Head of School Search
Search begins for new Head of School
On March 6, 2026, J.P. Culley announced that he will step down as Head of School at Holland Hall following the 2026–27 academic year.
The Holland Hall community is deeply grateful for JP’s leadership and vision during his 14-year tenure.
As we express our appreciation to the Culley family, we also begin the important work of identifying the next leader who will build upon Holland Hall’s strong foundation and enduring legacy.
With a distinguished history spanning more than a century and a stellar national reputation, Holland Hall is exceptionally well-positioned to welcome its next Head of School.
While leadership transitions can naturally bring uncertainty, our school is in a position of strength — united in mission, financially sound, and supported by an extraordinary community of faculty, staff, and students.
This transition represents not only a moment of change, but also a meaningful opportunity for continued growth.
Board Chair Matthew Bristow will oversee the search process, which will include a Search Committee and an Advisory Council.
Trustee Dennis Weikle will chair the Search Committee. The Board of Trustees will remain actively engaged throughout the process to ensure a thorough, efficient, and thoughtful search.
The Board of Trustees has engaged Educators Collaborative to partner with for our search.
Educators Collaborative will facilitate a national search that includes both internal and external candidates. All candidates will be considered through the same process, and confidentiality will be strictly maintained throughout.
An important component of this process will be engagement with the broader Holland Hall community.
There will be opportunities for parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders to share their perspectives through surveys and listening sessions. These insights will help inform the leadership profile and ensure the process reflects the values and priorities of our community.
With a target start date for the new Head of School of June 2027, the Board is especially appreciative of JP’s advance notice, which allows for a deliberate and comprehensive search.
The Board is confident that this process will result in the selection of a leader aligned with Holland Hall’s mission and vision for the future.
The Advisory Council was formed to ensure broad representation and thoughtful input from across our community.
We encourage members of the Holland Hall community to stay informed and engaged through updates shared on this page.
Additional details about the search process, including opportunities for community participation, and timeline will be provided as they become available.
While we are committed to transparency regarding the process, we will not share information about individual candidates and ask that all candidate identities remain strictly confidential.
Questions regarding the search process may be directed to Matthew Bristow, Board Chair.
Search Committee
Matthew Bristow (Board Chair)
Trustee and current parent
Dennis Weikle (Search Chair)
Trustee and current parent
Liz White
Trustee and current parent
Roger Collins
Emeritus Trustee, former Board Chair, and alumni parent
Kulsum Siddiqui
Trustee and current parent
Beth Goddard '86
Past Trustee, alumna, alumni parent, and former Director of Advancement
Hannah Beck
Executive Assistant to the Head of School
Advisory Council
Michael Aaronson '93
Alumnus and current parent
Shelly Bagwell
Walter Master Teacher Chair and alumni parent
Matthew Barnard '99
Alumnus and current parent
Neil Bergenroth
Walter Master Teacher Chair and current parent
Rabbi Marc Fitzerman
Past Trustee and alumni parent
Candace Matthews
Walter Master Teacher Chair (retired) and alumni parent
Amanda Chastang '12
Alumna and board committee member
Camille Fazel
Current parent
Cara Gallagher
Cara Gallagher Consulting
Ashley Hughes
Current parent and Parents’ Association teacher appreciation week chair
Bill Lawson '81
Trustee, alumnus, and alumni parent
Tammie Maloney
Emeritus Trustee, alumni parent, and current grandparent
The Right Rev. Poulson C. Reed
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma and Trustee
Byron Shen
Judith and Jean Pape Adams Master Teacher Chair in the Arts and alumni parent
Chelsea Showalter
Trustee and current parent
Joey Wignarajah '00
Trustee and alumnus
Travis Wolff
Current parent
Holland Hall to partner with Educators Collaborative on search
Educators Collaborative, LLC is a consortium of former independent school heads.
The 12 Educators Collaborative Partners have acted as the heads of independent schools of all sizes across the country.
Collectively, the partners have served more than 75 educational institutions as directors or trustees.
More than 900 schools, colleges, and other non-public and public nonprofit organizations have turned to Educators Collaborative for consulting.
“The Search Committee conducted a rigorous national process to identify the consultants who will advise our Head of School search,” said Holland Hall Board Chair Matthew Bristow. “Five firms were invited to submit proposals, and three finalists were interviewed and scored through a detailed rubric. Two firms then toured Holland Hall and met with the Search Committee for full-day interviews. Ultimately, the Search Committee unanimously selected Lisa Lyle and George Sanderson of Educators Collaborative, based on the recency of their Head of School experience, their reputation and breadth of relationships across the independent school world, their proven search process, and their familiarity with Holland Hall and Tulsa.
“We look forward to introducing Lisa and George to the Holland Hall community in the coming weeks as the search moves into its next phase.”
FAQs
At the end of the 2026-27 academic year. Mr. Culley will have served as Head of School for 14 years, the longest-ever tenure for a Holland Hall Head of School.
Board Chair Matthew Bristow will oversee the process, which will include a Search Committee and an Advisory Council. Trustee Dennis Weikle will chair the Search Committee, joined by Liz White, Roger Collins, Kulsum Siddiqui, Beth Goddard, and Hannah Beck. The Board of Trustees will remain actively engaged throughout the process to ensure a thorough, efficient, and thoughtful search.
Yes. The Board of Trustees has engaged Educators Collaborative to partner with for our search. Consultants Lisa Lyle and George Sanderson will facilitate a national search that includes internal and external candidates. All candidates will be considered through the same process, and confidentiality will be strictly maintained throughout.
Yes. There will be opportunities for parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders to share their perspectives through surveys and listening sessions.
The target start date for the new Head of School is June 2027. The Board is especially appreciative of Mr. Culley's advance notice, which allows for a deliberate and comprehensive search.
No. While the Board is committed to transparency regarding the process, we will not share information about individual candidates and ask that all candidate identities remain strictly confidential.
Please bookmark this URL for updates on the search. Further questions can be directed to Board Chair Matthew Bristow.
Holland Hall mission statement
Tulsa’s only PreK through 12th grade independent Episcopal school, Holland Hall provides a challenging and comprehensive educational experience grounded in a rigorous liberal arts, college preparatory curriculum that promotes critical thinking and lifelong learning. Here, we seek to foster a strong moral foundation and a deep sense of social responsibility in every student.
