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Collegiate Head of School Announces 2019 Retirement

7/21/2017

Stephen D. Hickman shared with the Collegiate School community on Thursday that he will be stepping down as Head of School in two years, at the end of the 2018-19 school year.

Citing family health challenges as the reason for his decision, Mr. Hickman, who has served as Collegiate’s leader for three years, said: “Being more available in the coming years must be my most important priority. As a result, I have decided to retire sooner than expected so that I may secure that flexibility.”

Frank Mountcastle, Chairman of Collegiate’s Board of Trustees, said in a letter shared with the Collegiate community yesterday that while Mr. Hickman’s retirement is untimely, he and other Board members understand and fully support Mr. Hickman’s decision: “While we are saddened by the reasons for Steve's decision to retire, I am sure we can all understand and respect his decision to be more available to his family in the coming years…. Over the past three years, Steve has done an outstanding job leading our school. From his first day, Steve hit the ground running, making a tremendous impact on and melding perfectly with our community.”

Mr. Hickman assumed the Head of School position in July 2014, after an extensive national search.

In announcing his appointment, the Board and the School’s Search Committee informed the Collegiate community that their unanimous decision was based upon the breadth of Mr. Hickman’s business and academic experience and his approachable and engaging style. “We are confident that Steve’s unique blend of talents and impressive array of professional experiences make him the most qualified candidate to lead Collegiate into its second century,” they said.

An independent school graduate who spent a successful decade in the business world before entering the field of education, Mr. Hickman’s extensive leadership experience has included serving as Head of Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock, Arkansas, and at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, South Carolina. Both schools experienced tremendous growth and innovation under his leadership.

Since Mr. Hickman’s arrival at Collegiate, the School has accomplished significant milestones, including establishing the Responsible Citizenship Initiative to bring together Collegiate’s longtime emphasis on global education, citizenship, character and five other pillars. The School received re-accreditation and launched a three-year (2016-2019) Strategic Plan. A STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) program has been incorporated into the curriculum and the long-dormant robotics team has been revived. Innovative professional development opportunities have been hosted on campus for faculty; school leaders have implemented capstone programs in 4th, 8th and 12th Grades; measurable efforts have been undertaken to enhance Collegiate’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a renovated McFall Hall (the Middle and Upper School cafeteria) will open in August.

Mr. Hickman assured the Collegiate community in a letter issued on Thursday (which can be viewed here) that over the next two years he will be as enthusiastically committed, as always, to serving students, families, and faculty and staff, and to advancing the many initiatives underway.

“By announcing this now, our Board of Trustees will have sufficient time to conduct a comprehensive search and successfully transition our School community to a new Head of School,” Mr. Hickman wrote. “This two-year timeframe also provides the opportunity to help ensure that we continue our progress in meeting the exciting goals that have been set for Collegiate School. I am proud of the work we have done and I am confident that we will continue to do great work over the next two years. You have my commitment that my full energies will be devoted to doing just that.

“I greatly appreciate our School’s extraordinary history and eagerly anticipate the exciting future that lies ahead for our community. I enthusiastically embrace the responsibilities, challenges and opportunities that come with leading Collegiate School.”

The Board will soon establish a Head of School Search Committee to begin its search for the next Head of Collegiate, Board of Trustees Chairman Frank Mountcastle indicated in his letter to the community. (Click here to read Mr. Mountcastle’s letter.)

“The Board of Trustees shares Steve's high expectations of what he and his colleagues will accomplish together over the next two years,” he wrote. “As a community, we have every reason to be excited and optimistic about Collegiate's future, and know that as we begin our new Head of School search, Collegiate will be a very attractive destination to Steve's ultimate successor.”

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