Dear Collegiate School Community,

 

We are delighted to introduce Jeffrey W. Mancabelli as the next Head of School, effective July 1, 2024. Jeff comes to us after a successful tenure as President of St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C., where he has taught and led since 1999.

 

In the coming months, we will provide opportunities for the community to get to know Jeff even before he officially assumes his role next summer. We will keep you updated as these plans take shape.

 

After extensive discussions with Jeff, the Search Committee and Board of Trustees unanimously agreed that he is the ideal fit for Collegiate and the best candidate to lead our School in the years to come. Throughout this process, we discovered that Collegiate stakeholders share a common vision for our Head of School — someone who embodies leadership, student-centered decision-making, inclusivity, a strong sense of community and a passion for education. Jeff possesses all these qualities and more.

 

During his 13-year tenure as President of St. John's College High School, Jeff transformed the institution, making significant physical, philosophical and educational advancements to better serve the next generation of students. He successfully increased enrollment by 24 percent, rebranded the school and doubled its endowment. Jeff also oversaw a comprehensive campus master plan, which included two successful capital campaigns. In 2020, the Center for Performance and Leadership, an 80,000-square-foot facility encompassing the Entrepreneurial Center, Cadet Corps Leadership Program and athletics, was inaugurated as the crowning achievement of $50 million in new construction. Jeff's expertise in long-term strategic planning and campus development will be invaluable as we implement our priorities outlined in Creating Bridges and develop our own campus master plan. Throughout his career, Jeff has demonstrated exceptional leadership in all areas of independent school life, prioritizing student success and fostering a thriving school culture and community.

 

Beyond his professional accomplishments, it was Jeff's time spent on our campus, engaging with Trustees, faculty, staff, parents, students and alumni, that solidified his position as the clear choice for our next Head of School. Consistent themes emerged from feedback received from more than 100 people who interacted with Jeff: his humility, support for faculty, collaborative spirit and unwavering belief in the power of teacher-student relationships. Jeff's ability to listen, engage in open inquiry and build consensus was evident. We are thrilled to have found an exceptional leader who aligns seamlessly with Collegiate's core values and aspirations. We have full confidence that Jeff will advance our strategic priorities and unite our community around Collegiate's timeless mission.

 

This Head of School search was the most open and collaborative process in Collegiate's history, incorporating input from more than 1,000 survey responses from faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni and administrators. Jeff's appointment is the culmination of an eight-month-long national search, attracting interest from accomplished educators nationwide.

 

Jeff holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Scranton and an M.A. in Education and Human Development from The George Washington University. He is also an Accredited Executive Leadership Coach. Jeff and his wife Tracie have three children: Nick (24), Alexa (22) and Leah (16), who will graduate from high school in 2024. We are extremely thankful that Jeff and his family have made the decision to join us as we embark on the next chapter at Collegiate.

 

Lastly, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Interim Head of School Billy Peebles, who has provided stability and unity on campus throughout the past academic year. The entire Collegiate community owes Billy a tremendous debt of gratitude for his dedicated leadership and service as an invaluable steward of Collegiate during this interim period. Billy will continue to serve Collegiate and support Jeff during the transition throughout the 2023-24 school year.

 

Carter Reid P ’16 ’18

Chair, Board of Trustees

"Jeff has demonstrated exceptional leadership in all areas of independent school life, prioritizing student success and fostering a thriving school culture and community. We are thrilled to have found an exceptional leader who aligns seamlessly with Collegiate's core values and aspirations. We have full confidence that Jeff will advance our strategic priorities and unite our community around Collegiate's timeless mission.”

Carter Reid, Chair, Board of Trustees