|
Dear Athens Academy Community,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Miles as Athens Academy's sixth Head of School, effective July 1, 2026. Following a comprehensive five-month search process, the Search Committee and the Board of Trustees unanimously approved Jeff's appointment. As Athens Academy prepares to celebrate its 60th year in the fall of 2026, we are confident that Jeff’s vision, wisdom, and leadership experience will position the school for continued excellence in the years ahead.
Throughout our extensive search process, we heard from Jeff’s current and former colleagues that he is intelligent, thoughtful, energetic, and deeply loyal. They describe him as a genuine and approachable leader who strives to make a positive difference and isn’t afraid to work hard to get there. We are so grateful to our Athens Academy community for engaging in this process and sharing what characteristics matter most in our next Head of School, including a deep commitment to excellence, accessibility and transparency, and the ability to think strategically about the future of schools like Athens Academy. It is clear that Jeff embodies those very qualities, making him an outstanding fit for our school and community.
With years of experience working in the Georgia independent school market, Jeff understands the competitive landscape and recognizes what sets Athens Academy apart. He has served as the Head of School at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Rabun Gap, Georgia, since 2019. During his time there, he created and implemented a strategic plan, significantly increased the size of the endowment, substantially increased enrollment, and raised over $30 million for capital improvements. He is an active member of NAIS, SAIS, and the Southern Heads Association, and he is a 2025 Leadership Georgia inductee. Before taking the helm at Rabun Gap, Jeff worked at Christ School in Asheville, North Carolina, for seventeen years, serving in a variety of roles including teacher, coach, marketing and communications manager, director of student life, and assistant headmaster. Jeff holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Michigan State University, was a summer fellow at Vanderbilt University's prestigious institute for independent school leadership, and has his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mars Hill University, where he played varsity lacrosse and was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame.
| 
