An independent school is a complex enterprise, and James River is no different. The Head of School has to serve multiple constituencies--students, faculty and staff, parents, Board of Trustees, and alumni--and has multiple areas of responsibility. The Head, as the CEO, is ultimately responsible for every aspect of the school. As Harry Truman famously said, “the buck stops here.” That is a daunting task to me, even after having worked here for 15 years.
As I complete my tenure as Head of School in the coming months and reflect on all that has been accomplished, it is also a time to look ahead and plan for an exciting future for James River Day School. A major part of that planning is the transition of leadership from me to Jenn Lindsay, our next Head of School. The transition is a critical element for the success of a new head as they deal with all the complexities of this new role. Ultimately the transition is about the people. A thoughtful, well-planned, and supportive transition, focused on relationship building, is so important for all constituencies.
In partnership with the Board of Trustees, a Transition Committee has been formed to provide broad oversight of the transition process, from the time of Mrs. Lindsay’s appointment through her first full year. Our short-term goals, in the coming months, are to provide Mrs. Lindsay with the support, information, and relationship-building necessary for her success.
Mrs. Lindsay’s first visit to Lynchburg and James River Day School is scheduled for next Thursday and Friday, February 9 and 10. She will gather information and begin to build relationships in the community. She is excited to see everyone around the school and to attend basketball games and the second-grade musical performance. We are looking forward to having her on campus!
The future continues to be bright for James River!
Listed below are the members of the Transition Committee. Don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the committee members should you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns. Also, check the Transition webpage for updates as we go through the rest of the year.
Transition Committee
Kristen O’Neill - Board of Trustees, Chair of the Transition Committee
Swathi Prabhu - Board of Trustees
Jennifer Wills - Board of Trustees
Sarah Lesko - Administration
Maryanna Stands - Administration
Betsy Layne- Faculty
Jasper Oliver- Faculty
Gessi Wright- Faculty
Reenu Alappat - Parents’ Association