January 11, 2025
Dear Odyssey School Community,
On behalf of the Search Committee, I am thrilled to introduce our third finalist, Dr. Tim Lightman.
Dr. Tim Lightman has been Head of Lower School at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA (PK-12, 775 total students, 225 students in PK-5) since 2013. As Head of Lower School, Tim manages all aspects of the Lower School and its standalone campus. This leadership responsibility includes hiring, supervising, and evaluating more than 40 faculty and staff, directing the division’s program and curriculum, managing the budget, overseeing the building and grounds, and partnering with parents and caregivers. In his work as a member of Shipley’s Central Admission Team, Tim collaborates with the school’s enrollment, development, and marketing operations.
He develops and implements PreK-12 systems, policies, and procedures, including schoolwide crisis management. He also represents the school in Board meetings and as a member of the Educational Excellence Committee. Beyond his time at Shipley, Tim has been a lower school classroom teacher, a higher education instructor, and a curriculum consultant. He has also served as an Accreditation Team Member for the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) since 2018 and has been a researcher, guest lecturer, conference presenter, and more.
Professional History and Education
Head of Lower School, The Shipley School (PA), 2013-present
Principal, Smith College Campus School (MA), 2008-2013
Instructor, Continuing Professional Studies Bank Street College of Education (NY) 1998-present
Curriculum Consultant, Temple Terrace Elementary School (FL), 2007-2014
Curriculum Consultant, La Escuelita (NY), 2007-2008, 2018
Supervisor: Graduate Students, Columbia University, Teachers College (NY), 2007-2008
Admissions Consultant, Bank Street School for Children (NY), 2007-2008
Unit Head Lower Camp, Bank Street School for Children (NY), 2000-2008
Lower School Lead Teacher, Bank Street School for Children (NY), 1996-2007
Ed.D. Concentration in Curriculum Studies, Columbia University, Teachers College (NY)
M.Ed. Special Education, Bank Street College of Education (NY)
M.S. Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Bank Street College of Education (NY)
B.A. American History, New York University (NY)
Tim will be on campus Monday, January 13 and Tuesday, January 14 and will participate in a number of individual, small group and open forum meetings. Key meeting dates and times are listed at the end of this message for your reference. The Search Committee is excited for you to meet Tim and asks that you participate in our communitywide survey to provide your impressions of him for us to consider. The survey must be completed by 12:00 p.m. on January 15, 2025.
Use this link to access the survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OdysseyLightman
On behalf of the Search Committee, I would like to thank in advance the entire Odyssey School family for what I know will be a warm welcome for Tim. Please try and take advantage of the opportunities to meet and hear from Tim and to participate in the community survey. Your feedback is a critical piece of what the Search Committee will consider in making its final recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
Warmly,
Terri Smith, Chair of the Search Committee
Search Committee Members:
Dr. Yael Allen
Cheryl Bernard-Smith
Crawford Hubbard
Janice Lepore, Psy.D
Kevin McAllister
Corey Paige
Chris Pope
Suzy Riedel
Michael Weinfeld
Candidate Meeting Schedule
Tuesday, 1/14/25
8:10 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. Forum with current parents
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Forum with alumni, parents of alumni, and friends of Odyssey