Lots of Mid - Atlantic Head of School changes in past year . Some leadership transitions long scheduled, such as Milbrook and St. Andrew’s ( DE ) retirements , others not for various reasons . Wonder how the Head changes will change the Schools going forward ? -
It’s been rough all over.
Being a HOS throughout covid has been massively challenging. Trying to maintain the value proposition of BS (residential community, lots of attention to students, excellent academics, good fit college placement) has been so hard! Travel bans, maintaining student and faculty health, distance and/or modified learning, unusual college admissions year – all with changing rules, unhappy students and parents, fearful faculty – all of it understandable but requiring an even-keeled response – wow. Exhausting and no-win!
It makes sense that it was a year of change!
Tabor got a news HOS also
In New England, Concord Academy seems to be in the final stages of its HOS search.
I noticed that. Was the last HOS’s departure abrupt?
No first-hand knowledge. Based on website, Interim HOS started Nov 2020…
One of the current finalists was HOS at Mercersburg.
Millbrook’s Head retired after about 25 years leading the school. His successor has been at the school for about 10 years (and graduated from it too). This transition has been in the works for at least 3 years and is therefore well thought out, and going seamlessly. In other words, it’s not a sudden thing, or caused by some sort of crisis.
Big shoes to fill at Millbrook - Drew was a very charismatic leader. He was always really nice to the parents and students I knew there. Very good HOS for over 25 years.
Stephan Murray of Lawrenceville is among the best HOS’s not only among Mid Atlantic schools but among New England schools as well. He comes across as an unpretentious, super cool dude.
He also has the best moustache among them 
Seriously though, I’ve really enjoyed his presence. He’s at literally every school event (and often even shows up to random athletic practices), and you often see him just riding his bike around campus waving to everyone.
While I can’t say he hasn’t had controversy, he’s definitely top tier.
