters. We are committed to keeping our community informed, and in the coming weeks, we will share more information about the search process and anticipated timeline.  We are confident in Penn Charter’s future and look forward to our community’s continued trust and partnership in creating an exceptional experience, grounded in Quaker values, for all who walk through the red doors.  Sincerely, Paul H. Hough OPC ’77, Board Clerk  On behalf of the Penn Charter Board of Trustees

Dear Friends,

We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer! We are writing to provide an update on the search for our interim head of school. We remain committed to open communication and transparency throughout this process.

As you know, we have retained Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CSA) to partner with us on our search for an interim head of school to be in place by the start of the 2026–2027 school year. Since announcing the search, our CSA consultants, Bob Vitalo and Burke Zalosh, have engaged with our community to learn about the priorities and qualities we are seeking. They held robust conversations with about 100 members of our community, and conducted a survey with members of the search committee, the board, the administrative team, faculty and staff from across divisions and departments, and the leaders of the Penn Charter Family Association (PCFA).

The culmination of this work is an interim head of school position statement that provides an overview of Penn Charter, our history, the needs of our school, and our desired qualifications and qualities for the role, which will help inform and attract the best candidates to our search process. The position statement and other updates can be found on the Head of School Search page of our website.

Our consultants are working diligently to identify and assess qualified candidates from a broad range of sources across the independent school network and beyond. The consultants and Search Committee will review candidate materials and invite the most promising candidates to interview in the coming weeks. 

Thank you for your involvement in and support of this process so far. As we reflect on our progress, we are heartened by the strong devotion to Penn Charter and the shared sense of commitment within our community to carry our remarkable school forward.

If you have questions or feedback, please email us at headsearch@penncharter.com, or contact our consultants directly: Bob Vitalo at robert.vitalo@carneysandoe.com and Burke Zalosh at burke.zalosh@carneysandoe.com.

Sincerely,

Paul H. Hough OPC ’77, board clerk
Amy E. Gadsden P ’23, ’23, ’27
Gregory E. Summers OPC ’89, P ’23, ’26
Leela Morrow P ’29, ’32, ’37
Grace Sharples Cooke P ’08, ’11
Matt Kessler OPC ’99

Interim Head of School Search Committee

Dear Penn Charter Community,

We hope you are well and finding time for rest, renewal, and all that brings you joy this summer. We are writing to share an update on the interim head of school search process.

In addition to our search consultants at Carney, Sandoe & Associates, the interim search is being guided by a committee of trustees: Amy Gadsden P '23, '23, '27 and Greg Summers OPC '89, P '23, '26 as clerks, and board members Leela Morrow P '29, '32, '37, Matt Kessler OPC '99, Grace Sharples Cooke P '08, ‘11, and Paul Hough OPC '77. 

There has been significant interest in this position. People clearly know and respect Penn Charter and want to be a part of our community during this moment of transition for our remarkable school. Carney Sandoe received over two dozen applications from qualified educational leaders around the world. We then focused on those candidates with an understanding of independent and Quaker schools, familiarity with the Philadelphia-area market, and a track record of success in leading PK-12 schools.

From an impressive applicant pool, the committee chose to engage with four candidates, ultimately bringing two of those candidates to campus as finalists. During the last week of July, our two finalists came to Penn Charter for robust day-long visits that included a campus tour, lunch with trustees, and meetings with faculty and staff, members of the Penn Charter Family Association and Alumni Society board, the school leadership team, and the search committee. 

We are reviewing the feedback gathered from the various groups who spent time with our finalists and a decision is imminent. Our goal is to make an official announcement shortly, and we are confident we are still on schedule for an interim head of school to be in place by the start of the school year.

Thank you to all who have engaged with us during this search process—whether by filling out a survey, circulating our position statement, or meeting with our finalists in person. Over the last few months, we have been overwhelmed by the participation and clear commitment demonstrated by so many in our community. This affirms what we already know—Penn Charter is a special place filled with caring, committed, compassionate people. 

We look forward to sharing an exciting announcement with you soon. 

With gratitude,

Paul Hough OPC ’77, board clerk
Amy E. Gadsden P ’23, ’23, ’27, co-clerk, search committee
Gregory E. Summers OPC ’89, P ’23, ’26, co-clerk, search committee
Grace Sharples Cooke P ’08, ’11
Matt Kessler OPC ’99 
Leela Morrow P ’29, ’32, ’37

Interim Head of School Search Committee

Dear Penn Charter Community,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the search committee is delighted to announce the appointment of Dennis Bisgaard as Penn Charter’s interim head of school.

A nationally recognized independent school leader, Dennis has over 20 years of experience, serving as both a head of school and interim head of school at top schools across the country. Most recently, Dennis was the head of Maret School in Washington, D.C., where he led the launch of the school’s strategic plan, “Advancing with Purpose,” completed the school’s AIMS accreditation self-study, acquired and purchased new home athletics fields, conducted K–12 curricular reviews in a number of departments, and helped to bring to life new outdoor gathering spaces for the greater community.

Prior to Maret, Dennis served as interim head of school at Friends School of Baltimore, Park Tudor School in Indianapolis, and The Northwest School in Seattle. He also spent 12 years at Kingswood Oxford School in Connecticut, where he worked to expand fundraising, enhance curricular opportunities and secure new facilities. During his tenure, he established the Kingswood Oxford Leadership Institute for Educators of Color to help identify and develop future independent school leaders. Dennis has also served on the Board of Trustees of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and is a member of the Heads Collegiate Forum and Heads and Principals Association.

Dennis received his MA in educational administration (private school leadership) at Columbia University, Teachers College at The Klingenstein Center, where he was a member of the International Honor Society in Education. He also received his Candidatus Magisterii degree in British & American literature and physical education (equivalent to MA/PhD) from Odense Universitet (University of Southern Denmark). Early in his career, he spent time in Philadelphia as the recipient of Temple University’s inaugural “Thanks to Scandinavia Foundation” Post-Graduate Fellowship.

After beginning his career as an English and physical education teacher and coach at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Dennis served in the dual role as classroom teacher and administrator at Collegiate School in New York City, associate head at Shady Hill School in Cambridge, and founding head of School at Whittle School & Studios in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Monica, also an educator, with a background in counseling psychology, have devoted their lives, both professionally and personally, to championing the education, well-being and growth of young people and emerging leaders.

From the beginning of our search, Penn Charter was committed to seeking an experienced, capable leader with the ability to empower and support our dedicated faculty and staff and lead growth and continuous improvement. We looked for an interim head whose presence, warmth and capacity for genuine engagement would reinforce Penn Charter’s mission, culture and Quaker values. We believe Dennis will not only serve as a stable leader for the next two academic years but will also continue to advance Penn Charter’s essential strategic planning work in preparation for a permanent head of school to begin in 2028.

“Dennis impressed the search committee with his focus on both steady and strategic leadership during this important time," said Greg Summers OPC ’89, P ’23, ’26, co-clerk of the search committee. “There are few school leaders in the country who have the breadth of experience leading as an interim head. In selecting Dennis, the board felt confident that Penn Charter will continue to advance in every realm.”

“There are schools one comes to understand over time, and others whose character you feel almost immediately,” Dennis shared. “During our visit, my wife, Monica, and I felt something distinctive about Penn Charter—in the warmth of its people, the vitality of the campus, and the quiet strength of its Quaker values. I am deeply honored and humbled to become part of this remarkable community.”

Dennis will join faculty and staff on campus at the end of this week, and he looks forward to getting to know our community, building connections and meeting many of you in the weeks ahead. The school will follow up with opportunities to engage with Dennis at events throughout this fall.

The board is deeply grateful to our faculty, staff and families for their engagement throughout the summer, and offers particular thanks to the leadership team and the School Continuity Council. Their partnership with the search committee, and their steady guidance of the school through this transition, embodied stewardship in its truest sense of faithful care for this institution and for one another.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Dennis and Monica as they begin their journey and make their home here at Penn Charter.

With deep appreciation and excitement for the future of PC,

Paul Hough OPC ’77, board clerk
Amy E. Gadsden P ’23, ’23, ’27, co-clerk, search committee
Gregory E. Summers OPC ’89, P ’23, ’26, co-clerk, search committee
Grace Sharples Cooke P ’08, ’11
Matt Kessler OPC ’99
Leela Morrow P ’29, ’32, ’37

Interim Head of School Search Committee