Inkwell interviewed Upper School for Girls students about what kind of qualities the school should look for in the next Upper School for Girls Director. 

It was announced on Monday that Jake Guadnola, current Upper School for Girls Director, will become the next Head of Schools for Annie Wright in the 2020-21 school year. Guadnola has had a leadership position in the USG for 10 years. Many students expressed bittersweet sentiments about Guadnola’s departure from the USG. 

Inkwell: What do you think the school should look for in a new director of the Upper School for Girls?

Balance

“Someone who can know the needs of the students and the teachers and everyone in the school. Someone who can adequately be both nice and strict at the same time.” – Ava Salam, 8th grade.

“Really easy going but knows when to enforce rules and knows when to let students be students.” – Cameron Stockton, 9th grade. 

“I don’t know… because I think they should be thinking of the whole school not only the USG but also the USB and the lower school” – Candy Chen, 10th grade. 

“I would like someone that’s not very strict. I don’t know how to explain it, but not tough and laid back, and just like not a person who we’re not going to be scared of. Someone comfortable like Jake” – Carina Kirby, 10th grade. 

“They need to have responsibility for their students and their work … and be nice to us.” – Alice Zhang, 10th grade. 

“I think it’s really important to look for someone who can relate to the students as well as someone [they] know will listen to their ideas…I just think it’s important to have someone who is kind and caring and will look out for us as well as the teachers.” – Ava Buescher, 8th grade.

Student Focused 

“I think it’s really important to look for someone who can relate to the students as well as someone [they] know will listen to their ideas…I just think it’s important to have someone who is kind and caring and will look out for us as well as the teachers.” – Ava Buescher, 8th grade.

“I think one thing that’s really important is the bond with the students because it’s better for them to be head of school and make these rules if you have a good relationship with the high schoolers and the people in the school.” – Yuri Underwood, 8th grade.

 “He should be more listening to students’ voices and ideas to make it a better school.” – Mone Shimogawara, 9th grade. 

Personal Characteristics

“Someone that is open to constructive criticism and really care for the students…. Someone who is not just there for the job but for the students. Probably even more open minded; they have to have a lot of patients because you know, its a group of teenage girls, they have to have a lot of patience and tolerance.” – Amber Fang, 9th grade. 

“I would say, easy going and knows what we, the students, like.” – Kiran Hutchinson, 9th grade. 

”I think it would be really cool to have somebody with a lot of personality to really add to the color of the Annie Wright community. I think it would be really cool for the person to have a really strong and nice developed sense of self.” – Nadine Gibson, 9th grade. 

“Sociable, outgoing and easygoing.” – Grace Felleisen, 10th grade.

“Someone who is a leader and knows how to interact with people. I think they need to be kind and open to suggestions.” – Bella Spencer, 10th grade. 

“I think someone who is very well-spoken and who can… think about every perspective of the student body and culminate them in some sort of reasonable… like make reasonable, executive decisions… Someone who can make firm, well thought out, reasonable decisions, and who is well-spoken” – Anna Parrot, 10th grade. 

“Someone who is open to new ideas and who is a leader that makes sure that they interact with the student body.” – Jazmyn Stone, 10th grade.