Dear Good Counsel Community,

After an extensive nationwide Head of School search, I write with great pleasure to announce that the Board of Directors has appointed John Ciccone as the 4th president of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. John was recommended by the Search Committee to the Board of Directors.  John was then appointed by unanimous vote.  He will succeed Dr. Paul Barker, effective July 1, 2023. 

About John Ciccone

John Ciccone is a seasoned school leader.  For the past 14 years, he has served as President at Saint Ignatius Loyola Academy in Baltimore.  John’s prior experience was as Chief Administrative Officer at Rochambeau, The French International School in Bethesda and as Head of School at SEED Public Charter School of Washington DC.  Across two decades, John has an exceptional record as an educational leader at Catholic, independent, and charter schools, from early childhood through high school levels.  He earned his undergraduate degree in history and education from Rhode Island College and his master’s degree in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard. He has completed non-profit executive education programs at the Harvard Business School and the Kellogg School of Management as well as the New Heads Institute of the National Association of Independent Schools.  John serves as a board member for Innovation Works in Baltimore and Loyola Blakefield in Towson.

In John, we have found the extraordinary Catholic school leader that the community intended when we began the search process. He has the vision, strategic leadership, and experience necessary to move Good Counsel to our highest aspirations and goals for the future. John is an accomplished scholar of social inequality. Throughout the course of his career, he has demonstrated experience in fundraising, strategic planning, enrollment management, and strengthening school culture.

“I am extraordinarily honored to be selected as Our Lady of Good Counsel High School's next President,” says Ciccone. “I am excited to be part of Good Counsel's strong, vibrant, and inclusive community that clearly lives its mission to inspire students to excel, serve, and love. I look forward to meeting all the members of the Good Counsel community in the coming months.”

In Gratitude

The Board of Directors extends our deepest gratitude to the Search Committee members who worked tirelessly over the past year on behalf of Good Counsel. We all appreciate your dedication and commitment to this important and demanding work. We are also grateful to our alumni, faculty, staff, parents and students who participated in this process and gave their time to meet with the candidates and share their insights with the Search Committee. This engagement by all stakeholders is a testament to the strength of our community. 

Looking Ahead

With the search process concluded, the Board of Directors will now focus on a smooth leadership transition and providing John with a warm welcome to Good Counsel. We are in the process of finalizing a Presidential Transition Committee to assist John as he takes his seat as our next president. 

You will have many opportunities to get to know John in the months ahead and I will keep you updated on these opportunities as they are finalized. We look forward to welcoming John and his wife, Amy, to the Good Counsel community in July, 2023. 
 

Sincerely,

Phil Mantua '76 

Chair, Our Lady of Good Counsel Board of Directors

Dear Alumni, Parents, Supporters and Friends, Our search for Good Counsel’s next President has reached a significant milestone and is worthy of another update. Recently, the President Search Committee held in-person interviews with four highly qualified candidates to serve as Good Counsel’s next President. After committee discussion, review of desired attributes and qualifications, and prayerful discernment, the Search Committee is inviting all four candidates to visit Good Counsel on March 1, 2, 8 and 9, respectively. These visits will afford additional Good Counsel stakeholders the opportunity to meet the candidates and a chance for both Good Counsel and the candidates to determine a mutual fit. Each finalist will spend a full day on campus, individually meeting with students, faculty/staff, parents, alumni and friends, and members of the Board.  As a member of the Good Counsel community, you are invited to attend a moderated conversation with the finalists each afternoon of on-campus interviews from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. in the Chapel.  You will be provided with a paper copy of the candidate’s curriculum vitae when you arrive. Registration is required below to attend each moderated conversation.   We kindly ask that you submit any questions you wish to ask in advance when you register. You will receive a follow-up survey conducted by our search consultant after the interviews to provide your feedback on each candidate. The feedback collected in the survey is confidential, and will be shared with the Search Committee to help inform their final decision. It was evident to all members of the Search Committee that these candidates have a deep passion and understanding for Good Counsel’s mission and the charism and spirituality of the Xaverian Brothers. Each could bring considerable skills and expertise to lead Good Counsel into the future. As we prepare to host the candidates on campus, your continued prayers and support remain greatly appreciated. Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us.   Sincerely, Phil Mantua '76  Chair, Our Lady of Good Counsel Board of Directors   Bill Riley '68 Chair, President Search Committee

February 6, 2023

Dear Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Community,

As you may recall from our last update on January 10, the Board of Directors made the decision to extend the search for our next President.  We remain committed to finding the very best individual to lead Good Counsel into the future and will take the appropriate amount of time to successfully do so.

Over the past several weeks, our search firm partner has introduced a strong slate of candidates for the Search Committee to consider.  Last week, the Search Committee convened to discern the candidates presented and made a determination to advance four highly-qualified leaders in the process.

During the week of February 13, these four semi-finalists will meet confidentially with the Search Committee.  After those interviews, the Committee will determine which of the candidates will advance as finalists.  We are moving in a timely yet deliberate fashion towards the appointment of the most qualified candidate as soon as early this spring.

On behalf of the Board and the Search Committee, we thank you for your interest and involvement in this important engagement for our school.  Please continue to keep the process in your prayers as we continue to work toward a successful conclusion.

Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us.

Sincerely,

 

Phil Mantua '76 

Chair, Our Lady of Good Counsel Board of Directors

 

Bill Riley '68

Chair, President Search Committee

Dear Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Community,

After serious consideration, the Board of Directors has made the decision to extend the search for our next President. 

The Board and the Search Committee have taken very seriously the role that has been entrusted to us as we guide the search for the next President. From the start, one tenet has been to not rush the process. Through our rigorous process, we have become even more confident that we are taking the right steps in finding the best person to engage the role as the next President of Good Counsel.

The Search Committee has recently met to discuss our next steps in this important process, and we will continue to update our community as we move forward. Over the next month, we will review additional candidates and put together a schedule for interview rounds and campus visits. This will extend our initial, projected timeline and translates to an appointment made in late February/early March. We intend to continue this process in a timely, but deliberate fashion.  In the event that we do not find suitable candidates in the coming weeks, we will announce an interim leadership plan for the 2023-24 academic year.  

On behalf of the Board and the Search Committee, we thank you for your interest and involvement in this important engagement for our school.  Please continue to keep the process in your prayers as we continue to work toward a successful conclusion. 
Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us.

Sincerely,

 

Phil Mantua '76 

Chair, Our Lady of Good Counsel Board of Directors

 

Bill Riley '68

Chair, President Search Committee

Dear Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Community,

Our search for Our Lady of Good Counsel’s next President has reached a significant milestone and is worthy of another update. Recently, the President Search Committee held in-person interviews with six semi-finalist candidates, all highly qualified to serve as Good Counsel’s next President. After committee discussion, review of desired attributes and qualifications, and prayerful discernment, the Search Committee is inviting three finalists to visit Good Counsel on November 14th, 15th, and 16th, respectively. These finalist visits will afford additional Good Counsel stakeholders the opportunity to meet the candidates and a chance for both Good Counsel and the candidates to determine a mutual fit.

Each finalist will spend a full day on campus, individually meeting with students, faculty/staff, parents, alumni and friends, and members of the Board. Those meeting with each finalist will receive a paper copy of the candidate’s curriculum vitae.  To aid the Search Committee in recommending the appointment of the next President to the Board, the search consultants will seek survey feedback from those meeting with the finalists.

It was evident to all members of the Search committee that our finalists have a deep passion and understanding for Good Counsel’s mission and the charism and spirituality of the Xaverian Brothers. Each could bring considerable skills and expertise to lead Good Counsel into the future.

As we prepare to host the three finalists on campus next month, your continued prayers and support remain greatly appreciated.

Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us.

Sincerely,

Phil Mantua '76 

Chair, Our Lady of Good Counsel Board of Directors

Bill Riley '68

Chair, President Search Committee

Dear Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Community,

We hope that the school year is starting well for you.

At this time, we wish to provide you with an update on the Presidential Search.  We have been very pleased with the number, background, and caliber of candidates interested in becoming the next President of Good Counsel. Working with our search consultants, Partners in Mission, we have fielded inquiries from candidates from all over the country.

Most recently, the President Search Committee met to narrow the field to a small group of the strongest semi-finalist candidates. We have identified several individuals who will meet with the President Search Committee for in-person interviews in mid-October.  Following these interviews, the pool will be streamlined and two or three candidates will return for intensive final interviews, which will take place in early November on campus. 

Your prayers and support are critical to the success of this process. Please continue to lift up all of us, the search committee and the candidates, as we further discern this leadership opportunity.

Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us.

Sincerely,

Phil Mantua '76 

Chair, Our Lady of Good Counsel Board of Directors

Bill Riley '68

Chair, President Search Committee

Dear Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Community,

We hope everyone has had an enjoyable and relaxing summer. 

We wanted to give you an update on the Presidential search process. Our search partner, Dr. Kyle Pietrantonio and his team at Partners in Mission sent out a search prospectus nationally early in the summer. They received numerous inquiries and applications from around the country. They have vetted and reviewed all of them and are following up with those candidates who meet all or most of the requirements set forth by the Board of Directors and the President Search Committee. Candidates will present prepared video and written presentations to the Search Committee in mid-September. The committee will identify and choose the top 3 or 4 finalists, and in-person interviews as well as site visits will be scheduled for October/November.

We will share another update on behalf of the President Search Committee as we near the first round of interviews in October.

In the meantime, please keep this very important search in your prayers. For more information click here. 

Sincerely,

Phil Mantua '76 

Chair, Our Lady of Good Counsel Board of Directors

Bill Riley '68

Chair, President Search Committee

Fellow GC Falcons,

After serving as President of Our Lady of Counsel High School since 2011, Dr. Paul Barker has notified the Board of his decision to retire in June 2023, at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year. The Board of Directors appreciates Paul’s service to the school and has been pleased with his work throughout his tenure as President. He continues to have our full support as he finishes his distinguished career.

Over the next year, we will have many opportunities to recognize and thank Paul for all he has done for our community, and for many of us individually.  For me personally, it has been a tremendous honor to work with Paul, especially in my current role of Board Chair. He has my utmost respect and I have a great appreciation for his leadership and dedication to GC during his tenure.  All of us on the board want to express our deep gratitude to Paul for all that he has done for Good Counsel.

The school will be conducting a national search to attract the best qualified candidate to succeed him as President. We are confident that Good Counsel’s reputation for excellence, as well as its mission, history, financial stability, and welcoming community will attract a pool of outstanding candidates for the position.

The Board of Directors is in the process of selecting a search firm to assist us in this all important endeavor. We expect to have the appropriate firm engaged within the coming weeks and once selected, will look to the firm to provide their expertise in organizing a search process that will have representation from all major constituencies within the GC community. 

The board is equally grateful for Paul’s leadership and excited to begin the process of selecting the next head of school that will usher GC into its next chapter.

More details will be forthcoming and we will continue to keep everyone apprised of our progress. 

Phil Mantua ‘76
Board Chair

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to let you know that I will be concluding my tenure as President of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School on June 30, 2023.  

Back in the spring of 2020, I shared with Board Chair Phil Mantua my intention to retire when my contract was up.  This is a bittersweet decision. The years I have spent at Good Counsel have been the happiest and most fulfilling of my professional life. 

I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished during my time at Good Counsel, including: constructing the Performing Arts Center; hiring all four members of the senior leadership team; steering the school through a global pandemic; boosting the competitiveness of faculty salaries; introducing 1-to-1 computing; installing a grotto; joining NAIS; joining AIMS and benefitting from their rigorous accreditation process; raising funds for growth in the school’s endowment for financial assistance; overseeing a substantial increase in our demographic diversity; and introducing a nationally-recognized four-year STEM program. I’ve been fortunate throughout this time to be surrounded by a talented and dedicated administrative team; they have been the engine behind our accomplishments, a source of wise counsel and steadfast support.

I’ve had the benefit, too, of board members that have devoted tremendous time and energy to their voluntary service to Good Counsel. The success of any school leader rests on strong collaboration with the Board and its Chair. I have worked with three inspiring Chairs during my tenure: Hank Deily, Rita O’Donnell, and Phil Mantua.  Each has been a steadfast support.

Nothing is accomplished at our school without the diligence and dedication of our teachers. It has been a true honor to work alongside this remarkable group of colleagues. I know from so many conversations through the years that, when our families or our alumni think back on the impact the school has had on their own lives, they always start by invoking the enduring personal relationships they developed with their teachers as the most important part of their Good Counsel experience.

The ambitious, accomplished students of Good Counsel are a daily inspiration.  I have had my closest contact as chaperone in El Salvador, Camden, and on retreats.  And for the past three years, I have especially enjoyed the regular contact with my advisory group. 

On a personal level, Carol and I are profoundly grateful for the friendships we have made with members of the Good Counsel community.  Looking ahead, with our only grandchild living on the other side of the world and another on the way, we expect to spend some part of each year in New Zealand.

The next 15 months are an opportunity to finish strongly on a journey that started in 2011. I know that the next president will bring fresh eyes and new ideas to this position, and I’m eager to work with the Board, the administrative team, and my successor to ensure a smooth transition.

Warmest regards,
Paul Barker