Dear JHCS Parents, Students, Faculty and Friends,
Six months ago, the Board of Directors embarked on an extensive, nationwide search for our next head of school led by an exceptional search committee chaired by Chilton Mueller and comprised of parents, faculty, and board members. In partnership with our search consultants, the search was rigorous and focused and resulted in three very strong candidates visiting campus and spending time with many in our community.
Throughout the Board’s subsequent deliberations, it became clear our next head of school needed two things above all else: impeccable academic and leadership credentials in the independent school space; and a deep appreciation for how our school community’s unique and inspired legacy will help define its bright future. In short, we were looking for a unicorn.
It gives me great pleasure to announce the Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Ted Smith Head of School effective July 1, 2023.
Ted joins JHCS from Berwick Academy in Maine where he has served as an educator and administrator for over twenty years. Currently, Ted serves as Director of the Upper School and is responsible for curricular and co-curricular operations for 280 students at Berwick. Ted previously served as Assistant Director of the Upper School and Dean of Students for Academics and Discipline. An “educator’s educator,” Ted is also an experienced faculty member, having taught honors French at Berwick and Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. Ted has also spent time teaching in France and has served on the Board of Trustees of Camp Dudley, the oldest camp in the United States, for twelve years.
A native of Connecticut, Ted holds a BA and MA from Middlebury College and is a graduate of the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. An outdoor enthusiast, Ted can often be found skiing and hiking with his grown children and his two dogs.
A communication from Ted can be read at the bottom of this letter. The Board of Directors is also excited to announce he will be back to campus in mid-January to start to get to know our faculty, students, and families. Importantly, Ted will also roll up his sleeves over the Summer to join and help lead the Strategic Planning Committee’s efforts to chart out the school’s path forward.
On behalf of the Board of Directors we are grateful to the school community for your support throughout this important process. A special thank you, too, to Jim Hendrix for his ongoing support and leadership as we make this important transition.
I am confident that the future of JHCS will be very bright under Ted’s leadership.
Sincerely,
Bill Kucera
Board Chair
Dear Jackson Hole Community School,
I am thrilled to join your community and build on the excellent foundation of JHCS! From the moment I set foot in the school and met the students and faculty, the strong sense of community was palpable in every corner of the building; students looked me in the eye and asked me my name, adults approached me and offered to help, and kindness was the centerpiece of every interaction I had.
During these critical years of teenage development, I look forward to working together to shape a healthy future for our students. The faculty and staff at JHCS are an outstanding group of educators, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been chosen to join their team. Relationships are the foundation of every successful community, so my door will always be open to you.
I look forward to seeing you all during my visit in January or meeting you when I arrive in July.
With gratitude,
Ted