Head of School Search

Leading Wooster Into Our Next Century

In April 2026, Wooster Head of School, Matt Byrnes, announced his plan to retire in June 2027, at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 academic year, capping off an extraordinary era of leadership.

This page will serve as the central hub for the Wooster community throughout the transition. Check back here for ongoing updates regarding the leadership profile, search timeline, and opportunities to make your voice heard.

Announcment from Matt Byrnes, Head of School and Allen Purkiss, Board of Trustees President

April 15, 2026
Matt Byrnes, Head of School, Retirement Announcement

April 17, 2026
Important Message from Allen Purkiss, Board of Trustees President

Our Search Partners

The Board of Trustees has partnered with Resource Group 175. a premier national executive search firm dedicated to independent schools. Grounded in the core values of integrity, inclusivity, knowledge, and flexibility, RG175 specializes in finding leaders who align deeply with unique school cultures.

The search is being personally guided by RG175 consultants:

Tony Featherston
Robert P. Henderson, Jr.

Their bios can be found on the RG175 site.

Search Leadership and Committee

The search process is being co-chaired by Trustees Jennifer Wadehra P '19, '21 and Andy Wood P '24, '26. Working in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, the Search Committee, and RG175, their focus is to ensure a transparent, mission-aligned, and deeply collaborative search process.

To contact the Search Committee directly, please email hossearch@woosterschool.org.

Search Committee Members:

Our committee represents deeply invested trustees, diverse skillsets, and a shared love for Wooster:

Carlos Aspillaga P '22. '25
Chip Fortson P '20, '22
Jane Singhal P '21, '23
Allen Purkiss P '21, '23, '25 (Board of Trustees President)
Simon Porter P '22, '25, '28
Robyn Tas P '28

Community Survey

We are grateful to everyone—parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and students—who took the time to share their vision for the future leadership of our school. This insightful input will inform our leadership profile and candidate evaluations. Thank you again for helping us find a leader who will build on our strong foundation.

~Wooster Head of School Search Committee