Stories

Introducing our new Middle School leader

January 21, 2022

Jamie Hozack to take the reins starting in July

A message from Head of School Josh Wolman

Friends:

I am delighted to announce that Jamie Hozack will be joining us as Head of Middle School. Jamie has a background in teaching and working with middle and high school students in the Roaring Fork Valley as well as most recently at the Telluride Mountain School. Jamie is a highly respected educator who is beloved by students, colleagues, and families. As the Head of Telluride Mountain School shared, “Simply put, Jamie Hozack is an incredible school leader. He brings out the best in others, is deeply committed to the success of all students, and is intelligent, perceptive, and personable.”

I am confident that Jamie’s joining the Middle School enhances our ongoing commitment to excellence in academics, the arts, and outdoor education. Jamie has been to campus on two different occasions, meeting with the Leadership Team as well as the Middle School faculty. Each time, he impressed us with his calm, even-keeled, student-centered thoughts and questions, and connection to the mission of our school.

“In my visits to Aspen Country Day School, I met a strong team that cares deeply about students and each other, and I saw students who were kind to others and genuinely enjoy being in school. I am really looking forward to joining the faculty later this summer.”

– Jamie Hozack

Jamie has been working in schools since 2002 when he left Merrill Lynch & Co to become a teacher and math department head at Aspen High School. Jamie has also worked as a school administrator and leader in Basalt and Denver public schools, and for the last four years has been the upper school director (7th to 12th grade) at Telluride Mountain School. Jamie has vast experience with curriculum, assessments, scope and sequence, and working with students outside of the classroom. Jamie is an avid outdoorsman, skiing, climbing, running and adventuring in the mountains. (He competes annually in the Power of Four but is taking this year off to lead a ski trip with students in Silverton, Colorado.) Throughout his career Jamie has been in the classroom, has worked effectively with parents and students, and has been praised as a leader among the faculty.

Jamie grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Dartmouth College in 2000. He then received a master’s degree in math with an emphasis on teaching from the University of Northern Colorado, and a principal license from Colorado State University. Jamie has taught a wide variety of math courses and is currently teaching a middle school math class in Telluride. He has led backpacking and backcountry ski trips, and pedagogically is perfectly aligned with Aspen Country Day School. He and his wife, Erin, are looking forward to moving back to the Aspen area, a place where they met and lived for years.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Scott Hicks for all of the hard work and leadership that he has brought to the division as interim head of Middle School this year. Scott has been a loud supporter of Jamie’s candidacy, and he will be a terrific mentor as Jamie starts in July, 2022.  

Please join me in welcoming Jamie to the Middle School and to the Leadership Team.

Best,

Josh