Head of School John Palfrey will be leaving Andover following the 2018-2019 school year. Palfrey will become the sixth president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, effective September 1st, 2019, according to the MacArthur Foundation’s website.
Palfrey has held his position as fifteenth Head of School for seven years, having started his tenure during the 2012-2013 school year.
His departure was announced by The Head of School’s office on March 4th in a letter sent to students, faculty, staff, and administrators. The letter, written by President of the Board of Trustees Peter L. S. Currie ’74, P’03, not only announced Palfrey’s departure, but also outlined other leadership transitions that will be taking place both within the Head of School’s office and the Board of Trustees.
Amy Falls ’82, P’19, P’21 has been named President-elect of the Board of Trustees, as Currie is beginning the final year of his term. Falls will lead the search for the sixteenth Head of School.
Until that search is completed, Jim Ventre ’79, who is currently Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, will become Interim Head of School.