Saint Ignatius College Prep interview questions

I applied for a leadership position after seeing the posting on LinkedIn and was contacted the next day for a Zoom interview with the principal. Immediately after that conversation, I was invited to campus for an extended interview process that lasted approximately three to four hours and included meetings with multiple faculty members and administrators. After investing that time and following up with thank-you notes to both the principal and the person coordinating the interviews, I received no further communication from the school. No update, no timeline, no rejection, and no acknowledgment of my follow-up. I later learned through a third party that the position had been filled by an internal candidate. The lack of communication was disappointing, especially given the significant time commitment involved in the interview process. I also had a personal connection to the school through relatives who are alumni, and an alumni friend submitted a letter of recommendation on my behalf to the principal. To my knowledge, that recommendation was never acknowledged either. I understand that schools often hire internal candidates, and that is their prerogative. However, candidates who are invited to participate in a lengthy, in-person interview process deserve timely and respectful communication. A brief update or formal closure would have reflected much better on the institution and its values.