Head of School TRANSITION

June 30, 2026

Dear CHS Community,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we write to share that Dr. Roderick MacNeal, Jr. will be stepping down as Head of School of The Chestnut Hill School following the completion of the 2026–2027 school year. Below, you will find Dr. MacNeal’s reflections on his time leading CHS over the past three years.

We are deeply grateful for Dr. MacNeal’s dedication and service to CHS. From his first days with us, Dr. MacNeal has embraced the school’s mission and core values with enthusiasm, while guiding the school forward with clarity and purpose. Under his leadership, CHS has strengthened its academic program through key curricular enhancements, successfully completed its self-study work as a step toward AISNE reaccreditation, and developed a bold, forward-looking strategic plan. His work has energized the community and positioned the school for continued excellence in the decade ahead. We look forward to celebrating Dr. MacNeal and honoring his many contributions at a community gathering next spring. 

The Board has formed an initial working group and will appoint a search committee to lead a national search for CHS’s next Head of School to succeed Dr. MacNeal. Trustees Chris Kolovos P’32, P’35 and Varsha Tanguturi P’25, P’29, P’33 have generously committed to co-chair the search committee. Just as with the development of the strategic plan, the search process will include meaningful opportunities for community participation and input. We will share more information later this summer and provide regular updates throughout the search process.

For 186 years, CHS has nurtured young people to become, in the words of the school’s mission, joyful learners and critical thinkers who embrace diversity and act with empathy. That mission resonates today as loudly as it did decades ago. With a strong foundation and a compelling strategic plan in place, CHS is poised for an exciting next chapter—one that builds on the school’s history and serves as a model for early and elementary education in our area and across the nation. The Board of Trustees remains deeply optimistic about the future of CHS and looks forward to shaping it together with our extraordinary community.

With gratitude and optimism for all that lies ahead,

 

 

Mathilda McGee-Tubb
Chair, Board of Trustees

 

Sri Rao
Incoming Vice Chair, Board of Trustees

June 30, 2026

Dear Chestnut Hill School Community,
 
As the Board of Trustees has shared with you, I will be stepping down as Head of School at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.
 
Over the past three years, I have enjoyed leading this community and am proud of all that we have accomplished together. Enrollment is up as we head into the next school year, the AISNE visiting team supported reaccreditation, and our newly adopted strategic plan maps a clear vision for the future of CHS. My goal for next year is to continue to provide steady leadership and support a smooth transition.
 
My experiences at CHS have been personally transformative. Whenever I speak with prospective families, I take pride in sharing that this is one of the few places I have worked where we live out our core values, mission, and vision on a daily basis.
 
I have been deeply impressed by our faculty and staff and their commitment to creating a sense of belonging and to weaving social and emotional learning into everyday instruction, along with a strong commitment to academic achievement. As a result, CHS students are confident and secure in their identity, display poise and caring for one another, take ownership of their learning and push themselves to grow beyond the classroom.
 
I have also been moved by the dedication of our parent community. The way families support our philanthropic efforts, show up to appreciate faculty and staff, and bring our community together through Family Association events reflects the spirit that makes CHS special.
 
I want to thank the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to serve, and every member of this amazingly tight community for the warmth and support you have shown me throughout my tenure. CHS will always hold a special place in my heart.

With gratitude,

Dr. Roderick MacNeal, Jr.
Head of School