Leadership

A 1974 graduate of St. Mark’s, John C. Warren began his tenure as head of school in 2006. Before returning to Southborough, Mr. Warren was a member of the faculty at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California, and a member of the faculty and administration at Milton Academy. His wife, Laura Appell-Warren, is director of Global Citizenship at St. Mark’s.

Mr. Warren has led St. Mark’s through an era of remarkable change. In 2011, the ambitious St. Mark’s 2020 Strategic Plan was adopted, focusing on three core educational values--intellect, character, and leadership--and three strategic initiatives: establishing the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, creating an integrated STEM curriculum, and developing a Global Citizenship program.

Under Mr. Warren's leadership, the School unveiled initiatives including St. Mark’s Saturdays and Lion Term, a two-week experiential learning program that concludes each academic year. Other programs and initiatives launched during Mr. Warren’s time as head of school include the establishment of the C. Boyden Gray Colloquium, an annual lecture series designed to engage St. Mark’s students in the exploration of complex global issues; the creation of the Taft STEM Research Fellowship program, and the debut of the Global Diploma, which provides the opportunity for those students whose passion lies in the area of global citizenship to deepen their understanding of this topic.

The many improvements to St. Mark’s campus during Mr. Warren’s tenure include the completion of the Sargent Family Turf Field, refurbishment of Elkins Gymnasium and Armour Cage, construction of the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning and Burnett House, reconstruction of the Athletic Quad, opening of the STEM Center, completion of the T. Jefferson Coolidge Jr. '50 Athletic Performance and Wellness Center, construction of the Alice Yin Hung '86 East Gallery, and finally, the opening of Patterson-Sculley House, the School’s transformative new residence hall, in 2022.

Also under Mr. Warren’s oversight, The Lives of Consequence campaign, completed in 2022, raised more than $112 million, making it the most successful fundraising campaign in School history.