Dear CDS Community,
We are pleased and honored to announce that Carolina Day School's Board of Trustees has unanimously selected Stephanie B. Whitney as the school's next Head of School, effective July 1, 2020. Stephanie is currently Head of School at The Mead School in Stamford, Connecticut, an independent school for infants through grade eight. Before joining Mead in 2015, Stephanie spent 11 years as Assistant Head of School at Greens Farms Academy, a Pre-K/12 independent college preparatory school in Westport, CT.
At The Mead School, Stephanie is viewed as a visionary and strategic thinker with strong financial acumen and outstanding interpersonal skills. She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the student experience as the heart of any decision. Stephanie's colleagues speak of her extraordinarily high ethics, approachability, and ease at building community. Stephanie has worked tirelessly at Mead to improve faculty morale, engage in community conversations, and strengthen all areas of program and curriculum.
Stephanie graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in Business and French, and she holds an M.B.A. from Harvard University. Stephanie, who is originally from Ohio, and her husband, John, have two grown sons.
We are thrilled to have Stephanie join Carolina Day School as our new Head of School. Stephanie is a natural leader and community builder, as demonstrated by her leadership at Mead and Greens Farms. She has the proven ability to collaborate and lead in all areas: academics, admissions, finance, advancement, and marketing. Stephanie is committed to continuing Carolina Day School's focus on supporting great faculty and academic excellence, and meeting the needs of each student. She is an innovative thinker who will successfully lead the school into the future.
The Carolina Day School community provided overwhelmingly high praise for Stephanie in the survey feedback: "She brings energy, excitement, and connection to all constituencies in our community," wrote one respondent. Another commented, "She understands what CDS needs and where we can go in the future. We'll work together to grow and improve under her guidance."
Interim Head of School Peggy Daniels expressed that, "Our path as a school will be on solid footing with Stephanie leading the way. I am so pleased with this result, and look forward to watching the school grow and evolve in its commitment to academic excellence for current students and future generations."
Stephanie's appointment is the result of an extensive search process conducted over the last seven months under the guidance of the search firm, RG175. The 10-member Search Committee sought input from all of Carolina Day's constituents throughout the process. The initial list of over 80 candidates was narrowed to three qualified and compelling finalists for in-depth and extensive two-day interviews on campus. The feedback that was received from the Faculty Advisory Committee, faculty, administration, parents, students, alumni, regents, and trustees was paramount in the determination of Stephanie's appointment.
We appreciate everyone who spent time with Stephanie during her visit to CDS. The Search Committee found your feedback invaluable in confirming that Stephanie will bring the experience, leadership, and spirit we need in our next Head of School. Her excitement about joining CDS is evident In her letter to you, which accompanies this email.
On behalf of the Search Committee and Board of Trustees, we are optimistic and very excited about this next chapter for our school. As we continue this year under the steady and wise leadership of Peggy Daniels, we will find opportunities to introduce and welcome Stephanie and her husband, John, to the Carolina Day School community in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Tom Oreck, Board of Trustees Chair Swati Patel, Search Committee Co-chair Suzanne Rose, Search Committee Co-chair
Dear Members of the Carolina Day School Community,
I am so excited by the opportunity to join the Carolina Day School community as your next Head of School! As I shared with many of you during our meetings, Carolina Day School absolutely sings to me. I feel as though this is the opportunity I've been preparing for over the course of my career. I love that CDS meets students where they are and lets them grow. CDS isn't a cookie-cutter experience, and not every child is going to experience CDS in the same way. There is room for exploration, reflection, fun and comfort-zone stretching on each student's journey to become their best self. My husband, John, and I were so impressed during our school tour, with the engagement of the students with their teachers, and with each other. Even the youngest learners were at rapt attention working on projects, and playing outside with gusto—clearly feeling safe and loved and known. My lunch with the students was certainly a high point of my many meetings. These young adults have voices and are learning how to use them, and are comfortable doing so! CDS students don't get pigeon-holed, and can be artists and musicians and athletes and scholars. I'm also so pleased that CDS' Key School is a true driving force at the school. It demonstrates the commitment to the understanding that children learn in a multitude of ways. Key allows children to discover and practice strategies and skills that allow them to succeed, according to what is best for them. Horizons at CDS is also a program that is near and dear to my heart. I have been very involved with Horizons programs while working in Connecticut, and am excited to see this program become more ingrained at our school. It is clear that the entire CDS faculty & staff is dedicated to their students and are passionately involved in their learning.
The parents I met during the meet-and-greet sessions, and also sporadically on campus, care deeply about the school. I was impressed by the thoughtfulness of the questions that were posed when we met in the library, and with the warm community feeling that permeated the room. Being heavily involved in my own children's schools as a parent volunteer, I understand the value of a deeply engaged parent body.
Carolina Day School is a vibrant and diverse community, and we cannot wait to become part of it! I know that the school is in fantastic hands with Peggy Daniels, the Board of Trustees and the Leadership Team at CDS. Although I still have to finish up the school year and survive another Connecticut winter, I very much look forward to making meaningful connections with you in the coming months, and planning for our future together.
John and I, along with our rescue dog, Bella, are excited to live in Asheville. We fell in love with the area, immediately feeling its charm. Our two grown sons, Brandon and Johnny, who live in Chicago and Minneapolis, will no doubt be regular visitors.
We can't wait to get settled into our new life in Asheville and CDS!
With sincere gratitude and excitement for the future,
Stephanie Asheville's co-ed independent day school, where inclusive community, inspired teaching, and innovative program create a journey of excellence for each student. 1345 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803 | 828-274-0757 | carolinaday.org |