HEAD OF SCHOOL SEARCH
On October 17, 2024, the Academy announced the appointment of J. Thomas “Tom” Woelper as Head of School effective January 1, 2025.
Head of School Search Committee
Members of the search committee include:
- Dr. James Kempton, Search Committee Chair, Trustee, Class of 2020 Parent
- Madeleine Bergstrom, Director of College Counseling
- Alex Conaway, Assistant Dean of Students
- Jim McCarthy, Director of Athletics
- Suparna Mody, Trustee, Class of 2000
- Courtney Sacchetti, Trustee, Class of 1993
- Todd Savage, Trustee, Class of 1998
- Praveen Savalgi, Trustee, Class of 2006
The head of school search committee has selected Educators Collaborative (EC), a national and international independent school consulting firm specializing in head of school and senior administrative searches. The highly experienced and dynamic trio, Nat Conard, Sally Mixsell, and Mary Seppala, will partner with CA to lead the effort. All three have worked in boarding schools, served
Nat grew up in Vermont on the campus of The Mountain School, a small boarding school which his parents founded in the early sixties. As long as he can remember, he worked the school farm surrounded by conversations about leadership and organizational change. He became fascinated with effectiveness: What makes some people really strong leaders while others, whose ideas might be just as good, struggle to get anything accomplished?
Nat found his first post-college job in a classified ad and began teaching in the New Hampshire public schools. Making barely enough to live on, he eventually decided to go to business school. Though he was not naive to what an MBA entailed, his first course in organizational behavior left him mind blown—not only could leadership be studied and developed, but the research confirmed what he had already observed: effective leadership begins by understanding what is important to the people within your organization.
After spending two-and-a-half years at Bain, one of the top strategic management consulting firms in the world, Nat began his independent school career as an administrator. Over the years, he has worn many hats: director of development, director of external affairs, department chair, academic dean, director of technology, unofficial CFO, assistant head of school, and head of school. Analytical, discerning, and full of humor, Nat’s Vermont roots and unusual career path have made him an expert at growing things. From plants to people, teams, and organizations: Nat can plant a seed and do everything it takes to help it thrive.
Sally Mixsell (Mike’-sul) always knew she would become a teacher. Her favorite birthday present was the blackboard her parents gave her when she was seven. (Her little sister was not so charmed by the gift as she was relegated to being Sally’s student for hours on end.)
While she never thought she would become a school administrator, Sally was always intrigued by how schools work. This fascination led her to zero in on the topic of leadership: she developed several leadership programs for students; moved into academic administration; headed academic institutes; and eventually, designed and taught in a graduate degree program for independent school leaders. Ultimately, she became the guiding head of her alma mater.
Through it all, Sally has been known for balancing hard work with good fun. She is forthright, embraces change, and thinks through the lens of possibility. After 44 years serving schools, Sally joined EC knowing there was still so much more she wanted to do. At the heart of her efforts is a reverence for the miracles of education— miracles made possible by leaders who listen deeply, work purposefully, and care about kids.
Mary Seppala feels most alive when she is deeply immersed in understanding the culture of a school. The variety of schools she has represented in her search work is intentional, seeking out the uniqueness of each environment and allowing her to work with each school community to define their future leadership needs. A teacher, counselor, special education administrator, and school leader, Mary understands schools from a Board, faculty, student, and parent perspective. She welcomes challenge, as demonstrated in her role as the first American and first woman to lead Munich International School (the first IB World school) and then transition to all-girls leadership at The Agnes Irwin School on the Main Line in Philadelphia.
Social justice education is in Mary’s DNA. She has worked in the Middle East, living in a Kurdish Village near the Syrian border; did projects in villages in Tanzania; and had a Fulbright exchange in Argentina. Her passion for multi-cultural work led her to develop the first anti-racist teaching program in a group of Philadelphia Independent Schools in 2013.
Mary is the only EC partner who spent 30 years in public education. Having worked in public, international, and independent schools at all levels—including teaching at the university level—she is masterful in the overlap of education and culture.
Search Updates
HOS Search Announcement
October 17, 2024
Jennifer Freedman, Board of Trustees Chair, announces Cheshire Academy's next Head of School.
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HOS Search Update
September 15, 2024
Dr. James Kempton P'20 announces information on the finalist interviews and campus updates.
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HOS Search Update
August 27, 2024
Dr. James Kempton P'20 announces updates on the recruitment stage, semi-finalists coming to campus, Educators Collaborative progress, and more.
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HOS Search Update
June 7, 2024
Dr. James Kempton P'20 announces updates on the active recruitment stage, IFC document, Educators Collaborative progress, and more.
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HOS Search Update
April 9, 2024
The Board of Trustees selects Dr. James Kempton P'20 as search committee chair, announces search committee members, and shares details on an upcoming campus visit from the search firm Educators Collaborative.
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Board of Trustees Statement
Chair Jennifer Freedman P'15
Board of Trustees Chair Jennifer Freedman P'15 shares that the Head of School Julie Anderson P'19,'23 will step away from her role at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.
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Head of School Statement
Head of School Julie Anderson P'19,'23
