Ivory D. Hills Announced as Next Head of St. Mark’s School
St. Mark’s School announced on July 31 that Dr. Ivory D. Hills will be the next head of school, beginning on July 1, 2024. The School’s Board of Trustees unanimously supported the Head of School Search Committee’s recommendation to appoint Dr. Hills.
Get to Know Ivory D. Hills
When Ivory joins our community in Southborough, he will be accompanied by his wife, Christina, and their daughter, Sophie.
I’m excited to lead a community focused on learning and growth. As an intentionally sized community, St. Mark’s supports the creation of strong relationships and allows everyone, students and adults alike, to understand on a daily basis the benefits of cooperation over self-interest. In an increasingly complex world, it is a team ethos and our connections that will render our communities more resilient. I’m looking forward to supporting this shared endeavor any way I can.
Science is one of the many disciplines offering structure for seeking truth and understanding the world. There are many others ranging from religion to the humanities to pure math. My deep dive into science has allowed me to understand when it is a uniquely effective tool and when it falls short. This background definitely influences how I approach working in teams, problem-solving, and decision-making. Finally, I would offer that true practitioners of science are necessarily humble, since we routinely are reminded of how little we know!
At its foundation, the enterprise of education is one that helps render all of humanity more resilient by preparing all of us for an unknown future. At St. Mark’s, our students have the opportunity to learn broadly and deeply in the academic, athletic, and artistic realms, while developing their own unique identities and forging strong supportive relationships. What could be more important than that?
I am most excited about trying to meet every community member. Each person has a distinctive story and reason for being a part of St. Mark’s. It is the interconnectedness of these stories that establishes our community. I suspect that each individual, with high confidence and conviction, can offer unique and perhaps seemingly contradictory definitions of what it means to be a part of St. Mark’s community. Only when these perspectives are combined do we actually approach something that resembles a ‘truth’. That is remarkably interesting!
It is an honor to serve all of you as the next head of St. Mark’s School. Education has always been important to me, and I am elated that I will soon work with all of you to help students grow into their full potential. As the world becomes more interconnected and complex, astounding opportunities await all of us. Helping guide St. Mark’s is a true privilege.
St. Mark’s is a community that shares many of my own core beliefs. I’m a strong proponent of cooperation over self-interest and believe in the synergy of teams; every member of our community can contribute in meaningful ways. Our joint efforts will allow us to build strong relationships in support of helping students develop their academic and spiritual curiosity, as well as the skills they will need to pursue their passions and lead lives of consequence. I continue to be enthusiastic and hopeful that high school is a venue for students to develop their identities by taking appropriate risks and leaving room for serendipitous self-discovery. It is truly remarkable that all of us—trustees, parents, teachers, staff, and students—come together to support this shared work.
I want to thank the search committee for their collaborative, comprehensive, and deliberate approach. It was clear that they took the task of selecting the next head of school seriously, being driven by their love of the School and their desire to serve students. This made it easy for me to get excited about working with them on behalf of the School. I also want to express the deepest gratitude for my colleagues at Deerfield. The friendships, shared work, and fun experiences have been professionally rewarding and nurturing to my family.
Chrissy, Sophie and I are eager to begin the learning journey that comes with joining any new community; most of all, I look forward to learning more about each of you—see you soon.
With deep appreciation and sincerity,
Ivory D. Hills
With tremendous excitement and confidence, we are thrilled to announce that the St. Mark’s Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the Head of School Search Committee’s recommendation to appoint Dr. Ivory D. Hills as the 16th head of school at St. Mark’s. Ivory will commence his tenure on July 1, 2024.
Throughout this process, which began in January, we have been humbled by the unwavering support and enthusiasm displayed by our extraordinary community. Over the past several months, the search committee has embarked on a thorough and comprehensive journey to identify the ideal leader to guide St. Mark’s into its next chapter. Amidst an exceedingly competitive nationwide search, during which we encountered numerous talented and highly qualified educational leaders, Ivory, who currently serves as dean of faculty and assistant head of school for strategy and planning at Deerfield Academy, unquestionably emerged as the standout candidate.
Following our in-depth interviews with Ivory, members of the search committee shared their resounding feedback, uncovering several key themes. Ivory's commitment to a clear and thoughtful decision-making process, his innate creativity and inquisitiveness, and his contemplative and strategic approach to leadership all left a lasting impression. The committee members wholeheartedly lauded his extraordinary intellect, his dedication to fostering a tight-knit community, his exceptional emotional intelligence, and his unparalleled grasp of the multifaceted financial, organizational, and cultural aspects associated with leading a boarding school.
Ivory, a distinguished scientist holding a B.S. in chemistry from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from MIT, brings an organized, data-driven approach to his work. His academic background significantly influences his teamwork, problem-solving, and decision-making techniques.
“Ivory is a brilliant thinker and a gifted leader,” said Michael B. Moore ’80, president of the St. Mark’s Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Head of School Search Committee. “He has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing independent schools today, and he is passionate about the St. Mark’s School mission. We are confident that he will be an outstanding head of school.”
Since 2011, Ivory has been an invaluable asset at Deerfield Academy, where he has excelled as both a dedicated classroom teacher and an influential academic leader. His contributions span various roles, most recently as dean of faculty and assistant head of school for strategy and planning.
“I know I speak for everyone at Deerfield when I say that working with Ivory has been a joy and a gift,” said Deerfield Head of School John P.N. Austin. “His contributions to Deerfield have been enormous, his leadership inspiring, and his relentless focus on the experience and growth of students across every dimension of school life intentional and enduring. We will miss him terribly, but we are excited for Ivory and his family—and for St. Mark’s. Ivory will bring tremendous gifts to St. Mark’s as a teacher, colleague, and school leader: a deep commitment to learning and to the classroom, to his colleagues, and to the idea of school as a place of transformation, possibility, and goodness.”
In his current capacity, Ivory oversees a 140-member faculty and provides comprehensive support for academic, artistic, athletic, co-curricular, college advising, health and wellness, and residential programs. He fosters a culture of positivity among the faculty, emphasizing student-centered growth, and deftly manages workload assignments, housing placements, leave replacements, and professional development requests. Additionally, Ivory collaborates closely with the school's advancement office to support faculty and curriculum-centered fundraising initiatives while ensuring that data-informed decision-making is at the core of the institution's progress.
Colleagues within the Deerfield leadership team admire Ivory as a "true scholar" and a "consummate teammate" who approaches his work with an unparalleled level of thoughtfulness and attention to detail. His visionary and forward-thinking strategic approach is evident, as is his warmth, compassion, and remarkable financial acumen. Ivory's impact extends to the classroom, where he inspires students to reach their highest potential, and to his dedicated efforts toward community and equity work, which include initiatives to diversify faculty and update hiring practices. He has also been an advisor to various student groups, including the Deerfield Mixed Student Alliance and the Deerfield Investing Club.
Before his tenure at Deerfield, Ivory served as a senior research chemist at Merck Research Laboratories, leading medicinal chemistry teams involved in drug development for Alzheimer’s disease, migraine, schizophrenia, and colorectal cancer.
When Ivory joins our community in Southborough, he will be accompanied by his wife, Christina, and their daughter, Sophie.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire St. Mark’s community for their unwavering guidance, input, and support throughout this process. We are immensely grateful for the trust you placed in the search committee, particularly in our faculty members Dr. Dejai Barnes and Kinne McBride, who demonstrated exceptional dedication to St. Mark's needs in both the immediate and long-term future.
With Ivory at the helm, we are confident that St. Mark’s will continue to flourish on the strong foundation it stands upon. Together, we will embark on an exciting journey, starting next July, to shape a future filled with promise, excellence, and boundless possibilities.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Moore ’80
Elizabeth R. Santini ’95
Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee
Search Committee Members:
Michael B. Moore ’80, Committee Co-Chair
Elizabeth R. Santini ’95, Committee Co-Chair
Patricia Branch ’04
Jane He P’23
Kinne McBride P'06, '08, '11
Dr. Dejai Barnes
Mackin Pulsifer ’64
Al Ortiz ’82, P’21, P’17
Marisa R. Randazzo P’24
Since the publication of our Head of School Position Statement in early March, we have received incredibly strong interest from a broad and diverse group of educational leaders. From that pool, our search partners at Spencer Stuart have reached out to and interviewed more than 100 prospects.
We are excited to share that the Search Committee selected eight candidates for us to meet and interview for round one interviews in late May with the goal of narrowing down that pool for round two interviews this summer. Ultimately, the goal is to recommend a final candidate to be voted on by the St. Mark's Board of Trustees.
Along with the entire Search Committee, we would like to express our continued appreciation to the St. Mark’s community. Your thoughtful input led to a clearly articulated Head of School Position Statement, your nominations led to skilled potential candidates, and your partnership continues to bring excellence and excitement to this next stage in the process. Thank you, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to us stmarkshos@spencerstuart.com.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Moore ’80
Elizabeth R. Santini ’95
Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee
Search Committee Members:
Michael B. Moore ’80, Committee Co-Chair
Elizabeth R. Santini ’95, Committee Co-Chair
Patricia Branch ’04
Jane He P’23
Kinne McBride P'06, '08, '11
Dr. Dejai Barnes
Mackin Pulsifer ’64
Al Ortiz ’82, P’21, P’17
Marisa R. Randazzo P’24
Thank you to all of the St. Mark’s students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and trustees for your thoughtful participation in the search process over the past five weeks. We are deeply grateful to everyone who took the time to contribute their voice and share insights that will help us better attract and identify our next Head of School. Thank you also to our search partners at Spencer Stuart for conducting the in-person meetings and Zoom sessions, and creating the detailed survey.
After collecting all of your valuable feedback, the Search Committee, St. Mark's Communications staff, and the team at Spencer Stuart worked together to prepare a comprehensive Position Statement that reflects your input and provides a clear direction for the next Head of School. We are pleased to share the Position Statement with you here and have also posted it on our Head of School Search webpage. This statement will contribute to attracting a diverse and talented pool of candidates and will ultimately help facilitate a smooth transition.
The Search Committee is excited about the next step of the search process as we engage with potential candidates, meeting and interviewing them in the coming months. We will continue to stay in touch to give you updates as the process unfolds. Now is the time for you to nominate candidates to the role, and we look forward to receiving suggestions from the St. Mark’s community at stmarkshos@spencerstuart.com.
Again, thank you for your ongoing support and participation in this important process. We could not do this without you.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Moore ’80
Elizabeth R. Santini ’95
Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee
Search Committee Members:
Michael B. Moore ’80, Committee Co-Chair
Elizabeth R. Santini ’95, Committee Co-Chair
Patricia Branch ’04
Jane He P’23
Kinne McBride P'06, '08, '11
Dr. Dejai Barnes
Mackin Pulsifer ’64
Al Ortiz ’82, P’21, P’17
Marisa R. Randazzo P’24
As the search for St. Mark’s Head of School John Warren’s successor continues, the Search Committee is eager to hear from all members of the St. Mark’s community—trustees, faculty, staff, students, administrators, parents, and alumni. Your participation in this search is our most valuable resource. The information gained will directly inform the position description, how we assess potential candidates, and ultimately provide insights to a successful transition for the new head of school.
The following meetings will take place over the coming weeks. Detailed information will be emailed to each constituency directly.
Board of Trustees
The Spencer Stuart team will meet with members of the Board of Trustees via Zoom on February 3 and 8.
On Campus
The Spencer Stuart team will be on St. Mark’s campus February 6 and 7 to meet faculty, staff, students, and administrators.
Alumni and Parent Meetings
The Spencer Stuart team will meet with St. Mark’s alumni and parents via Zoom on February 9, 13, and 15.
In addition to these meetings, Spencer Stuart has set up an anonymous survey. Whether you are able to join a meeting or not, we invite the entire St. Mark’s community to participate in the St. Mark’s Head of School Search Survey. We encourage you to complete the survey, which takes five to 10 minutes, before the closing date of February 15. All responses are completely confidential and are being collected by the Spencer Stuart team.
Spencer Stuart will be asking individuals to reflect on and give feedback about the following:
What makes St. Mark’s School distinctive?
What do you truly value about the School?
What are the opportunities and challenges facing the next head at St. Mark’s School?
What do you believe should be the priorities in the first five years of the next head of St. Mark’s School?
What are the professional experiences/capabilities and personal characteristics you hope to see in the next head?
What advice do you have for the Search Committee and Spencer Stuart?
Is there anyone you would like to nominate?
Finally, we continue to encourage you to reach out to our Search Committee and the Spencer Stuart team at stmarkshos@spencerstuart.com with any additional comments, questions, or candidate nominations.
Thank you for your engagement, input, and ongoing support.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Moore ’80
Elizabeth R. Santini ’95
Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee
Search Committee Members:
Michael B. Moore ’80, Committee Co-Chair
Elizabeth R. Santini ’95, Committee Co-Chair
Patricia Branch ’04
Jane He P’23
Kinne McBride P'06, '08, '11
Elise Morgan
Mackin Pulsifer ’64
Al Ortiz ’82, P’21, P’17
Marisa R. Randazzo P’24
Following Tuesday's announcement that the 2023-2024 academic year will be the last for Head of School John C. Warren ’74, we would like to take the opportunity to thank John and Laura for their unwavering dedication to building a better St. Mark’s over the past 18 years. On behalf of the St. Mark’s School Board of Trustees, we would also like to introduce ourselves as the co-chairs of the Head of School Search Committee and share an update on the search process to date. As St. Mark’s alumni and trustees, we recognize the importance of this search and are deeply honored to lead it.
Search Committee: We have assembled a dynamite Search Committee (members listed below) composed of dedicated and diverse trustees, alumni, faculty, and parents, both current and past. Like our School tagline, our search committee is intentionally small, but thinking big! We are committed to a transparent and inclusive process to find the best next head of St. Mark’s School. Please join us in thanking the members of the Search Committee for their time and dedication, and feel free to contact us at any time at stmarkshos@spencerstuart.com.
Search Partner: The Search Committee engaged in a comprehensive process that led to the selection of Spencer Stuart, a global leadership advisory firm, to assist us in the search. Spencer Stuart’s team, led by Mary Gorman and Aaron Mieszczanski, has a stellar track record of identifying and placing new leadership at the nation’s strongest schools. Working in partnership with Spencer Stuart, the Search Committee will evaluate candidates and ultimately make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees, which will make a final decision on the hiring of our next head of school.
Survey and Campus Visit: We look forward to engaging you in opportunities to meaningfully share your input about the school and its leadership. A survey will be shared with all members of the St. Mark’s community and the Spencer Stuart team will be on campus on February 6 and 7 to meet with the students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Details on the survey and campus visit will be forthcoming.
Head of School Search Webpage: To best keep our community informed, we have created a St. Mark’s Head of School search webpage to provide important updates, recent communications, and the ability to learn more about the search committee members and the team at Spencer Stuart. We encourage you to visit the web page often as we will continually post relevant information during the search process.
Thank you for your trust, partnership and support.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Moore ’80
Elizabeth R. Santini ’95
Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee
Search Committee Members:
Michael B. Moore ’80, Committee Co-Chair
Elizabeth R. Santini ’95, Committee Co-Chair
Patricia Branch ’04
Jane He P’23
Kinne McBride P'06, '08, '11
Elise Morgan
Mackin Pulsifer ’64
Al Ortiz ’82, P’21, P’17
Marisa R. Randazzo P’24
As St. Mark’s Head of School John C. Warren ’74 announced earlier today, John and his wife Laura Appell-Warren, director of global citizenship at St. Mark’s, have decided to retire at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. John’s retirement will coincide with his 50th reunion at St. Mark’s, and concludes a truly remarkable career at the School as a student, board member, and head of school.
By the time he retires, John will have served as head of school for 18 years, the third-longest tenure in School history. John has led the School through a time of unprecedented development. Some of the major accomplishments to take place under John’s leadership, which began in 2006, include:
The implementation of the St. Mark’s School: 2020 strategic plan, which included the establishment of the Burgess Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, the development of a Global Citizenship program, and the creation of an integrated STEM curriculum
The opening of the STEM Center, designed to advance best-in-class teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, and math
The launch of St. Mark’s Saturdays and Lion Term, formally incorporating experiential learning into the educational program
The opening of our state-of-the art athletics and fitness facility, the T. Jefferson Coolidge, Jr. ’50 Athletic Performance and Wellness Center, which has contributed to more than 100 student-athletes advancing to play at the college level since 2018
The completion of the Lives of Consequence campaign, the largest fundraising initiative in School history, which raised $112,042,614, surpassing its ambitious $110 million goal
The opening of the Alice Yin Hung ’86 East Gallery and Patterson-Sculley House, our new 150-bed residence hall, reuniting all students on Main Campus and reimagining founder Joseph Burnett’s “school under one roof” vision for a new generation
The success of the Global Citizenship Program, which offers transformative educational opportunities and partnerships with schools on every inhabited continent in the world
In addition, John has overseen the establishment of programs that are now central to St. Mark’s identity, such as the C. Boyden Gray Colloquium lecture series, the Taft STEM Research Fellowship, and the Lions Roam travel program. Last year, St. Mark’s was selected to participate in the highly selective University of Pennsylvania Independent School Teaching Residency Program–a testament to John’s leadership of St. Mark’s approach to teaching and learning and its commitment to professional growth, community and equity, and global citizenship principals.
With an emphasis on holistic education, John has carried St. Mark’s forward during his time as head of school through his tireless ambition to make St. Mark’s a more innovative school, a more robust residential environment, and a more welcoming community for all. He has moved the School boldly forward by addressing key needs in our academic curriculum, our schedule, our physical facilities, and our residential program—operationalizing the School’s “intentionally small, thinking big” ethos—while remaining true to St. Mark’s Episcopal tradition and values.
John’s work over the past 17 years leaves St. Mark’s in a position of great strength as we now turn toward the search for his successor. I am delighted to have Elizabeth Santini ’95 as my co-chair in the search for St. Mark’s next head of school. Liz and I will share more details about the search very soon.
I am confident that we will have no shortage of exceptional candidates to serve as the next St. Mark’s head of school. I am also very pleased to have John and Laura with us for the next 18 months as we transition to this next chapter in the leadership of our school.
Please join me in deeply thanking John and Laura for all they have done—and continue to do—for St. Mark’s.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Moore '80
President, Board of Trustees
I write today with the news that Laura and I will be retiring from St. Mark’s at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year. The decision to leave St. Mark’s is not an easy one, as St. Mark’s has been a warm and welcoming home to us since 2006, and we have greatly treasured the opportunity to serve this wonderful school in our respective roles. However, as St. Mark’s prepares to embark upon our next strategic plan, lays the groundwork for our next campaign, and fulfills the recommendations of the NEASC report and the GEBG endorsement, the timing seems right for St. Mark’s to begin the transition to its next head of school.
I am immensely proud of the foundation that exists currently, thanks to the successes of the St. Mark’s School: 2020 strategic plan and the Lives of Consequence campaign, that this next chapter will build upon. The Burgess Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, the Global Citizenship Program, the STEM Center, the Coolidge Center, and Patterson-Sculley House, envisioned by the strategic plan and supported by extraordinary philanthropic generosity, are indeed impressive institutional accomplishments. These and other capital improvements, along with the Faculty Excellence Fund that meaningfully increased compensation, gifts to advance our community and equity program, and significant additions to our financial aid endowment are making St. Mark’s an ever-stronger school.
I am also immensely proud of the intellectual vibrancy that exists at St. Mark’s and the continuing emphasis on character throughout our educational program, attributes that are frequently commented upon by visitors. These qualities exist because of our commitment to balancing traditional classroom learning with experiential learning; they exist because of our commitment to holistic education, focusing equally on providing learning opportunities inside the classroom and outside the classroom, and on the St. Mark’s campus and also in the larger world beyond our campus. Finally, these qualities exist because of the wholehearted efforts to make St. Mark’s a place where every member of the community can feel that they truly belong.
Serving with gifted and committed Board presidents George Putnam ’69, Tom Martinson ’80, Bill Burgess ’77, Aly Scott ’85, and Michael Moore ’80, and their Trustee colleagues has been a great honor. An equal honor has been serving with a highly skilled and deeply caring adult community of faculty and staff who ensure, day after day, that our students are able to do and be their best. An honor as well has been working with talented, caring students and watching them develop their intellect and character in ways that prepare them to lead lives of consequence.
I appreciate most of all Laura, who has been my constant companion on our leadership journey that began in 2006. Laura has built a global citizenship program now recognized throughout the independent school world as a model to be emulated. The welcome she ensures that faculty and staff, students, parents, and Trustees feel in our home, the sophistication of Laura’s approach to teaching, and the care she bestows upon advisees and the Monitors and other students she engages with remain an inspiration to me.
Laura and I look forward with great enthusiasm to the next 18 months. We are highly motivated to continue to serve St. Mark’s in our respective capacities to the absolute best of our abilities right up until our last day. We deeply love this School and are excited about what the future holds for it both in the short term and the long term.
Age Quod Agis,
John C. Warren ’74. Ed.D.
Head of School
Ivory is a brilliant thinker and a gifted leader. He has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing independent schools today, and he is passionate about the St. Mark’s School mission. We are confident that he will be an outstanding head of school.”Michael B. Moore ’80, president of the St. Mark’s Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Head of School Search Committee
The St. Mark’s Head of School Search Committee has proudly partnered with Spencer Stuart, a firm that brings extensive expertise in conducting independent school head of school searches, as well as significant experience in higher educational leadership searches.