Director of Schools Search

Communications

Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton (SHS) is beginning an important leadership transition following Director of Schools Richard A. Dioli’s announcement that he will conclude his remarkable 38 years of service at the end of the 2026–2027 academic year.

We are deeply grateful for Rich’s extraordinary leadership and lasting impact on our school. His legacy is reflected in Sacred Heart’s strong academic program, mission-driven culture, financial strength, and vibrant community, all rooted in the charism of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

With this thoughtful advance notice, the Board of Trustees is approaching the transition with care and purpose. A Board-appointed Search Task Force composed of current and former Trustees has been established to steward a rigorous, disciplined, and mission- and values-aligned search process, in partnership with Carney Sandoe & Associates (CS&A).

Opportunities for input from across the community will help inform the leadership profile and priorities for the role. The search is guided by a focus on identifying a leader deeply aligned with Sacred Heart’s mission and values and well-positioned to lead the school into its next chapter. Consistent with independent school governance, the Board of Trustees holds responsibility for the final selection.

Rich remains fully in his role throughout the 2026–2027 academic year, with the Board’s full confidence. Sacred Heart continues to move forward, united in mission, financially sound, and grounded for the future and its next chapter of leadership.

We invite our community to stay informed as the search process unfolds. Updates will be shared on this page. While we are committed to transparency in the process, we will maintain strict confidentiality regarding individual candidates and ask our community to do the same.

Sincerely,

Marnie S. Marcin
Chair, SHS Board of Trustees
Chair, Director of Schools Search Task Force

Search Task Force & Consultants

Search Task Force

A Board-appointed Search Task Force has been convened to support the search process. Members are current or former Trustees who bring deep experience, institutional knowledge, and a strong commitment to the Sacred Heart mission and values, and who have helped steward the school through important periods of growth and change.

The Task Force works closely with the search consultants to steward a rigorous and mission-aligned process, and to identify finalist candidates for engagement with the Board and community at the finalist stage. Following this stage, the Task Force recommends a candidate to the Board of Trustees for approval.

Sheila Hammond, RSCJ & Current Trustee
Paul Sallaberry, Current Trustee & Past Parent
Gary Kirkham, Former Board Chair & Past Parent
Shami Ravi (SJS '87), Former Board Chair, Current & Past Parent
Mindy Rogers, Former Board Chair & Past Parent
Marnie Marcin, Chair of the Board of Trustees & Search Task Force

The group can be contacted at searchtaskforce@shschools.org

Our Consultants

Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton has retained Carney Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), an internationally recognized firm specializing in independent school leadership searches, to partner with us in this process. With over 45 years of experience, CS&A brings deep knowledge of independent schools and a highly personalized approach to understanding each school’s unique strengths, culture, and needs.

CS&A supports the identification, recruitment, and evaluation of candidates, helping to ensure a rigorous and well-informed process. We are pleased to be working with Karen Whitaker and Tom Lengel as our lead consultants.

CS&A Team

Karen Whitaker, Senior Consultant
Tom Lengel, Senior Consultant

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 8 frequently asked questions.

Why is current Director of Schools Richard A. Dioli leaving SHS?

Following 38 years of extraordinary service to Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton—including 20 years as Director of Schools—Richard A. Dioli has announced that the 2026–2027 school year will be his final year in this role. We are deeply grateful for his leadership, which has helped shape a mission-driven, financially strong, and vibrant school community rooted in the charism of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Rich will remain fully in his role through the 2026–2027 school year, continuing to guide the school’s strategic priorities and ongoing work. He leaves Sacred Heart exceptionally well-positioned for the future, with strong enrollment, outstanding faculty and staff, no institutional debt, and a substantial endowment.
What are the roles of the Board of Trustees and the Search Task Force?

The responsibility for selecting the next Director of Schools rests with the Board of Trustees, one of its most important fiduciary duties. The Board will shape the leadership profile, engage with finalist candidates, and approve the appointment.

The Search Task Force supports this work by stewarding the process, partnering with the search firm, and identifying finalist candidates for engagement with the Board and community at the finalist stage. Following this stage, the Task Force recommends a candidate to the Board of Trustees for approval.
Do faculty, staff, parents, and alumni also have a role in the search process?

Faculty, staff, parents, and alumni will have opportunities to provide input at key points in the process, including through a community-wide survey and facilitated listening sessions with our search consultants. These perspectives will help inform the leadership profile and priorities for the role.

As the process advances, selected representatives of key constituencies will participate in structured opportunities to engage with finalist candidates.

Community input plays an important role in informing the process; the Board of Trustees, however, holds responsibility for the final appointment.
What is the role of the current Director of Schools during the search?

Richard A. Dioli will continue to serve fully as Director of Schools throughout the 2026–2027 academic year and remains actively engaged in leading the school’s priorities and ongoing work.
What is the timing of the search?
The goal* is to conduct a thoughtful and thorough process during the 2026 calendar year to support a smooth leadership transition.

Spring 2026
- Director of Schools departure announced
- Board-led Search Task Force formed
- CS&A conducts a comprehensive search assessment, including site visits, listening sessions with a broad cross-section of the community, and a community-wide survey with strong participation
- Position Description developed and posted
Late Spring/Summer 2026
- Candidate recruitment and outreach
- Application deadline; semifinalists selected
Late Summer 2026
- Semifinalist interviews by Search Task Force
Fall 2026
- Finalists visit SHS and meet with key constituencies
- Search Task Force recommends a candidate for Board approval
- New Director of Schools announced
July 1, 2027
- New Director of Schools begins tenure
*NOTE: The Search Task Force will continue to assess progress throughout the process and adjust timing as appropriate.
How will the community be informed?

The Search Task Force will provide periodic updates to the community through this webpage. We are committed to sharing updates at key milestones while maintaining the confidentiality necessary to attract and engage outstanding candidates.
Can I nominate a potential candidate?

Community members may suggest potential candidates through the community survey or by sharing directly with our search consultants, Karen Whitaker and Tom Lengel. Interested candidates may also apply through the CS&A website.
Will the community have an opportunity to honor Rich?

Yes. Plans are in place to recognize Rich’s extraordinary 38 years of leadership in a manner that reflects his humility and honors his enduring impact.

We ask that the community allow those plans to guide how and when recognition takes place, so that this important moment is marked in a thoughtful and coordinated way, while keeping the focus on the ongoing work of the school, as well as its mission and future.