Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School (TJ) is thrilled to share the appointment of Mr. Garry Hallman as their new Head of School. The Board’s unanimous decision to appoint Garry reflects their confidence in his alignment with TJ’s Mission and values, his extensive leadership experience, and his deep commitment to educating children.
Garry has over 20 years of experience in education, including more than a decade in senior administrative leadership roles at independent private schools. He currently serves as Assistant Head of School and Dean of Academics at West Nottingham Academy, the nation’s oldest boarding school. In that role, Garry leads the faculty in all aspects of curriculum and pedagogy. Additionally, he has overseen critical strategic initiatives involving retention and recruitment, fundraising, and accreditation. Prior to his time at West Nottingham, Garry served as Academic Dean at Carson Long Military Academy, where he again oversaw all academic operations, leading a team of department chairs in curriculum alignment and the delivery of quality instruction to middle and upper-school students. He has taught numerous subjects from AP Calculus to English, chemistry, and history.
Garry’s character and educational philosophy align deeply with TJ’s Mission. Throughout his career he has dedicated himself to academic excellence, inspiring students to make the most of their abilities and to find joy in learning. Garry is a true believer in the rigorous classical liberal arts education TJ offers, and he has a personal passion for TJ’s western civilization focused curriculum.
Garry’s academic credentials include a Master of Arts in History from American Public University, where he graduated with honors, and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Computer Engineering and History from Virginia Tech. Beyond his professional expertise, Garry is an enthusiastic lifelong learner with interests spanning history, architecture, science, space, and woodworking. Known as an avid reader with a personal library numbering in the thousands of books, Garry also deeply values meaningful, one-on-one connections and learning the stories that motivate and inspire those around him.
Garry shared his enthusiasm for joining the TJ community: “I am honored to be selected as your next Head of School. From my first introduction to TJ through the wonderful campus visit in December, I remain impressed with both the quality of the program as well as the character of the people in the community. I look forward to the opportunity to get to know you all better and to help work with you to continue TJ’s long history of excellence as we move into this exciting new chapter together!”
Garry will officially assume his role as Head of School on July 1, 2025, but TJ’s Board of Trustees will begin organizing opportunities over the coming months for faculty, staff, students, and families to get to know him. These interactions will allow the community to see firsthand the passion, vision, and leadership Garry brings to TJ.
The Board of Trustees would like to thank everyone who participated in the search process. Their input was invaluable in helping us find the ideal candidate to lead TJ into its next era of growth and success while ensuring we remain true to our Mission-aligned roots. They would like to extend a special thanks to their partners in this search, consultants Marcie McLean and Andrew Wooden from The Education Group, for their leadership in conducting a successful, comprehensive, and exhaustive national search.
Finally, the Board would also like to take a moment to thank and recognize Mrs. Laura McDonald for her leadership as Head of School for many many years. Laura is a pillar of the TJ community with over twenty-five years of dedicated and faithful service to TJ and its students. We appreciate especially her involvement supporting the search. As TJ move forward, Laura, Garry, and the Board will work closely to ensure a smooth and successful transition of leadership.
Please join the TJ community now and in the months ahead in warmly welcoming Mr. Garry Hallman, their newest Cavalier, to the TJ family as our new Head of School.
Reference:
Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School
417.781.5124
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