New Head of School Beginning 2011-2012

The following letter was sent to all parents and staff members at Riverstone. Congratulations, Bob!

Dear Riverstone International School Community Members:

After an extensive global search, I am very pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees has selected Bob Carignan as the new Head of School beginning in the 2011-2012 school year. Over the last three years, Bob has served as the High School Director, Director of College Counseling, and Assistant Head of School, and therefore, Bob is uniquely qualified to lead Riverstone through the next phase of growth and development. Bob and Andrew will work closely together over the next six months to ensure that the School has a seamless leadership transition on July 1, 2011.

The search for a new Head of School was highly competitive. The process was lead by John Sims and a committee that included 3 faculty members, 2 current parents, and 3 Trustees. The search process took place during an intense hiring period in the independent school world, and we were fortunate to receive over 40 applications for the position. The committee was thrilled to have had 3 finalists, two of which were ultimately invited to sit for interviews.

Over the last 25 years, Bob has enjoyed a successful and diverse career. He graduated from Brown University with a degree in English and Economics, and pursued a career in the financial world with Cargill. Over the next 15 years, Bob traded financial derivatives for various firms on the Chicago exchange.

In 2000, Bob and his wife, Laurel, moved their family to Boise, Idaho, and Bob decided to follow his lifelong passion and pursue a career in education. He received his Masters in Education from Boise State University in December 2006. He joined Riverstone in 2002, and over the last 9 years, he has made a significant contribution to the success of our School. Bob is a well respected teacher. During his teaching career he taught courses in English, History, and Economics. He played a key role in the development of the School’s English curriculum, and gaining authorized with the IB Organization. Additionally, Bob was instrumental in developing Riverstone’s highly acclaimed college counseling program. Over the years, Bob has provided invaluable advice to our Grade 11 and 12 students, and the resulting admission results and scholarship offers speak for themselves.

In his role as Assistant Head of School, Bob participated in Riverstone’s strategic planning process, and chaired the programs committee which created the plan for our academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs. Bob has supported a number of our service learning and outdoor trips, and has a unique ability to understand and mentor Riverstone’s students. Bob has also participated in the National Association of Independent School’s (NAIS) Aspiring Heads Program.

Bob has a clear vision for what Riverstone needs to focus on to achieve the School’s vision as outlined in our strategic plan. He has a strong understanding of the Riverstone culture, and has a proven record of success. He is respected by the students that he teaches, their parents, and the faculty that he works with on a day to day basis.

Personally, I have a high degree of confidence in Bob’s abilities, and his potential to lead Riverstone through the next phase of improvement and growth. Please join me in congratulating Bob on his new role.

I would like to thank John Sims, and the entire search committee for their tireless work in conducting the search process. This is not easy work, but the entire team did a wonderful job, and I am very pleased with the outcome.

Sincerely,

Kurt R. Liebich
President, Board of Trustees