October 4 announcement

							October 4, 2012


On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are pleased to announce Carolyn Salzman has been
named as the next Head of The Gateway Schools, effective July 1, 2013. Her appointment
follows the unanimous and enthusiastic endorsement of both the Search Committee and the
Board of Trustees.

When we began our search, the Board and the Search Committee solicited input from our
community and identified the most important characteristics we would require of our next Head
of School. Included among them were: a dynamic leader who has the vision, confidence,
experience and skills to inspire and guide our community; a strong background in education for
students with learning differences; an ability to advocate on behalf of our varied constituencies; a
proven manager with financial acumen; knowledge of the NYC educational landscape including
issues surrounding funded, unfunded, special education and mainstream schools; an effective
listener and communicator; a collaborator; and a person who is genuinely passionate about our
traditions, values and community.

Carolyn Salzman embodies these qualities and so much more. She is a forward thinker with
excellent credentials in education, including a Masters Degree from Teachers College, Columbia
University, in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on special education curriculum. Her
formidable knowledge of New York area schools derives from her experience as former Chair of
the Gateway Board, former Trustee of both The Windward School and Lorge School, and work
with Mott Hall II. In recommending Carolyn to the Board of Trustees, the Search Committee
noted that her ability to understand Gateway, our culture and history from multiple perspectives--
educator, business executive, and parent of a child with learning disabilities -- is unparalleled.

A trustee of Gateway since 1999, Carolyn chaired Gateway’s Board from 2001 until
2005. Under her leadership, the school moved from basement space in a church to a beautiful
location on Second Avenue, created the Transition Program to serve students ages 10-12,
expanded enrollment, implemented financial and information systems, created a development
office, and formalized program evaluations. As Chair, Carolyn’s collaborative leadership style
was evident. She engaged the community’s constituents in strategic planning and offered
extensive leadership in fundraising including heading the highly successful Campaign for
Gateway. As trustee, Carolyn has been focused on programmatic excellence, faculty professional
development, and fiscal responsibility.

Carolyn is highly intelligent, deeply compassionate, and a savvy strategic thinker with a
tremendous capacity to synthesize and analyze information. Throughout the interview process it
became clear that she has an understanding of the changing landscape of LD education in New
York City unmatched by the other candidates and is therefore the ideal fit to lead Gateway in the
coming years. As a parent of a past Gateway student who is now in college, she has seen the
transformative impact the school had on her child. She is passionate about Gateway and
committed to its future. In addition to her Ed. M. from Teachers College, Carolyn has an MBA
from Stanford, and had a prior career in investment banking.



The Search Committee’s recommendation of Carolyn comes as the result of a thorough and
inclusive search process, during which the committee worked with nationally recognized
educational search consultant Gregory Floyd. A field of 180 potential candidates was narrowed
to 30 individuals under active consideration, with the process leading to five finalists. We were
gratified by the interest shown in our school by exceptional educators and leaders. In addition,
we are most grateful for the thoughtful input from faculty, staff, parents, students, and the alumni
community throughout this process. Finally, we want to extend our thanks and appreciation to
the members of the Search Committee, who have worked tirelessly on this search over the past
eight months.

We are deeply grateful to Bob Cunningham for his outstanding nine years of leadership and
appreciative for the foundation he has laid to help ensure Carolyn’s and Gateway’s success. We
are elated and honored that Carolyn has accepted our offer to serve as Gateway’s fourth Head of
School. This milestone appointment will bring Gateway forward to a new era of educational
leadership.


Sincerely,




Warren H. Feder
Chair, Board of Trustees




Astrid SabellaRosa
Chair, Head of School Search Committee