Dear MacDuffie Community:

It is with great excitement that I share the news of the appointment of Mr. Phil Darrin as our next Head of School. 

Phil brings almost three decades of experience in independent school leadership, having held roles as a coach, international student coordinator, academic dean, and chief programs officer at South Kent School, head of school at Spire Academy, a proprietary school in Ohio, and as director of advancement at Darrow School.  At Darrow, Phil has helped to lead a turnaround, aiming to triple enrollment through inventive partnerships, program repositioning, and targeted marketing. He has leveraged international student recruitment in athletics, established pipelines in China and Kazakhstan, and designed residential and operational strategies to support sustainable growth.

During Phil’s visit to campus, we saw evidence of his commitment to presence, his ability to connect with the various constituencies that make up the MacDuffie community, and his unwavering energy and vision for the bright future for our school.  He is thrilled to have been appointed the next head of school, and wishes to share the following message with the MacDuffie Community:

“I am truly honored to join The MacDuffie School as its next Head of School. From the moment I stepped on campus, I could feel that this is a place with heart, energy, and real possibility. I was struck by the warmth of the community and the care people clearly have for one another and for the school itself. I am excited to get to know the students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni, and to begin the work of building on MacDuffie’s strengths together.”

In partnership with Carney Sandoe and Associates, The MacDuffie School conducted an international search with over 100 candidates.  Phil emerged as the unanimous recommendation of the advisory board, being described as “the perfect combination of experience and personality for the job” and “the ideal candidate” in stakeholder feedback.  Phil will begin his tenure as head on July 1, 2026. 

If you have any questions regarding the search or transition, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Sincerely,

Christopher H. Wilson

Chair, The MacDuffie School Advisory Board