MENLO SCHOOL APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL
Than Healy from Seattle's Lakeside School to Join Menlo on July 1, 2013 year as Head of School.
Nathaniel (Than) Healy has
been appointed Head of School at Menlo
School, effective July 1, 2013. Healy, who was selected following an
extensive national search, comes to Menlo from the Lakeside School in Seattle,
WA. He currently serves as Lakeside’s Assistant Head of School and Upper School
Director. Menlo’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to confirm Healy based on
the Search Committee’s recommendation. Healy will succeed Norman Colb, who last
spring announced his plans to leave at the end of the 2012-2013 school year
after his 20th
“We are confident that
Than will build on Norm Colb’s 20 years of outstanding leadership and lead us
to continued success as one of the premier independent schools in the country,”
said Susan Ford Dorsey, Chair of Menlo’s Board of Trustees. “During the search
process, Than impressed our trustees, faculty, staff, parents and alumni with
his energy, insights, collaborative leadership style and understanding of what
good schools must do to prepare students to be global citizens. An innovative
thinker, he demonstrates high integrity and a wonderful sense of humor—both
central to the Menlo spirit.”
Healy has had an exceptional career
in independent school education. A graduate of Williams College, he holds an MA
in Educational Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. Healy
began his career in education at the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, CA,
where he taught history and psychology and served in a number of roles in the
life of the school. Continuing his collegiate athletic career, Healy coached
basketball and water polo and directed the summer athletic program. Stevenson
honored Healy with the McNeely Chair for Outstanding Educator; he was the
youngest faculty member to earn this recognition.
In 1995, Healy took a
yearlong hiatus from education to play professional basketball in Frankfurt,
Germany, which he says, “taught me resilience—how to get back up and go back
in.” He then returned to his own high school, Punahou School in Honolulu, HI,
where he taught history, chaired several academic departments and helped lead
the girls’ varsity basketball team to the state finals.
As Upper School Director of
Lakeside School, Healy has primary responsibility for all aspects of the
program for over 500 students and nearly 100 faculty members. As Assistant
Head, he has helped to oversee a wide variety of programs and initiatives,
including the creation of the Global Service Learning Program and the Global
Online Academy. This latter endeavor brings online the intellectually rigorous
programs and excellent teaching of 24 partner schools from around the world.
During his tenure at Lakeside, Healy also served on the faculty of the Westtown
Seminar for Teaching and helped lead the “Speed Innovating” segment of the
National Association of Independent Schools annual conference.
In accepting his
appointment, Healy said, “The opportunity to join Menlo School is humbling and
inspiring. I’m excited by Menlo’s engaging program and joyous environment, and
by its mission to develop students who will go out in the world and make a
difference. I look forward to continuing Menlo’s tradition of excellence.”
Head of School Search Update: September 25, 2012
Last week, six semifinalist candidates visited Menlo to meet with small groups of students, faculty, administrators, alumni and trustees. The candidates and their spouses all spoke of their impressions of Menlo: bright and happy students, beautiful facilities, and intelligent and dedicated adults who care about the School and the students. The Search Committee thanks all those who had the opportunity to meet the candidates.
This week the Search Committee will undertake a careful and rigorous process to narrow the field to our finalists, who will visit the School and meet with the entire community in October.
Head of School Norm Colb to Retire June 30, 2013
On December 13, 2011, Norm Colb announced that he will retire
as Head of School at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. Colb will have
completed 20 years of inspired and inspiring service to Menlo.
In a letter to the community, Colb wrote, “Both personally and
professionally, my years here have been more rewarding than I can possibly
say.” He expressed his deepest appreciation “to the faculty, staff, parents,
trustees and, most especially, the students who have so enriched my years
here.” After retirement, Colb plans to spend more time with family and complete
a book about the challenges facing American education.
Chair of the Board of Trustees Susan Ford Dorsey told the
community, “Menlo is stronger than at any point in history as a result of
Norm’s vision and hard work. We are exceedingly grateful to him for all that he
has accomplished and for the school he has built.”
The search process for the next head of school
is already underway. Susan Ford Dorsey explained, “Given the strengths of
Menlo, the Board of Trustees is confident that we will find a terrific leader
to succeed Norm and to build upon the many significant accomplishments of the
past two decades. We are equally confident in our capacity for a seamless
transition.” A Search Committee has been formed, and search firm
Gregory Floyd & Associates will support the School during
the process.
From now until June of 2013, Norm Colb will continue to lead
Menlo the way he has throughout his tenure. In his letter to the community,
Colb wrote, “For the next year and a half I mean to be as active as ever. In my
office, in the classrooms and halls, and on the loop, I will be doing my best
to help Menlo reach its lofty goals.”