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.
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
Archive and Communications
Every official update regarding the search transition will be archived here for our community's reference:
June 4, 2026
Head of School Search Update
April 17, 2026
Important Message from Allen Purkiss, Board of Trustees President