Dear Frederica Academy Community,

I write to share an update on our Head of School search. Recently, Jamie Estes and Marsha Little of Carney Sandoe met on campus with a wide range of constituents. Those conversations—with over 100 members of the FA community—combined with the results of our recent community survey, provide a clear and thoughtful picture of Frederica Academy today and the type of leader needed for the future.

We are grateful for the strong response to the survey, with 238 participants, including parents, faculty and staff, trustees, and other members of the community. This level of engagement speaks to the broad interest in the school's future.

The search committee carefully reviewed the responses, noting several consistent themes across all groups. Our community values Frederica’s strong academic program, small class sizes, and the close relationships between students and teachers that define the student experience. Equally important is Frederica Academy’s commitment to character development and the sense of community that comes from being part of a relational, mission-driven environment.

Looking ahead, this feedback reveals a defined and coherent set of priorities for the next Head of School. Chief among them is the recruitment, retention, and support of excellent faculty. There is also a clear desire to maintain Frederica’s distinctive culture while managing growth thoughtfully, strengthening academic programming across all divisions, and ensuring sound stewardship of the school’s resources.

The survey also highlights the kind of leader our community hopes to attract. Respondents consistently described a Head of School who is visible, approachable, and collaborative, with the ability to communicate clearly, make thoughtful decisions, and lead with integrity and vision. Significant senior administrative leadership experience in successful independent schools and a demonstrated ability to support and develop faculty were seen as essential.

All of this input directly informed the Position Description. Click here to access it.

The profile reflects both the strengths that make Frederica Academy distinctive and the opportunities that lie ahead— to increase alignment across the PK–12 program, invest in faculty and community, and guide FA’s continued growth with clarity and care.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their perspectives. Your input is shaping this process is meaningful and will continue to guide our work in the months ahead.

As summer approaches, we will share updates on the Head of School search webpage, and we invite you to contact the search committee at faheadofschoolsearchcommittee@fredericaacademy.org if you have anything additional to share.



Sincerely,

Jeff Shiver, Search Committee Chair