Search for Hillbrook's Next Head of School - Hillbrook School Search for Hillbrook's Next Head of School Jump to a Section SURVEY LETTER FROM MARK SILVER LETTER FROM SHANNON-HUNT SCOTT POSITION DESCRIPTION TIMELINE About the Search Hillbrook School is searching for our next Head of School. The Board of Trustees has retained the services of Carney Sandoe and Associates , a national executive search firm specializing in K-12 education, to partner with the search committee and the entire Hillbrook community. The voices and perspectives of our community will be crucial in our search. This page will be updated on an ongoing basis, and will serve as our central hub for information about the process, including announcements, opportunities for community engagement, and important updates at key milestones. Community Survey The Community Survey is vital to our search process. The survey will ask Hillbrook community members to share perspectives on priorities, professional experiences, and characteristics and qualities for the ideal next Head of School. The survey will be open until Friday, May 1, 2026. Take the Survey Search Committee Shannon Hunt-Scott Chair of the Board of Trustees Current Parent (‘27, ‘29) Chuck Hammers Chair of the Search Committee Trustee Alumni Parent (‘13, ‘15, ‘17, ‘20) Irene Ahn Trustee Current Parent (‘34, ‘39) Tom Archer Alumni Advisory Trustee Alumni Parent (‘10, ‘13, ‘16) Helen Bell Trustee Alumni Parent (‘17, ‘20) Dan Nevis Trustee Current Parent (‘31) Chris Pruett Trustee Current Parent (‘29, ‘32, ‘36) Grace Zhu Trustee Current Parent (‘28, ‘29, ‘32, ‘33, ‘39) Community Updates April 21, 2026 - Community Announcement from Mark Silver and Shannon Hunt-Scott April 23, 2026 - First members of search committee announced Mark's Letter to the Community: Dear Hillbrook community - When I first stepped on the Los Gatos campus in November 2008, I fell in love. The beauty of the campus, the school’s focus on helping each child reach their highest individual potential, the sense of purpose embodied in Hillbrook’s Village of Friendly Relations, and—most importantly—the warmth and authenticity of the people I met and their passion for the school convinced me that this was a place where my young family and I could learn, grow, and thrive. Seventeen years later, my affection for the school and my belief in our vision, mission, and core values remain as strong as ever. Thus, it is decidedly bittersweet to share that I have informed Board Chair Shannon Hunt Scott and the Board of Trustees that the 2026–27 school year will be my final year at the school. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity I have had to partner with the Board of Trustees, an extraordinary team of colleagues, and the devoted families in our community in leading Hillbrook through what has been nothing short of a transformation over these past 17 years. Indeed, it has been the greatest privilege of my life to be entrusted with leading the school through this critical and exciting period in Hillbrook’s 90-year history. And yet, after nearly 35 years working in and leading independent schools, I am ready for a new challenge. While I have not yet finalized what will come next, I am exploring opportunities that will allow me to draw on the experience I have gained to support independent schools more broadly. I have shared my decision at this moment, more than a year from when I will transition, in order to ensure the Board is well-positioned to run a search and find a strong successor to lead Hillbrook into the next chapter of its history. As you can see from the attached letter from Board Chair Shannon Hunt-Scott, the Board has already set that process in motion, and they will be providing regular updates to the community in the months ahead. Most importantly, over the next fifteen months, I will remain fully engaged in the work of our school. The 2026–27 school year holds so much in store for our community, including the graduation of our first-ever senior class, the Class of 2027. I am so excited to celebrate with our seniors next May, and I will have the distinct honor of “graduating with them” as I join them in moving on to the next chapter of our lives. While I am proud of the important and often bold strategic decisions our community made together over these past 17 years that position Hillbrook to thrive long into the future—from the creation of the Resident Teacher Program, to the reimagination of the Los Gatos campus, to the launch of the Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship, and ultimately to our expansion into a JK–12—the greatest joy I have found in this work, and the part I will miss the most, are the connections with the people—students, colleagues, and families—on both campuses. I look forward to nurturing and strengthening those connections in the months ahead, and to continuing the important work of leading this school until the end of June 2027. And, of course, in the months ahead, I look forward to playing what is perhaps my most distinguishing role: inviting children up to the stage to tell a joke at the end of Flag. Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to Hillbrook School, of course. Some answers will never change. With gratitude, Mark A Note from Shannon Hunt-Scott, Chair, Hillbrook Board of Trustees Dear Hillbrook Community, On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am writing to share both our profound gratitude and the news of a poignant moment of transition for our school. As you have read in the accompanying letter, Mark Silver has informed the Board of his decision to conclude his tenure as Head of School at the end of the 2026–2027 school year. 13 years ago, my husband Kevin and I stepped foot on Hillbrook’s Marchmont campus for the first time. At that Open House, we ended up sitting in the front row of the gymnasium while Mark shared Hillbrook’s four core values: be kind, be curious, take risks, and be your best. I marvelled at how Hillbrook could distill so many of our family’s values into those ten words. In that very moment, I was convinced that this was the school and the community for our family. In the many years since, Mark’s leadership and vision for the school have been at the heart of our Hillbrook journey. I am so grateful to Mark for the dedication and enthusiasm he has brought to our community for 17 years, and I feel fortunate to have worked alongside him during my time as Board Chair. He has made Hillbrook a joyful place to learn and grow, creating a culture where both children and adults feel known, nurtured, and inspired to be their best selves. While it is difficult to imagine Hillbrook without his leadership, we celebrate the extraordinary legacy he will leave behind. Since 2009, Mark has been the architect of a truly remarkable era of growth. His vision has touched every corner of our campuses—from the reimagination of our Los Gatos home and the launch of the Scott Center for Social Entrepreneurship to the bold envisioning, creation, and groundbreaking of the Upper School in San Jose. Under his guidance, Hillbrook has not only grown in size, but in soul. He has championed the Resident Teacher Program and strengthened our commitment to the legacy of Village of Friendly Relations, ensuring that Hillbrook remains a place where every child is known, challenged, and empowered. Perhaps most symbolically, he will conclude his journey alongside our very first graduating senior class and his youngest daughter in May 2027 - a fitting tribute to a leader who has always put students at the center of his work. THE PATH AHEAD The Board of Trustees is committed to a transition process that reflects the strength and stability of our institution. Because Mark has shared his plans well in advance, we are in an excellent position to conduct a thoughtful, comprehensive search for Hillbrook’s next leader. Search Firm: We are partnering with Carney, Sandoe & Associates, a leading independent school search firm, to identify a successor who embodies our core values and can lead Hillbrook’s legacy of learning into the next decade. Search Committee: We are forming a Search Committee of trustees, led by Chuck Hammers, my predecessor who chaired the Board of Trustees for nine years. Community Involvement: We value your input and will provide opportunities for faculty, staff, and parents to share their perspectives on the qualities we should seek in our next Head of School, beginning the week of April 27th. CONTINUING OUR WORK The next fifteen months are not a time for slowing down, but rather for celebration and looking ahead. Mark remains at the helm, and the Board is eager to partner with him to ensure the 2026–2027 school year is our most successful yet. We look forward to many opportunities in the coming year to formally honor his longstanding service to our beloved school. On a personal note, it has been an incredible privilege to partner with Mark. His warmth, authenticity, and unwavering belief in our mission have made Hillbrook the thriving community it is today. While he will be missed, his legacy will be felt for many years to come. We will keep you informed with regular updates as the search process begins. Thank you for your continued partnership and for all you do to make Hillbrook such a special place for our students. With gratitude, Shannon Position Description Hillbrook is at an exciting point in our school's history; at the time this position will be filled, we will have completed a five-year process of transitioning from a JK - 8 to a JK - 12, with two beautiful campuses: our original Los Gatos campus, nestled in the hills of Los Gatos, and our high school campus, located in the vibrant heart of downtown San José Our new Head of School - our fourth Head of School in just fifty years - will be poised to lead Hillbrook into its bold next chapter. Position Description forthcoming - please check back soon Search Timeline April 2026 Announcement of Search and survey sent to Hillbrook community May 2026 Position description posted Summer 2026 Search committee reviews applicants and identifies semifinalist and finalist pools Fall 2026 Finalist visits; new Head of School hired and announced