Head of School Search
About the Search
On April 9, 2025, Dr. Joan Buchanan Hill, Catherine M. Rose Head of School, announced her retirement from The Lamplighter School at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 school year. In a joint communication with Board Chair Margaret Johansen Hirsch '89, Dr. Hill shared her gratitude for the school community over the past 14 years, and her immense optimism for the future of The Lamplighter School. This page serves as a hub for information about the Head of School search process, with updates provided as new details emerge.
Announcement of Lamplighter's Next Catherine M. Rose Head of School
On November 7, 2025, Board Chair Margaret Johansen Hirsch '89, and Search Committee Co-Chairs Thomas Morton and Liz Cullum Helfrich '90, announced Mr. Mike Johnson as Lamplighter's next Catherine M. Rose Head of School. Mr. Johnson’s exceptional alignment with the mission, vision, and values of our school make him the right person to build on the tremendous legacy of Dr. Joan Buchanan Hill and lead our school into the future. In accepting the position, Mr. Johnson stated, “For more than two decades, I have been lighting lamps in classrooms and communities, blending joyful curiosity with academic rigor and human connection. It’s truly the opportunity of a lifetime to lead a school as values-driven and student-forward as Lamplighter.” Mr. Johnson will officially begin his tenure in Summer 2026.
Read the full announcement here.
