Jay Roberts, Athenian's Next Head of School
Jay Roberts will be joining Athenian on July 1, 2026. He currently serves as Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. In this role, Jay oversees faculty and the academic mission while driving strategic planning and institution-wide initiatives. He is a recognized leader in experiential learning, with numerous publications on the subject, and serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Experiential Education and the Board of the North Carolina Outward Bound School.
While visiting campus, Jay, who has worked with students ranging from middle schoolers to college seniors throughout his career, observed, “From the moment I stepped foot on campus and began interacting with students, faculty, and staff, I knew Athenian was a special place. The insightful student questions, the quality of teaching and learning on display, and the deep sense of community amongst students, faculty, staff, and families were clear to see and resonate with my own values and commitments as an educator. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this incredible school in leadership and I look forward to getting to know the community better.”
Please join us in congratulating Jay. We eagerly anticipate welcoming him and his wife, Marcie, to California as they join our community to launch the 2026-2027 school year. Please learn more about Jay in the full announcement.
Athenian’s Next Head of School Announcement
- Tuesday, April 8: Athenian’s Next Head of School
- Tuesday, February 11: Head of School Search Update
- Thursday, January 16: Head of School Search Update
- Wednesday, October 30: Head of School Search Update & Survey
- Tuesday, October 8: Head of School Update
- Thursday, May 9: Quincy McLaughlin Reinstated as Interim Head Starting July 2024
- Tuesday, April 9: Eric Niles Announces Departure
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Jon Nickens | Search Committee Co-chair, Alumni Parent & Trustee |
| Angel Lewis '92 | Search Committee Co-chair &Trustee |
| Guy Henshaw | Current & Alumni Grandparent & Trustee |
| Stephanie McGraw | Current & Alumni Parent & Upper School Faculty |
| Amy Rasner Clulow | Alumni Parent & Director of People & Culture |
| Leny Riebli | Current & Alumni Parent & Trustee |
| Emily Shinkle | Current Parent & Dean of Residential Life & Upper School Faculty |
| Catherine Yewell | Alumni Parent & Trustee |
| Matt Zahner | Middle School Faculty & Athletic Coach |
Who is responsible for hiring the Head of School?
The Board of Trustees is responsible for hiring, supporting and evaluating the Head of School. This is one of the Board’s primary responsibilities. The Board’s hiring decision is informed by the recommendation from the Head of School Search Committee.
Are we using a search firm to assist with the search?
The Board of Trustees retained the services of Diversified Search Group | Storbeck Search (Storbeck), to oversee the search and advise the Search Committee throughout the process. Storbeck has an extensive Pre-K-12 education practice and has successfully placed a range of senior school leaders and heads of schools across the country. Our partners in this effort were Managing Director Staci Williams Seeley and Senior Search Associate Christopher Bernard.
Will I have the opportunity to share my thoughts/provide input?
The search process included several opportunities for community input. During their visit to campus, our Search Partners spoke to many students, faculty and staff, school leadership, parents, and the board of trustees and their visit was followed by a community-wide survey that was distributed broadly by email.
Will the Interim Head of School be eligible for the permanent Head of School position?
While we would have been thrilled if Interim Head Quincy McLaughlin was available for consideration for the permanent role, she will be returning east to be with her family at the end of her interim headship. We are incredibly grateful for Quincy’s outstanding collaborative and future-focused leadership, and for stewarding the school through two Head of School transitions. In this search, because the school has been so well served by Quincy's two terms as Interim Head of School, the Board of Trustees did determine the interim was eligible for the permanent role, although most often in the independent school industry this is not the case.
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