A Message from Head of School Will Moseley and President of the Board of Trustees Paul Westhead

Dear Tartan Family,

 

It is with mixed emotions that I write to you today to share my plans to leave St. Margaret’s at the end of the 2022-2023 school year, to return East to be closer to our extended family. I can still remember leaving our small apartment in New York City in 1995 with two small kids in tow to move to California. At that time, I promised Jenny we would return home just a few years later.  Well, I clearly missed that mark! Twenty-eight years will have come and gone in June of 2023 when I fulfill my contract and our daughter Brady graduates a Tartan. I shared my decision with Board of Trustees President Paul Westhead, and while I am humbled by and most appreciative of the Board’s faith in me and desire to extend my contract, it is time for me to deliver on my promise to return home. 

 

You might wonder why I would make this announcement so early, when I still have over a year and a half left at St. Margaret’s. The answer is simple. It is a best practice in independent schools to begin a national search for a new head of school approximately 18 months before the transition. This timeframe not only allows for leveraging the best applicant pool, but it also gives a school the ability to hire the right candidate and ensures a successful transition.

 

I love St. Margaret’s and I am proud of all that we have accomplished together. This leadership transition will be a legacy moment for our School. St. Margaret’s fifth Head of School will be charged with continuing our upward trajectory moving the school forward, while holding true to our Episcopal identity, our mission and our core values. 

 

I remain committed to partnering with the leadership team on our long-term strategic priorities over the next two academic years. And, I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees to support them in every way possible to ensure a smooth transition. I sincerely appreciate the unconditional love and support you have shown me and my family throughout our time together.

 

There is a lot of work still to be done, goals to be achieved and milestones to celebrate. I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming days and months.

 

 

Despite our best efforts to extend Will’s contract, I believe that he is doing the right thing for the right reasons and the Board of Trustees fully supports his decision. And while this news may be surprising for some, the Board of Trustees is well-prepared for this leadership transition. In fact, the primary role of the Board of Trustees is to hire and support the Head of School in pursuit of the school’s mission and core values, as well as to steward the school’s financial assets and annual budget. With guidance from our Board Chair, The Right Reverend John Harvey Taylor, I am confident St. Margaret’s will execute a successful search process to engage our next Head of School.

Remarkably, Will is just the fourth Head of School in our 42-year history, which is a testament to the stability provided by our Episcopal identity and the longevity of our mission to educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership and service. 

During what will be a decade-long tenure by the end of his term, Will has always emphasized the preparation of our school for the future as essential to his role, and as a result, we have a strong foundation from which to continue. 

The Board of Trustees has already begun transition planning:

Of course, change is always hard, but rest assured this is a natural step for any institution and we are coming at this from a tremendous position of strength.  Unlike many independent schools across the country, St. Margaret’s 1) is fully enrolled with a healthy waiting list, 2) has experienced a record admissions year, 3) has an incredible professional community supported by a talented senior administration team, 4) is financially strong including a nearly $20 million endowment, and 5) has a long and proven history of advancement in diversity, equity and inclusion that is deeply rooted in our Episcopal identity. 

 

The time to fully celebrate Will for all his accomplishments will come soon enough, but I ask that you join me in thanking him now for all that he has already done and continue to support him in all that he intends to do for our school over the next two years. 

 

This is an exciting time for our school and community, as we are on the cusp of learning just how far the news has spread about all the good work being done at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School and how our mission and core values will continue to guide the way. 

 

We will continue to share news of our progress in this process and thank you in advance for your continued support and engagement.

 

Sincerely,

 

William N. Moseley

Head of School

 

Paul C. Westhead

president, Board of Trustees