Two finalists selected in Head of School Search
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington's Head of School Search Committee has narrowed the candidate pool down to two finalists, according to Linda (Grizzard) Owens ('79), committee chair and vice president of the Board of Trustees. Each will have a three-day on-site visit in the coming weeks.
"The Search Committee interviewed six semifinalists in Atlanta Sept. 11-12, and I am pleased to share that – after thoughtful consideration – we have selected the following two finalists to interview on campus," Owens said this morning in a letter to the Darlington Community.
Dr. Jeffrey Mitchell is currently the Headmaster at Tuscaloosa Academy in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and has 23 years of experience in the field of education. He has served as an independent school administrator since 1999 and has been in his current role since 2009. Mitchell holds a Certification from Simon Fraser University, a B.A. from the University of Winnipeg, and an M.A. in Educational Leadership and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of British Columbia. He is also an accomplished professional writer. He and his wife, Sherry, will visit Darlington and the Rome community Sept. 23-25. Click here for more information about Mitchell.
L. Brent Bell is Head of the Upper School at Randolph School in Huntsville, Ala., and has 20 years of experience in the field of education. He has served as an independent school administrator, in his current role, since 2004. Bell holds a B.A. in History from the University of Richmond and an M.S. in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. He and his wife, Andrea, will visit Darlington and the Rome community Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Click here for more information about Bell.
"Each of these candidates has a wealth of experience in independent school education and leadership, and the Search Committee and I look forward to introducing them to the Darlington Community," Owens said. "The on-campus interviews will be critical in helping us determine which candidate best fits our needs and our school."
More than 70 individuals will be involved in the finalists' on-site interview process, representing alumni, parents, faculty, staff, trustees, students and the Search Committee.
"In addition, classroom visits, meetings with parents, and meetings with faculty and staff have been scheduled during the finalists’ time at Darlington in order to gain the maximum amount of feedback from our community members," Owens said. "Everyone who meets the candidates will have opportunity to share their thoughts directly with the Search Committee via an electronic survey."
Click here for more information on the Head of School Search.
