The Killington Mountain School head of school search committee has announced it’s found three finalists to replace Head of School Tao Smith.
A total of 30 people applied for the position after Smith announced he’s leaving the school in July after about 20 years. Ten semi-finalists were chosen and after they visited the school Dec. 16-17, Alex Godomsky of Maine, former KMS student Claire Kershko and Matt Smith of Massachusetts were chosen as finalists.
“We have been incredibly impressed with the quality of every candidate for the position; it has been a pleasure getting to know more about these talented people and to be able to listen to their perspective about what they might bring to the role of Head of School at KMS,” said KMS board of trustee chair Mike Hone in an email to the KMS community.
Alex Godomsky has served as assistant head of school at Hebron Academy in Hebron, Maine, since 2016. Prior to that, Godomsky was the director of student life at Hebron, as well as the IT director and additionally taught science, math and digital media for the school. Godomsky has also worked as an Alpine coach at both Carrabassett Valley Academy and at Sunday River, and is a certified athletic trainer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Bates College, as well as post graduate degrees from both the University of New Hampshire and the University of New England. His wife, Jennifer, is a registered nurse who works in radiology and serves as the director of health services for Hebron Academy. Godomsky and Jennifer have three children.
Claire Kershko attended KMS from 2007-2009. She then attended Burke Mountain Academy before heading to college. Currently employed with UNUM Group in Portland, Maine, Kershko is working in marketing and strategic planning for the company. Prior to her work at UNUM, Kershko served as head coach of the Alpine Ski Team at Clarkson University, from which she holds an M.B.A. Additionally, Kershko coached in both the Alpine and soccer programs at both Gould Academy and Bates College. She attended Bates College where she received a B.A. in religious studies, and attended the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth’s Business Bridge Program.
Matt Smith grew up skiing in Killington with his family as members of the Killington Ski Club. He is currently the English department chair, lacrosse program director, and mountain biking coach at Lawrence Academy in Groton, Massachusetts. Prior to his tenure at Lawrence Academy, Smith worked at Stratton Mountain School from 2011-2017 as the dean of students, director of residential life, and both an English teacher and the boys’ lacrosse head coach. He also taught English at Choate Rosemary Hall (where he attended high school) and coached lacrosse at Wesleyan University, where he earned a master’s degree in liberal studies and a bachelor’s degree in government. He began his career as a senior mutual fund analyst at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in New York City. Smith and his wife Reid, also a teacher, have one child. They moved to Massachusetts in 2017 so that Reid could pursue her Ph.D. at the Lynch School of Education and human development at Boston College.
The finalists will come back to campus for three-day, comprehensive visits in January. During these visits, candidates will bring their spouse/partners and families to Killington, as well. On the evening of their arrival, the candidates will attend a dinner with members of the KMS Board of Trustees. On the following day, candidates will have one-on-one meetings with each member of the school’s administration, as well as meetings with academic department chairs and athletic program directors. Additionally, the candidates will meet with members of the KMS Parents’ Association, the Killington Resort staff, and the Killington Ski Club. On the final day of the visits, candidates will meet with the search committee, students, and will observe both training and classes. Spouses and family members will take part in campus tours, in the Trustees dinner, tour local real estate and job options, and tag along to observe training and/or classes.
“We are confident that each of these three candidates is incredibly capable, possesses critical skills needed in the role, and is well-worth a return visit,” Hone said.
