Derryfield School Appoints 9th Head of School

Head Search Committee

Steve Carter: Trustee
Richard Critz: Trustee, Alumni Parent
Dr. Sheila DeWitt: Trustee, Alumni Parent
David Grosso ’78: Alumni
Lauren Hines: Trustee, Alumni Parent, Current Parent (Chair of Search Committee)
Jim Lamp: Trustee, Alumni Parent
Dr. Andrew Myers: US Faculty
Laura Russell: Director of Equity and Belonging, MS Faculty
Reina Stimpson: Dean of Students, US Faculty, Alumni Parent
Dr. Ritu Ullal: Current Parent

Welcome, Andy Chappell

March 16, 2022

Dear Derryfield Community,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Head of School Search Committee, we are excited to announce the appointment of Andrew Chappell as The Derryfield School’s next head of school, effective July 1, 2022.

With more than 24 years of experience in independent schools, Andy is joining us from the esteemed Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he has served as the Assistant Headmaster for Programs since 2020. During his tenure at Roxbury Latin, Andy has advanced through several academic and internal affairs positions. He has served as a Director of Admission, Director of Studies and Strategic Initiatives, as well as a Class Dean, teacher, coach and advisor.

Andy comes to Derryfield with a unique perspective of our history and culture. For the past 25 years, Andy has seen Derryfield through the lens of his wife, Kate, who graduated in 1993, as well as his father-in-law, Marc Hurlbut, who was the head of school from 1982-1993. Andy understands and embodies our values, our culture and our mission, all of which makes Derryfield unique and beloved. Andy is an alumnus from the University of Virginia and holds a master’s degree from Dartmouth College.

As the leader of the Teaching Fellows program with the University of Pennsylvania, Andy has shown his deep commitment to faculty development and support. He has vast experience recruiting, hiring, and developing both new and seasoned faculty. Andy has also led several Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives throughout his tenure at Roxbury Latin. He is a consummate professional and very involved in all aspects of the school. Andy understands the importance of honoring core traditions and values of an institution while adapting and innovating to meet the needs of an ever-changing world.

For all these reasons, and after a rigorous process, the search committee proudly recommended Andy to the Board of Trustees, who unanimously voted Andy Chappell as our 9^th and next Head of School. We are so delighted to welcome Andy, Kate, and their two children, Brady (18) and Samantha (15) to the Derryfield community.

We would like to thank all of you who participated and supported this process. We also would like to thank Dr. Carter for her years of service and dedication to The Derryfield School. We know the entire community will send Mary off with deep appreciation and will welcome Andy with enthusiasm!

Best,

Susan Rand King ’81, P’20, P’22, Chair of Board of Trustees

Lauren Hines P’20, P’23, Chair of Search Committee

A Letter from Andy Chappell

Dear Derryfield School Community,

I am honored and humbled to be selected as Derryfield’s next Head of School. My family and I are excited about moving to the Manchester area this summer and getting to know each one of you as we work together to write the next important chapter of the School’s history.

I have admired Derryfield from afar for more than twenty-five years, when I first met my wife, Kate Hurlbut Chappell ’93 and her family in the fall of 1997. Their love for Derryfield—the people, experiences, programs, and strong sense of community—made an impression on me many years ago affirming that Derryfield is, indeed, a special community. Through the years, my appreciation for the School has only grown through visits to campus, attending alumni/ae events, and reading numerous Derryfield Today publications. I have long been impressed with how Derryfield has stayed true to its mission and core values, while evolving and growing to develop a program that meets the needs of 21st-century learners.

Throughout the search process, I learned even more about Derryfield’s innovative academic vision, the ongoing commitment to equity and belonging, the burgeoning culture of philanthropy, and the exciting new physical additions to campus. I was delighted to see that Breakthrough Manchester is thriving, as it serves as a clear symbol of Derryfield’s commitment to the greater Manchester community and a model of how the School can extend its footprint beyond the 400 students it serves each year. I was also inspired by the spirit of Derryfield, embodied in the students, faculty, staff, alumni/ae, parents, and trustees that I met. During my visit to campus, the stories that Kate and her family have recounted to me over the years about the people and the relationships came alive as I walked through the halls, lunched with students, and met with faculty and staff. The energy was palpable, and the love for Derryfield evident. Parents and students shared stories of caring, talented, dedicated teachers, and the teachers themselves offered examples of compassionate, generous, committed students. At the core, I witnessed a school family that values and celebrates kindness, character, and authenticity. Dr. Carter and all of you have clearly built a strong, dynamic, caring community together, and I look forward to contributing to that legacy in the years ahead.

I want to thank Susan Rand King ’81 P’20 ’22, Lauren Hines P’20 ’23, and the entire search committee for their dedication and commitment to leading a thoughtful and thorough process. I felt welcomed by all, appropriately challenged as a candidate, and energized by the talented and dedicated people I met. I am extremely grateful for the extraordinary amount of time that each person gave to this very important undertaking. The challenge of selecting a new Head of School provides an important opportunity for a school to celebrate what has been accomplished, to put a spotlight on its most vital priorities, and to develop a shared vision for the future. I am grateful for the trust placed in me, and I will work to justify your faith and to earn your trust. I also want to express my gratitude to Roxbury Latin, a community that has given me so much and prepared me for this opportunity to serve Derryfield. I look forward to getting to know all members of the community in the months ahead. I promise I will ask lots of questions, listen closely, and learn from each of you, all in order to partner together to advance the mission of Derryfield.

Sincerely,

Andy Chappell

FAQs

List of 4 items.

How will the new Head of School Be Chosen?

We will do our very best to make the search process transparent, thorough, and thoughtful. To assist us through this endeavor, the Board has hired Carney, Sandoe and Associates (CS&A), a leader in Independent School executive searches.

We will work towards ensuring the entire Derryfield community has the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas along the way. While the final selection of our next Head of School rests with the Board of Trustees, everyone in the Derryfield community should have a voice.

There will be many opportunities for community input: we sent out via email a Head of School Survey, which allowed you to express your views on issues relevant to Derryfield, to reflect on the essential qualities of our future leadership, and to suggest any candidates you believe would be compelling. If you would like to pass along potential candidates, please email HOSsearch@derryfield.org Additionally, our Carney Sandoe consultants Charlie Britton and Lisa Parsons visited campus on November 4 and 5, 2021 to meet with parents, alumni, students, faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees. They conducted meetings in which members of the community had the opportunity to share their perspectives about the School and their aspirations for Derryfield’s new Head of School. These conversations will inform the composition of a compelling school profile and job description reflecting our desired qualities in a new Head.
What is the role of the Search Committee?
The search committee will, among other things:
- Provide feedback and final approval of the Position Description;
- Manage logistics relating to CS&A and candidate site visits;
- Review the application materials of candidates presented by CS&A;
- Plan, organize, and conduct initial meetings with candidates;
- Initiate due diligence, reference, and background checks in concert with CS&A;
- Shortlist candidates and gather the Board of Trustees’ feedback; and
- Make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for their vote on the next Head of School.
WHAT IS THE SEARCH TIMELINE?

The goal of the search will be to identify a robust pool of high-quality candidates by mid-winter for a possible Head of School appointment in July 2022 or for July 2023. If an appointment is made and the candidate is unable to begin until July 2023, an interim Head of School will be named for the 2022-2023 academic year. The Search Committee’s job will be to screen, interview, and recommend final candidate(s) to the Board by late winter. If at any point the Search Committee feels that the candidate pool is not up to our community’s expectations, then the search will be re-cast to identify further candidates.
WHAT WERE THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTING THE MEMBERS OF THE SEARCH COMMITTEE?

The Committee members were selected based on their skills, knowledge, perspective, and mindset in order to ensure representation of a wide cross-section of voices. The specific criteria include a profound commitment to Derryfield’s mission, vision, and values; a diversity of perspectives and opinions; an ability to prioritize the best interests of the school ahead of any other agenda; and a willingness and ability to commit a significant amount of time to the process.