Dear Harding Community,

As I  begin my journey as Head of School at Harding Academy, my overriding sentiment is one of immense gratitude for all those who have paved the way to where the school stands today. A defining feature of Harding is the remarkable sense of community that is a direct result of the dedication, wisdom, and care of not only the current leaders, educators, board members, and families, but also all those who came before us. The result is a school built around guiding and developing young people at a critical stage in their academic and personal journeys and, above all, caring for and supporting them and their families throughout their time here. 

It is because of this mission that this is a school that people carry in their hearts long after they leave, and I fully recognize that serving as Head of School brings with it both the significant responsibility of maintaining all that makes this such a special place, and also the opportunity to build on these incredible foundations to ensure we continue to provide the best possible education and experience to the Harding Hawks of the future.

Thanks to this same legacy, it is also from a position of strength that we can look ahead to what is next. In the coming years, a primary focus of mine will be championing and celebrating the value and impact of our PreK-8 experience. I firmly believe this model provides a foundational, beautifully balanced environment where children are given the rare grace to truly be children while also being thoroughly prepared for the opportunities and challenges of the world ahead. Ensuring our students continue to thrive in this unique setting will always be at the heart of our mission.

Simultaneously, there is a tremendous amount of momentum on campus to think creatively and innovatively about the future, and I am very excited that work will begin this year on developing a new strategic plan for Harding. That will provide the ideal opportunity for us to come together, as a community of parents, alumni, trustees, students, and faculty, and thoughtfully map out a future that both honors our legacy and mission while also providing us with the impetus to think boldly about how to craft the next generation of educational excellence.

In short, there is much to look forward to, and I am eager to lead this journey with you all. Whether you are a current family, an alumnus returning home, or a prospective parent discovering our vibrant campus for the first time, I look forward to working with and getting to know you as we shape the future of Harding together.