Head of School Search
Head of School Announcement from the Board of Trustees
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Chapin School Princeton’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of William F. Ennist Jr. as Chapin’s next Head of School. Bill will begin his tenure on July 1, 2023, succeeding Barbara P. Pasteris, who will retire at the end of this coming academic year after 36 years of outstanding service to the school. In a search that prioritized the consideration of a diverse range of talented, qualified candidates, Bill impressed the Search Committee with his experience, intellect, and practical understanding of the operations of an independent school. An educational leader who is passionate about the value and transformative nature of an independent school education, Bill has been the head of school at The Country School in Easton, Maryland — a Pre-K through 8 school with 285 students — as well as the Canterbury School in Fort Wayne, Indiana — a Pre-K through 12 school with 865 students. He is well-versed in all aspects of the head of school role: enrollment, marketing, retention, faculty development, fundraising, DEI work, and curricular innovation. Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and Spanish from Union College and holds Master’s degrees in Spanish and Spanish literature from Yale University and curriculum and instruction from Fairfield University. Approachable and gregarious, Bill’s energy and love for what he does are infectious. Personally and professionally, he lives Chapin’s mission and embodies its philosophy. Bill’s appointment concludes an eight-month search process conducted by a Search Committee that included Trustees Michelle Bajwa (Vice President), Ray Cabot, Jodi Desai, and Bill Squires (Treasurer); Mythili Lahiri, the Assistant Head of School; Mary Diggan, the Director of Early Childhood Program, Director of Admission and Enrollment Management; Jeff Barnosky, the Director of Strategic Initiatives; and faculty members Kelly Devine, Desiree Melegrito, Laura Salazar, and Ana Vega. On behalf of the Board and our school community, we would like to thank the Search Committee for their commitment and thoughtful approach to recommending Barbara’s successor. In addition, we would like to thank Andy Watson and Jim Wickenden of the search firm DRG. They have been an invaluable resource. We also would like to thank the members of the Chapin community who participated in the process. The Search Committee thoroughly analyzed the input that community members provided through surveys and meetings. In sum, we have found in Bill an extraordinarily able and proven leader. We are excited for the community to get to know him as we have. Over the coming months, there will be opportunities for Bill to get to know Chapin and for our community to get to know him. Please join me in welcoming Bill and his family to our community. Sincerely yours, |
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George McClellan, P’20’28 Chair of the Search Committee & President of the Board of Trustees
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A Letter from William Ennist, Jr.
Dear Members of the Chapin Community,
I am thrilled to be joining Chapin as Head of School this coming July. During my campus visit, I was struck by the students' affection for the school and its teachers; the faculty's commitment to its students and families; and the parents' dedication and support of the tireless efforts of the faculty and staff to create the best learning experiences possible for their children. A supportive and committed culture among all members of the school community is a vital ingredient to future prosperity, and I am so pleased to see this element so clearly in evidence.
I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to work within this outstanding school culture to build upon its existing successes, expand its footprint in the greater Princeton area, and help maintain its reputation as one of the finest PreK-8 independent schools in the region.
Sincerely,
William F. Ennist Jr.