Abington Friends School is delighted to announce that Nicole Hood has been appointed as their 10th Head of School. Nicole is currently the Director of Upper School at the Bryn Mawr School in Auburn, MA, and has served in leadership roles in independent schools for over 15 years.
Abington Friends School (AFS) is one of the oldest schools in the nation. AFS is located on a 64-acre campus just north of Philadelphia and serves over 600 co-educational students in grades PK-12.
Cathedral Preparatory School & Villa Maria Academy (VMCPCSS) is delighted to announce the appointment of Kevin Moore as their next Vice President of Advancement. Kevin comes to VMCPCSS from Pennsylvania State University at Erie, where he has been the Director of Development and Alumni Relations for The Behrend College since 2017.
Located in Erie, PA, the Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System includes both Cathedral Preparatory School (Cathedral Prep) and Mother Teresa Academy (MTA), two schools with a total enrollment of 854 students in grades K-8 (MTA) and 9-12 (Cathedral Prep).
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School is thrilled to announce that Cassandra Batson will be their next Middle School Principal. Cassandra is currently the Director of Upper School STEM and the Middle School Math and Science Department Chair at CESJDS, where she began as a teacher in 2011.
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School delivers an exemplary and inspiring general and Jewish education to 870 students in grades JK-12, and is widely recognized as one of the leading Jewish day schools in the country. Situated on two campuses, CESJDS is the only pluralistic JK-12 community school in the Washington, DC area.
Christian Brothers Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. R. Ross Fales as the fourth president in school history. He will be the first lay president of the Academy when his term officially begins in July 2022. Fales has served as the Academy’s principal since 2015. During his tenure as principal, Fales has guided CBA to several accomplishments, most notably earning the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2017. It was the second time in school history that CBA earned the award and was one of just 50 high schools nationally to receive the accommodation that year. After graduating Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, Fales’ career in education began as a science teacher and swimming coach at several New Jersey high schools, before joining the CBA. Fales has 16 years of experience in school administration, earning his first role at CBA as Dean of Students in 2006. He was quickly elevated to Associate Principal for Student Affairs in 2007, where he oversaw discipline, student life, service programs, and athletics. He earned his master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University.
Christian Brothers Academy was founded in 1959 and is located in Monmouth County, New Jersey on 157 acres. Taught in the Catholic, Lasallian tradition, CBA is home to 880 boys in grades 9-12. A two-time National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, CBA provides a contemporary and balanced Catholic education for young men. With a rich and rigorous curriculum, programs of spiritual formation, and a broad range of academic, athletic, and cultural activities, CBA enables students to become intellectually mature and morally responsible leaders for the Church and society.
Cornerstone Christian Academy is thrilled to announce the appointment of Brandon McNeice as their next Head of School. Brandon is the founder of Tack Educational Consulting in Princeton, NJ, and currently serves as its Managing Director. He previously worked at BASIS Independent Schools in New York and California, and has served in admissions roles at a number of academic institutions.
Cornerstone Christian Academy, a non-denominational Christian school serving students in grades K-8, is a place filled with hope for children. Through individual and corporate giving, all students receive annual scholarship support of up to 90% of the cost of attendance.
The Craig School is pleased to announce that Susan Schmitt will be their next Head of School. She comes to the Craig School from Greenwood School, a private boarding and day school in Vermont for students in grades 6-12 with language-based learning disabilities, where she currently serves as the Assistant Head of School and Dean of Academic Affairs.
Located in a lovely residential area just over 30 miles west of New York City, the Craig School provides 150 students in grades 2-12 with a strategy-based, comprehensive, and challenging school experience that acknowledges their learning disabilities, builds on their aptitudes, and strengthens their self-awareness and self-esteem.
The Episcopal Academy's Center for Teaching and Learning is delighted to announce that Justin Cerenzia will be their next Buckley Executive Director Chair for Teaching and Learning. Justin currently serves as the Dean of Teaching and Learning and Director of the Merck Center for Teaching at St. George's School in Middletown, RI.
The Episcopal Academy is a co-educational day school for 1,300 students in grades PK-12. The school’s Center for Teaching and Learning, which was founded in 2017, seeks to provide teachers with the foundation to maximize every opportunity for students to learn by fostering community collaboration, offering tailored support, and encouraging sustained growth in teaching.
Friends School of Baltimore is pleased to announce Malcolm Green-Haynes as their next Chief Financial and Operating Officer. Malcolm currently serves as Assistant Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Business Officer for Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.
Founded in 1784 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Friends School of Baltimore is the city’s oldest school and one of the first in the nation. Friends School of Baltimore provides a ‘vigorous education’ in a warm and intimate environment to over 800 students from early childhood through high school graduation.
Friends School of Baltimore is pleased to announce Rasha El-Haggan as their next Assistant Head of School for Academics. Rasha currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Professional Growth at Sandy Spring Friends School, where she has been since 2018.
Serving 850 students in grades PK-12, Friends School of Baltimore is the oldest school in Baltimore. Friends is a Quaker school that exists to foster in young people the skills, knowledge, and habits of mind needed to partner with their communities and to be courageous change-makers in the world.
George School is delighted to announce the appointment of Mb Duckett Ireland as their next Dean of Student and Community Life. Mb currently serves as the Dean of Students at Holderness School in Holderness, NH, and was previously at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT.
George School is a Quaker boarding and day school for nearly 550 students in grades 9-12. George School sits on a 240-acre campus that is both grand and intimate, with more than 40 countries represented among the the school’s student body.
Holton-Arms School is delighted to announce the appointment of Barbara Eghan as their new Associate Head of School. Barbara comes to Holton-Arms from Georgetown Day School, where she has served in a number of roles since 2014, including as Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid and, most recently, as Director of Strategic Partnerships.
Holton-Arms School is a college preparatory school for 650 girls in grades 3-12. The school’s mission is to cultivate the unique potential of young women through the “education not only of the mind, but of the soul and spirit.”
Holton-Arms School is delighted to announce that Julia Grandison will be their permanent Academic Dean, starting in July 2023. Julia, who has been an English teacher at Holton-Arms School since 2002 and Chair of the English Department since 2015, has served as interim Academic Dean throughout the 2022 school year.
Located on 57 acres in Bethesda, MD, Holton-Arms School is an independent college preparatory school for 665 young women in grades 3-12. The school’s mission is to cultivate the unique potential of young women through the “education not only of the mind, but of the soul and spirit.”
Holy Child School at Rosemont is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian McBride as their next Head of School. Brian currently serves as the Associate Head for Community Life and Strategic Initiatives at Concord Academy, and brings with him over 30 years of experience in independent school education.
Located in a suburban community just 10 miles west of Philadelphia, Holy Child School at Rosemont is an independent, co-educational, Catholic school welcoming students from every faith. Holy Child School at Rosemont serves 320 students in grades PK-8.
Madeira School is delighted to announce the appointment of Christina Kay Kyong as their 11th Head of School. Christina brings over 30 years of educational experience to Madeira, including her most recent role as Associate Head of Wildwood School in Los Angeles, CA.
The Madeira School is an independent boarding and day school for 336 girls in grades 9-12. The school’s breathtaking 376-acre campus on a rural bluff over the Potomac, 10 miles west of the nation’s capital, actively fuels Madeira’s academic vision and enriches its learning community.
McLean School is delighted to announce that Barry Davis will be their next Head of School. Barry comes to McLean School from St. Anne’s Episcopal School in Middletown, DE, where he currently serves as Head of School.
McLean School is a co-educational, college preparatory school for nearly 500 students in grades K-12. The school’s mission is to make education accessible, stimulating, and meaningful to a broad range of bright learners.
Moravian Academy is pleased to announce that Elyse McGovern will be their new Director of Enrollment Management. Elyse is currently the Director of Admissions and Placement at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, PA, and has served in admissions roles at Kutztown University, East Stroudsburg University, and DeSales University.
Moravian Academy is a co-educational, college preparatory school for over 900 students in grades PK-12, located on three campuses in Bethlehem, PA. Moravian is a school with a storied history and is committed to timeless traditions and values, with its sights set on the future.
Dr. Viviana Valdes-Santos will join National Cathedral School in July as the new Head of Upper School. For the last 21 years, Dr. Valdes-Santos has taught in the language department at Phillips Exeter. She currently serves as the Robert Kesler Distinguished Professor in Modern Languages and instructs all levels of French, Spanish, and Italian language classes. Prior to Phillips Exeter Academy, Dr. Valdes-Santos worked in prominent girls’ schools Dana Hall and the Agnes Irwin School. She also spent time at the undergraduate level, teaching at Rutgers University, St. Joseph University, and the University of Delaware. She holds a BA from Georgetown University, an MA from Middlebury College, and a PhD in French literature from Rutgers University.
National Cathedral School (NCS) is an independent Episcopal private day school for girls in grades 4-12 located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. NCS has about 580 students. Its brother school, St. Albans, and the shared coeducational elementary school, Beauvoir, are also located on the 57-acre Cathedral Close in Northwest Washington. NCS is an educational community which inspires each student to become her best self. The NCS program is designed to capture students’ intellectual curiosity and fuel their academic, artistic, athletic, and personal growth.
The National Cathedral School in Washington, DC is thrilled to announce Lara Ponomareff as their next Head of Strategic Marketing and Communications. She brings over 16 years of experience to NCS, and most recently ran a research and product development consulting business where her clients included arts organizations and the sports business industry.
Founded in 1900, National Cathedral School is an independent, college-preparatory, Episcopal day school for girls in grades 4-12. Steeped in tradition and a strong belief in the power of young women, the education at NCS is designed to capture students’ curiosity and fuel their academic, artistic, athletic, and personal growth.
National Cathedral School is an independent day school for 590 girls in grades 4-12. Located in northwest Washington, DC, NCS is situated on the 59-acre Cathedral Close with Beauvoir School and St. Albans School. Founded in 1900, NCS was built before the Cathedral itself. NCS believes in the power of young women. They gain an awareness of different viewpoints and ideas and learn to work with people in a variety of settings. The NCS program is designed to capture students’ intellectual curiosity and fuel their academic, artistic, athletic, and personal growth.
Norfolk Academy is delighted to welcome Travis Larrabee as their next Head of School. Travis comes to Norfolk Academy from William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, PA, where he has been since 2007. He most recently served as Assistant Head of School.
Founded in 1728, Norfolk Academy is the oldest independent school in Virginia and one of the premier independent schools in the nation. Situated on a 70-acre campus, the school serves approximately 1200 co-educational students in grades 1-12.
One Schoolhouse is pleased to announce that Sarah Wike will be the next Senior Director of their Academic Program. Sarah currently serves as the Director of Educational Technology at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC, where she has been since 2017.
One Schoolhouse is a non-profit organization that acts as a partner to independent schools, envisioning and expressing what is next in education, online learning, and professional development. One Schoolhouse builds partnerships that meet schools where they are and works collaboratively with them.
Perkiomen School is pleased to announce that Sandra “Sandi” Abraham will be their next Director of Enrollment Management. Sandi comes to Perkiomen from Lancaster Country Day School in Lancaster, PA, where she has been the Director of Admissions since 2018.
Perkiomen School is an independent boarding and day school enrolling 320 students in grades 6-12 and post-graduates in an academic and co-curricular program that endeavors to balance the search for a fulfilling life with the demands of the new economy.
Roland Park Country School is delighted to announce Elizabeth Elizardi as their Assistant Head of School for Academics and Programs, beginning July 2023. Elizabeth comes to RPCS from the Agnes Irwin School in Bryn Mawr, PA, where she has served as Lower School Head since 2019.
Roland Park Country School is an independent all-girls college preparatory school serving 600 students in grades PK-12. In a diverse, inclusive and joyful community, RPCS strives to instill in its students a lifelong love of learning, as well as the responsibility to look within and beyond themselves to contribute to and serve as stewards and leaders of their communities.
Sacred Heart Academy is thrilled to announce the appointment of Carla Jantos MacMullen as their next Head of School, effective this July. Carla comes to SHA with over 30 years of independent school faculty and leadership experience, including as Science Department Chair and Dean of Faculty at the Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut. Most recently, she served as Head of School at the Kew-Forest School in Forest Hills, New York, where she ably guided the school through both the COVID pandemic and significant operational improvements. Carla holds a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from Denison University and a master's in education in private school leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University.
Sacred Heart Academy, located on the Main Line in Bryn Mawr, PA, is a highly selective, independent, private, Catholic school for girls. Serving 232 students in grades K-12, SHA was first established in 1865 by the Society of the Sacred Heart, and is currently a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. SHA educates college-bound women by cultivating their self-confidence, guiding them to realize their personal and scholastic potential and their responsibility to others, and by preparing them to meet life’s challenges, all within an academic and religiously diverse community that focuses on spiritual values and the individual student.
Serviam Girls Academy is pleased to announce that Jacqueline Barnett will be their next President. Jacqueline has been an independent consultant for the Salvation Army for over a decade, and recently also served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Register of Wills Office in Philadelphia, PA.
The mission of Serviam Girls Academy is to provide quality education to 60 underserved middle school girls in grades 5-8. The school’s small class sizes (12-18 students) are intentionally designed to foster a strong, nurturing community and allow for individualized attention.
Serviam Girls Academy is delighted to announce the appointment of Heather Brooks as their next Principal. Heather comes to Serviam from the Tatnall School in Wilmington, DE, where she has served in a number of roles since 2010, including as Tatnall's Innovation and STEM Coordinator and as a member of the advancement team.
Steeped in the Ursuline tradition and part of a Nativity Miguel network, Serviam Girls Academy is part of a 45-year tradition of providing a high-quality middle school education to approximately 60 young women with great potential but limited resources.
Sewickley Academy is delighted to announce the appointment of Heather Hoffman as their next Director of Enrollment Management. Heather has worked in the University of Pittsburgh Office of Admissions and Financial Aid for over 20 years, and has been the Office’s Director of Visitor Engagement since 2017.
Sewickley Academy is one of Western Pennsylvania’s leading PK-12 independent schools and its oldest (1838). It is distinguished by its rigorous academics, outstanding faculty, and student-centered approach to teaching and learning, challenging children to explore and excel.
Shady Side Academy (SSA) is pleased to welcome Michelle Merson as their next Middle School Head. Michelle comes to SSA from the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica, CA, where she has worked since 1996. She has been the Head of Middle School at Crossroads since 2016.
Shady Side Academy is a nationally respected, co-educational independent school for over 1100 students in grades PK-12, providing a holistic educational experience grounded in the school’s foundational principles of honestly, kindness, responsibility, respect, and safety.
Sheridan School is proud to announce Courtney Martin as their next Head of School, effective July 2023. Courtney comes to Sheridan from the Collegiate School in Richmond, VA, where she has served as the Associate Head of School since 2021. Prior to this, she was the Lower School Director at the Hawken School, a PK-12 school in Gates Mills, OH, for five years. Courtney has an exceptional track record in teaching and leadership roles in many independent schools, including Bishop John T. Walker School of Boys, the Lovett School, and St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School. She received her B.A. in sociology from Hampton University, her M.S.W. from the University of Georgia, and her M.A. in elementary education and teaching from Lesley University.
Founded in 1927, Sheridan School is a progressive, co-educational independent school for 230 students in grades K-8. Each grade has about 25 students, with two teachers in each homeroom. Sheridan has both a city campus located in Washington, DC and a 130-acre mountain campus in the Shenandoah Mountains, where students are provided with the opportunity to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Sheridan’s mission is to create an inclusive, vibrant learning community that challenges itself to live the ideal of respect for oneself, others, and the environment.
The Shipley School is delighted to welcome Chantra Reinman as their next Middle School Head. She currently serves as the Director of Inclusion at the American International School in Lusaka, Zambia, where she has been since 2020.
The Shipley School, a co-educational, independent day school for 800 students in grades PK-12, is committed to educational excellence and dedicated to developing in each student a love of learning and a compassionate participation in the world.
The Shipley School is pleased to announce the appointment of Rebekah Adens as their next Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Rebekah brings over a decade of experience as an administrator across a variety of educational spaces, including her current position as the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Merion Mercy Academy in Merion Station, PA.
The Shipley School is an independent, co-educational day school for 800 students in grades PK-12. For more than 125 years, Shipley has inspired and prepared thousands of students to make meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
Sidwell Friends School is pleased to announce that Lawrence “Larry” Momo will serve as their Interim Director of College Counseling for the 2023-24 school year. Larry was previously the Director of College Counseling at New York’s Trinity School, where he served from 1994-2022.
Founded in 1883 as a Quaker, co-educational, urban day school, Sidwell Friends School continues to center Quaker values in its educational program and practices. Sidwell enrolls over 1100 students in grades PK-12, with just over 500 students in the Upper School.
Sisters Academy of Baltimore is delighted to announce Kaliq Hunter Simms as their next President. Kaliq will join Sisters Academy from Higher Learning Group, LLC, an educational consulting company that she founded to partner with schools and nonprofit organizations to create healthy learning environments for all students.
Founded by four congregations of religious sisters, Sisters Academy of Baltimore is a faith-based independent school for girls in grades 5-8. Established in 2004, the school’s goal is to provide academically talented and motivated middle school girls who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend an independent school an excellent education and a launching pad for success in high school and beyond.
St. Christopher's School is pleased to announce that Jake Westermann will be their next Upper School Head. Jake currently serves as the Director of Student Life at the Potomac School in McLean, VA, where he has been since 2018.
Enrolling approximately 1,000 boys in grades JK-12, with 376 students in the Upper School, St. Christopher’s School is committed to cultivating a school community that is diverse, inclusive, and welcoming, and prides itself on bringing out the best in every boy.
St. Christopher’s School is delighted to announce the appointment of Allyson Diljohn as their next Director of College Counseling. Allyson comes to St. Christopher's School from Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, FL, where she has served in the College Counseling Office since 2012.
For over a century, St. Christopher’s School has served the Richmond community as the premier college preparatory school for young men. St. Christopher’s enrolls approximately 1,000 students in grades JK-12 and is a committed global leader, offering their students exemplary academic and extracurricular programs.
The Janus School is delighted to announce Heather Strunk as their new Head of School, beginning July 2023. Heather joined the Janus School in 2010 as a Language Arts teacher, and became Director of Academics in 2015. She brings a wealth of knowledge and innovative ideas to her role as the next Head of the Janus School.
The Janus School is the only school dedicated to educating students with learning differences in south central Pennsylvania. Built on a beautiful 40-acre campus in Mount Joy, PA, the school serves students in grades K-12+ diagnosed with a language- or math-based learning disability, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), executive function difficulties (EFD), nonverbal learning disorder, or auditory processing disorder.
The Miquon School is pleased to announce the appointment of K. Geetha Holdsworth as their next Head of School. She comes to Miquon from Bosque Preparatory School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she served as the Academic Dean.
The Miquon School is located in the forested Wissahickon Valley, just a few miles outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Miquon provides a student-centered, nurturing environment for roughly 150 children, ages 3 to 12.
The Philadelphia School is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sheri Ride Jobe as their next Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Sheri comes to The Philadelphia School from the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA, where she most recently served as the Interim Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
A progressive, co-educational day school of over 400 students in grades PK-8, The Philadelphia School has a long-standing and deep commitment to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. TPS is located and growing on two closely proximate campuses in the Fitler Square area of Philadelphia.
The Woods Academy is thrilled to announce the appointment of Jessica Palladino as their next Head of School. Jessica comes to The Woods Academy from Rolling Terrace Elementary School in Takoma Park, MD, where she has been since 2015.
Distinctive as the only independent, co-educational, PK-8 Catholic school in the nation’s capital, The Woods Academy is an inclusive community preparing its students to lead lives of significance. The Woods is a renowned Montessori preschool and high school preparatory school educating 320 students.
Wilmington Friends School is delighted to announce that ShaQuan Buffaloe will be their next Director of Finance and Operations. ShaQuan has worked in non-profits for over 20 years, including most recently as the Executive Vice President of Finance for the YMCA of Delaware.
Wilmington Friends School (WFS) is a Quaker school with high standards for academic achievement. Located on a 55-acre campus and approaching its 275th anniversary, WFS enrolls nearly 750 students in grades PK-12.
Woodlynde School is thrilled to announce the appointment of Gregory “Greg” Martin as their next Head of School. Greg currently serves as the Assistant Head of School at Ranney School in Tinton Falls, NJ, and has previously served in leadership roles at La Jolla Country Day School and Cincinnati Country Day School.
Woodlynde School is an independent, co-educational school for students in grades K-12 that is nationally recognized for its expertise in serving students with language or math-based learning differences, executive function challenges, ADHD, auditory processing disorder, or a need for a small classroom environment.
Wyoming Seminary is thrilled to announce that Keith Fischer will be their inaugural Director of Enrollment Management. Keith comes to Wyoming Seminary from Newark Academy in Livingston, NJ, where he has served as Director of Enrollment Management since 2018.
Located just two hours from New York City and Philadelphia, Wyoming Seminary (or “Sem”) is a co-educational, K-12, day and boarding school of 820 students. Sem is known as a school that encourages its faculty and students to celebrate individuality as well as academic, athletic, and artistic excellence.