Recent Appointments

Miranda Thorman has been appointed as the Assistant Head of School for Academics at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco, CA. 12M & Ed Tech Recruiting assisted with this retained search.

Congratulations to Zahir Robb on being named Director of Enrollment Strategy at Sequoyah School in Pasadena, CA! An accomplished enrollment leader, Zahir brings a strong record of developing mission-aligned strategies that strengthen enrollment pipelines, deepen market insight, and expand access for a broader range of families. With a background spanning school leadership, admissions, and governance, he is skilled at connecting long-term institutional priorities with thoughtful outreach and planning. Our deep thanks to Head of School Rebecca Hong for her partnership in this work.

Deerfield Associates are pleased to share the announcement that Ben Landis will be joining Moravian Academy, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as the Director of Strategic Campaign Initiatives and Major Gifts.

Congratulations to Dr. Joseph Valentine-White on being named Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Lowell School in Washington, DC! An experienced DEIB educator and community builder, Joe brings extensive experience designing and leading initiatives that strengthen belonging, student voice, and inclusive practice across school communities. He is especially known for his work developing meaningful faculty learning experiences, supporting affinity spaces, and helping schools embed equity and inclusion into both curriculum and daily practice. We are grateful to Head of School Donna Lindner and the Lowell leadership team for their thoughtful engagement throughout this search.

We are excited to announce that Charlie Housiaux '02 will be our next Assistant Head of Upper School. 

Congratulations to Cassandra Gonzales, Ed.D. on being named Director of Advancement and Enrollment at Children's Community School in Van Nuys, CA! A strategic and mission-driven leader, Cassandra brings more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of enrollment, communications, and community engagement. She is known for her ability to design thoughtful systems that support both institutional sustainability and authentic connection with families, while advancing equity and belonging across the school community. We are grateful to Head of School Azizi Williams for her care and leadership throughout this process.

Adam J. Lewis Academy has appointed Leah Pepe as Director of Development .

Congratulations to Wellesley Wilson, named the new Chief External Affairs and Strategic Partnerships Officer at Kent Place School in New Jersey!

We at Deerfield Associates are very pleased to share the announcement of Ryan Murphy being named as Vice President of Advancement for Nichols College, located in Dudley, Massachusetts. Ryan comes to Nichols College from Anna Maria College where he most recently served as Vice President for Advancement, and prior to that as a Major Gifts Officer for College of the Holy Cross. Before shifting to the education sector, Ryan spent the first 15 years of his career leading and motivating diverse and regional sales teams in the private sector. Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree from Assumption University where he also earned an MBA. In addition, he earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Nichols College.

Congratulations to Kailan Boston, MSAA on being named Director of Athletics at University Lake School in Hartland, WI! A dynamic and community-driven leader, Kailan brings more than a decade of experience building and strengthening athletic programs that center student growth, character, and inclusive participation. He has a strong record of creating clarity and cohesion within athletic programs, while cultivating an environment where relationships, personal growth, and a strong sense of purpose remain at the center. We appreciate Head of School John Dewis and CFO Melissa Benson for their collaboration on this search.
 

Congratulations to Mateo Reyes, named the new Director of Middle School at Chandler School in California!

Congratulations to Shakirat Taylor on being named Director of Teaching and Learning at American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) in South Africa! Shakirat brings extensive experience leading complex academic systems with a focus on curriculum alignment, instructional practice, and professional learning. She is especially skilled at helping schools build coherence across divisions while supporting educators through coaching, collaboration, and clear instructional vision. Thank you to School Director Michael Schooler and the AISJ leadership team for their partnership and shared commitment to a successful search.

Today, Head of School Joy McGrath ’92 announced that Stacy Jagodowski will join her leadership team on July 1 as chief communications officer. In this vital role, Jagodowski will lead the school’s strategic communications efforts, shaping how St. Andrew’s communicates its mission and distinctiveness to stakeholders and new audiences. She will partner closely with senior leadership to advance the school’s mission, strengthen its institutional voice, and deepen engagement across the global St. Andrew’s community.

IndySchool Consultancy and Cheverus High School are thrilled to announce the appointment of David St.Pierre as the next CFO, beginning July 1, 2026. Dave currently serves as Director of Business and Administrative Services at Colby College, where he oversees financial planning, capital budgeting, and operational support for facilities and campus services. In this role, he has strengthened financial processes, improved reporting structures, and supported more effective, data-informed decision-making across the organization.

Congratulations to Stacey McShane (Koch) on being named the Director of Development at The Waverly School in Pasadena, CA! A dynamic advancement leader with a strong track record of building and growing mission-aligned fundraising programs, Stacey brings deep experience in major gifts, strategic communications, and community engagement. 

Congratulations to Brandon Zall on being named Lower School Head at University Lake School in Hartland, WI! A thoughtful and systems-oriented school leader, Brandon brings a strong track record of building cohesive learning environments, developing faculty, and designing programs that support both academic growth and student well-being. With experience spanning K–12 settings, he is especially skilled at translating a school’s philosophy into clear structures, strong relationships, and a culture where both students and educators thrive. We are grateful to Head of School John Dewis and CFO Melissa Benson for their engagement throughout the search process.

Congratulations to Nina Candia on being named Head of High School at Edmund Burke School in Washington, DC! A thoughtful and student-centered school leader, Nina brings a strong background in faculty mentorship, cross-divisional collaboration, and the design of inclusive academic programs. She is especially known for her visible and relational leadership style, building meaningful connections with students, families, and colleagues while fostering a culture of curiosity, belonging, and shared purpose. We are grateful to Head of School Steve McManus for his engagement throughout this search.

IndySchool Consultancy and The Kew-Forest School are thrilled to announce the appointment of Victoria Felix as the next Director of Development, beginning July 1, 2026. An experienced independent school advancement leader, Victoria currently serves as Associate Director of Advancement & Alumni Relations at De La Salle Academy in New York City. She brings over 20 years of experience in annual giving, alumni engagement, and advancement operations, with a strong record of increasing participation and strengthening donor programs.

IndySchool Consultancy and Midland School are thrilled to announce the appointment of Scott Crago as the next Academic Dean beginning July 1, 2026. Scott Crago is an experienced school leader and educator with a strong commitment to whole-child, experiential, and outdoor education. He comes to Midland from administration at Bosque School, where he focused on weaving experiential learning into all aspects of the curriculum. He is now excited to transfer his extensive experience to his work as Academic Dean at Midland School.

William Sutherland, appointed as Upper School Division Head at All Saints'​ Episcopal School

Please join us in congratulating Rebecca Strauss, Ph.D., on her new role as the Assistant Head of School at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. We know she will bring incredible value and vision to the CGPS community.

Gregg DiNardo appointed as Athletic Director at Deerfield Academy.

Congratulations to Kristine Stamp on being named Secondary Associate Principal at Hong Kong International School! An experienced international school administrator, Kristine brings a strong record of guiding secondary programs with a focus on instructional practice, teacher development, and continuous improvement. She is especially known for her work supervising and supporting faculty through clear feedback, aligned evaluation systems, and professional learning that strengthens both teaching practice and student outcomes within mission-driven, globally engaged school communities. 

IndySchool Consultancy and Maumee Valley Country Day School are thrilled to announce the appointment of John A. French as the next Head of Upper School beginning July 1, 2026. Mr. French currently serves as High School Director at St. George’s Episcopal School in Georgia, where he leads faculty, student life, and academic programming. He has strengthened school culture, supported faculty growth, and expanded experiential learning opportunities, all while maintaining a clear commitment to academic excellence and character development.

Deerfield Associates are pleased to share the following announcement made by Jessica Hooper, Head of School, Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, located in Newton, Massachusetts. “I am delighted to share that, following a thoughtful and highly competitive search process led by Doug Cooney and Deerfield Associates, I have appointed Joseph Vitale, CPA as Newton Country Day School’s next Chief Financial Officer.

Lauren Fields has been appointed Director of College Counseling at The Packer Collegiate Institute.

We are excited to announce that Patrick Noyes will be joining The Putney School as our new Director of Admission and Financial Aid starting this June. Patrick brings a wealth of experience in enrollment management, most recently serving as the Director of Operations at Putney Student Travel. His deep understanding of experiential learning and his commitment to progressive education make him a natural fit for our community. 

Wendi Patella announced the next Director of Marketing and Communications at Beaver Country Day School. We are very pleased to share the following announcement from Sarah Pelmas, Interim Head of School, at Beaver Country Day School located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. “After a nationwide search that yielded a very strong pool of applicants, I am pleased to announce that we have hired Wendi Patella as our next Director of Marketing and Communications.

Alex Halladay, appointed as Director of Enrollment Management at Cranbrook Schools.

Michelle Eriksen, appointed as Lower School Director at Greensboro Day School.

Will Powers, appointed as Chief Financial Officer at Brooks School.

Christ School is pleased to announce Jon as its new Athletic Director following a competitive national process.

Lee Greener, appointed as Dean of Admission at Deerfield Academy.

Loretta Owens has been appointed to be the Director of Culture and Community at Mid-Peninsula High School in Menlo Park, CA. Strategenius assisted with this search. 

Allendale Columbia School, Head of Lower School: Leah Corradi

Leah Corradi has been appointed to be the Head of Lower School at Allendale Columbia School in Rochester, NY. Educators Collaborative assisted with this search.

Bret Barnett has been appointed to be the Director of Student Affairs at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA. DovetailED assisted with this search.

Dr. Clark Wilson has been appointed to be the Director of Human Resources at The Hockaday School in Dallas, TX. DovetailED assisted with this search.

Aaryn Hogue has been appointed to be the Chief Financial Officer at St. Edmund's Academy in Pittsburgh, PA. IndySchool Consultancy assisted with this search. 

Nicole “Nikki” Chambers has been appointed to be the Director of Equity, Inclusion & Community at St. Luke's School in New Canaan, CT. Strategenius assisted with this search. 

Cathy Nadeau, CPA has been appointed to be the Chief Financial and Operations Officer at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT, effective July 1. Deerfield Associates assisted with this search. 

Jacqui Cameron appointed as Middle School Director at Episcopal Day School of St. Matthew in San Mateo, California. 

Tabor Academy is pleased to announce the appointment of Ryan Frost as the new Director of Athletics, effective July 1, 2026.

Frost brings more than 25 years of experience in independent school athletics, including 19 years as Director of Athletics at Cardigan Mountain School. Under his leadership, Cardigan became the first school in New England—and one of only a small number of schools nationally—to earn the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Quality Program Award at the Exemplary level.

Heather Rios has been appointed to be the Assistant Head of School for Academics at Vistamar School in El Segundo, CA. Strategenius assisted with this search. 

Anne Gegg has been appointed to be the Upper School Dean of Student Life at The Pike School in Andover, MA. Educational Directions assisted with this search. 

Mary-Knight Young has been appointed to be the Chief Advancement Officer at St. Mark's School in Southborough, MA. Deerfield Associates assisted with this search.

Dr. Rose Tyvand has been appointed to be the Assistant Head for Academic Affairs at San Domenico School in San Anselmo, CA. Strategenius assisted with this search.

Demetri Orlando has been appointed the next Director of Technology at The Field School in Washington, D.C. 12M & Ed Tech Recruiting assisted with this retained search.
 

Mrs. Jenny Cretin has been named Associate Head of School, extending her academic leadership across divisions while continuing to support our Middle School community.