New Head of School

Dan Hildebrand Comes to Forsyth After Serving as Interim Head of School at Visitation Academy

On December 12, 2017, the Forsyth School Board of Trustees and Search Committee announced the selection of Dan Hildebrand as the new Head of School beginning July 1. Mr. Hildebrand comes to Forsyth School after serving as the Interim Head of School for Visitation Academy in St. Louis for the last year and a half. He has more than three decades of experience as a leader, educator and coach. 

The Forsyth School Search Committee, made up of board members, parents and teachers, reviewed and interviewed potential candidates.  "After narrowing the field of potential candidates, Mr. Hildebrand became the clear candidate to lead Forsyth School into the future," said Eric Gilbert, Board Chair of Forsyth School.  "He was selected by a unanimous vote of the Forsyth School Board of Trustees."

"Dan is a collaborator with a vision to lead, teach, and bring people together," said Kelly Richert, Chair of the Forsyth School Search Committee.  "The Board and the Search Committee had an opportunity to meet with Dan and the other candidates several times throughout the process. Dan's experience, collaborative attitude, and humble style, quickly helped him emerge as the clear leader of Forsyth School."

"Forsyth School is a prestigious school known across the country for its unique campus, diverse enrollment, creative teachers and engaging curriculum designed to foster the next generation," said Dan Hildebrand, incoming Head of School for Forsyth School.  "It is an honor to be selected to lead Forsyth School into the future."
 

Three Decades of Experience

As the Interim Head of School for Visitation Academy, Mr. Hildebrand fostered the "One Viz" program, increased faculty satisfaction, and reinforced the school's diversity mission by establishing new scholarships for students from underserved communities.

Before moving to St. Louis, Mr. Hildebrand was the Head of School for Robinson School in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Over his four years at Robinson, he helped increase enrollment, upgrade facilities with new technologies and teaching programs, established scholarships to bring promising students to the school from nearby government housing projects, and implemented new professional development programs. 

Prior to that, for eight years, Mr. Hildebrand served as the Head of School for The Calverton School in Maryland. During his tenure, he oversaw a multi-million-dollar capital campaign, tripled enrollment of minority students, implemented a program to attract international students and helped design an expansion of the campus including a new lower school building, athletic fields, renovation of existing buildings, and creation of a new campus center.

Mr. Hildebrand also served as the Head of Upper School for The Harley School in New York for eight years and was a teacher and coach at Holland Hall School in Tulsa for eleven years.  He has a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts and History with Honors from the University of Chicago.  Mr. Hildebrand was also a collegiate All-American and won the prestigious Amos Alonzo Stagg medal awarded annually to the undergraduate student with the best all-around record for athletics, scholarship and character.
 

The Next Chapter

Mr. Hildebrand will assume his new role at Forsyth School on July 1. Dr. Timothy Burns is currently serving as Interim Head of School for Forsyth School through the end of the 2017/18 school year.