Dear Harding Academy Community,
The Harding Academy Board of Trustees is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Tim Boyd as Harding Academy’s next Head of School, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Boyd currently serves as Associate Head of School and Academic Dean at Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) in Nashville and brings a dynamic combination of faculty leadership, strategic vision, administrative oversight, teaching excellence, and a deep commitment to student development. The Board unanimously approved Dr. Boyd’s appointment following an extensive national search and an enthusiastic recommendation by our Head of School Search Committee.
Dr. Boyd’s wealth of experience aligns seamlessly with Harding’s mission and values. Among the attributes that drew him to Harding were our Community Code and our belief in developing students across academics, athletics, and the arts in a nurturing environment. At MBA, he has led academic programming for grades 7–12 since 2015, overseeing faculty development, student scheduling, and strategic initiatives for 850 students. He also has been an integral leader in various visionary initiatives and programs, including accreditation and strategic planning and MBA’s renowned Wilson Grant Program. A dedicated educator and coach, he continues to teach history and has held positions at the middle school, high school, and college levels, including serving as a lecturer at Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Boyd holds a Ph.D. in History from Vanderbilt University. He also earned an M.A. in U.S. History and a B.A. in Modern History & Economics with First Class Honors from the University of Oxford. Dr. Boyd is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Independent School Leadership at Vanderbilt, with expected completion in 2025. He and his wife, Dr. Jeeyeon Cha, have two daughters, Eva (6) and Lia (3), who we are eager to welcome to our community, as well.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we would like to extend our gratitude to our Head of School Search Committee Co-chairs, Michelle Augusty and Ben Heavrin, and all the members of our Search Committee for their tireless efforts. In addition, we are deeply appreciative of our consultants at ST Search & Consulting, our exceptional Head of School Search Advisory Group, and the members of the Harding Academy community who contributed to the search process. We commend everyone involved for their commitment and dedication to ensuring the integrity of the process.
Over the next several weeks, the Board will be working closely with Dr. Boyd and partnering with our Interim Head of School Consultant Micheline Dutil to develop a robust transition plan. We are fortunate to have this runway to create a smooth transition and enable Dr. Boyd to hit the ground running next summer. We will share more information about this transition plan and opportunities for you to engage with Dr. Boyd in the coming months.
We are energized by what lies ahead and ask you to join us in warmly welcoming the Boyd family to our community.
Sincerely,
Jeff Moats
President, Board of Trustees
It is both a great honor and a very exciting prospect to serve as the next Head of School at Harding Academy. I am deeply grateful to the Search Committee and the Board of Trustees for this opportunity, and also to the students, faculty, staff, and parents I was able to meet during my time on campus this spring. You were not only universally warm and welcoming to me and my family, but also conveyed your deep love and passion for all that happens here in ways large and small.
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A Message from Dr. Tim Boyd
Dear Harding Community,
It is both a great honor and a very exciting prospect to serve as the next Head of School at Harding Academy. I am deeply grateful to the Search Committee and the Board of Trustees for this opportunity, and also to the students, faculty, staff, and parents I was able to meet during my time on campus this spring. You were not only universally warm and welcoming to me and my family, but also conveyed your deep love and passion for all that happens here in ways large and small.Whether it was hearing about what the school means to those who teach and work here, attended Harding themselves, or send their children here; observing the spirit and energy that was present in every classroom I had a chance to visit; experiencing the infectious joy of watching the kindergarten play; or the more personal delight of seeing cricket equipment laid out for the boys and girls to use at PE, there was one universal constant that permeated every encounter across these past few months: Harding is a special place whose impact on people’s lives transcends any one area or element of the school and lasts well beyond the time spent on campus.
Over the next year, I hope to meet and get to know many more of you and to work closely with Micheline, the Board, and everyone at the school to be ready to jump right in next July. It will be my core mission as Head of School to preserve the things that make Harding special so that it will always be a place where students are encouraged to excel in the classroom, are valued and supported as individuals, are given the opportunity to develop their artistic and athletic talents, and – above all – become caring and well-rounded citizens who will go on to achieve great things for themselves and their communities.
I cannot wait to get started.
Tim Boyd
Inspiring The Mind • Nurturing The Spirit