Head of School Search
On June 1, 2026, Josh Wolman announced that he will step down as Head of School at the conclusion of the 2026-27 school year. The Board of Trustees, led by Chair Bret Hirsh, has launched a national search for a leader who will “propel Aspen Country Day School forward while honoring the values and lessons that have guided us for 56 years.”
Throughout this important transition, we will keep our community informed and engaged, and there will be many opportunities to share your input in the months ahead. All updates will be posted here. Questions for the search committee can be directed to ACDSHead@spencerstuart.com
July 31 update: committee, search firm selection, and request for input in the community survey
Dear Aspen Country Day School Community,
Since Josh Wolman’s June 1 announcement that 2026-27 will be his final school year with us, the Board of Trustees has been focused on launching the search for Aspen Country Day School’s next Head of School. Steps taken thus far include the formation of a Search Committee, the selection of an executive search firm, and preparations to engage the broader Aspen Country Day School community to help inform the path ahead.
Search Committee
To guide this process, the Board has assembled a Search Committee representing a range of perspectives across the Aspen Country Day School community, united by a deep commitment to the school’s mission and future success. The Committee is charged with recommending a leading candidate to the Board of Trustees for consideration and final appointment.
The Committee is chaired by Brad Hathaway and includes a dedicated group of current and former trustees, as well as staff representation. The Committee is committed to conducting a thorough, thoughtful, and inclusive process.
The Search Committee currently consists of:
- Brad Hathaway (Chair), P’29, P’31
- Angie Davlyn, P’30, P’32, P’34
- Fiona Hagist, alumna ’97, P’24, P’25, P’28
- Bret Hirsh, Board Chair, P’29, P’31
- Scott Hicks, former CFO, P’17, P’19, P’21
- Soledad Hurst, former Board Chair, P’19, P’20
- Karen Kenworthy, P’28, P’30
- Faculty Representative (To be announced)
- Courtney DeVito (Staff Recorder), Director of Human Resources
Please join us in thanking all members of the Search Committee for their willingness to serve and for the significant time, care, and dedication they will bring to this important work.
Search Firm Selection
Following a thorough selection process, the Board is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Spencer Stuart, a leading global leadership advisory and executive search firm. The Search Committee will work closely with Spencer Stuart to coordinate community engagement, develop and assess a pool of prospective candidates, conduct confidential interviews, and identify finalists.
The search will be led by Aaron Mieszczanski and Mary Gorman, who bring extensive experience conducting Head of School searches for leading independent schools, as well as significant firsthand leadership experience within independent school communities. In our conversations with Aaron and Mary, the Search Committee was impressed by their appreciation for Aspen Country Day School’s strong reputation, distinctive culture, and clear sense of purpose, built upon our three key pillars of academics, outdoor education, and the arts.
ACDS Community Engagement: E-Survey and Spencer Stuart Campus Visit
As the search begins, the Search Committee and Spencer Stuart are eager to hear from all members of the Aspen Country Day School community. We want to understand what you value most about Aspen Country Day School and what qualities, experiences, and leadership attributes you hope to see in the school’s next Head. Your input will help shape the Opportunity Statement which will guide the search and help attract and assess a strong pool of candidates.
The Spencer Stuart team has developed an online survey to gather input from members of the school community. We encourage all parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and other community stakeholders to participate.
Click here to complete the Aspen Country Day School Head of School Search Community Feedback Survey
The survey should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes to complete and will remain open until September 9 at 5:00 PM MDT. All responses will be anonymous and confidential and will be reviewed directly by the Spencer Stuart team.
Campus visit
In addition to the survey, members of the Spencer Stuart team will visit campus soon to meet with members of the Aspen Country Day School community. These conversations will provide an opportunity to gather additional perspectives and experience firsthand the people, programs, and culture that make Aspen Country Day School unique. Additional information regarding the visit will be shared soon.
Search email address
Spencer Stuart has established a dedicated email address for the search process. Community members are welcome to submit comments, questions, nominations, or recommendations at: ACDSHead@spencerstuart.com. All correspondence will be treated confidentially and monitored regularly by the Spencer Stuart team.
Thank you to the members of the Search Committee, our partners at Spencer Stuart, and the entire Aspen Country Day School community for your engagement, trust, and support. We look forward to working together as we identify the school’s next Head of School and continue building on Aspen Country Day School’s strong foundation.
Sincerely,
Brad Hathaway P’29, P’31
Search Chair, Board of Trustees
Bret Hirsh P’29, P’31
Chair, Board of Trustees
June 1, 2026: message from Board Chair Bret Hirsh
Dear Aspen Country Day School Community,
When Josh recently shared with the Board of Trustees his decision to return to the East Coast, we felt a mix of emotions: sadness at saying goodbye to a cherished colleague and friend, gratitude for all he has accomplished, and genuine excitement for him and for Rachel as they move closer to their families.
With the support of a talented faculty and staff, an exceptional senior leadership team, and a deeply committed Board of Trustees, Josh has helped shape Aspen Country Day School into the remarkable PreK to Eighth Grade independent school it is today. We are fortunate to benefit from his steady leadership throughout this upcoming year of transition.
As a Board, we knew this moment would someday arrive. We are prepared for this transition, and we view it as an extraordinary opportunity for Aspen Country Day School to build upon our existing strong foundation, which includes:
- A thoughtfully developed Strategic Plan, now entering its implementation phase, that will significantly enhance both our campus and our educational experience.
- A strengthened and more rigorous academic program, including an enhanced scope and sequence in the Lower School and a revitalized math curriculum in the Middle School.
- Outstanding high school placement outcomes in a highly competitive landscape, with our Aardvarks continuing to earn spots at their top-choice schools—whether boarding schools, Aspen High School, or other local institutions.
- A beautiful campus accompanied by 13 school-owned faculty residences.
- A solid financial position marked by balanced budgets and a healthy endowment.
- A generous financial aid program that will open our community to even more deserving students.
Aspen Country Day School is thriving, thanks to the dedication of Josh and his team, and we are confident that the opportunity to lead our school into its next chapter will attract exceptional candidates from across the country and within our own community.
With that in mind, we now begin the search process. The Board has passed a resolution to form a Head of School Search Committee that will represent every part of our community, including faculty, alumni, and Trustees. We will soon begin conversations with leading national search firms to identify the partner best suited to support this important work. These firms understand the remarkable progress of the past 12 years and the exciting opportunity this leadership role presents, and they are eager to assist us.
While we intend to move efficiently, we will also proceed with great care. Our commitment is to find the right leader—someone who will propel Aspen Country Day School forward while honoring the values and lessons that have guided us for 56 years. As part of this process, we will invite input from all corners of our community. Our search will be inclusive, transparent, and grounded in both our aspirations and our history.
As always, Josh, our faculty and staff, and the Board of Trustees will rely on your partnership and support as we begin this next chapter in the ACDS story. We will keep you informed at every step.
With gratitude,
Bret Hirsh P’29, P’31
Chair, Aspen Country Day School Board of Trustees
June 1, 2026: announcement from Head of School Josh Wolman
Friends,
I am writing to share that next year will be my last year as the Head of Aspen Country Day School. The 2026-2027 school year will be my 13th, and the timing just feels right for Rachel and me to move back East to be closer to our kids and our extended family.
While leadership transitions are a natural part of independent schools, this community has become such an important part of my life. I will deeply miss the relationships I have built with colleagues, families, students, trustees, faculty, and my leadership team.
Over the years we have accomplished so much together, including:
- A transformed campus and a spectacular physical plant made possible by completion of the $50M Known & Loved campaign.
- An exceptional faculty and staff, recruited with intention and sustained by a record-breaking Annual Fund along with the Teacher Wellness Fund, an incredible statement of support for teachers.
- A robust financial picture, with an endowment of $12M, up from $325,000 in 2014; strong enrollment with 300 students today, up from 190 students in 2014; expanded access to faculty housing, with 13 units, up from 1 in 2014
- The $25M True to Tomorrow capital campaign fully underway, already building even more capacity for the school to achieve its dreams.
- Three landmark programs in academics, arts, and outdoor education that are among the strongest in the country.
Most importantly, we have remained true to who we are, and students love coming to school, as you can see in the most recent State of the School video at this link.
What I will carry with me most are not the buildings, programs, or milestones, but the people and relationships that define this school. I will remember greeting students each morning, being present at assemblies, performances and Blue/Green days, watching kids return from Outdoor Education trips more confident and resilient, and witnessing the powerful partnership between parents and teachers that defines this community.
Most importantly, I have tremendous confidence in the future of this school that we all love. Aspen Country Day is stronger than it has ever been. We have an excellent leadership team, committed trustees, a strong faculty and staff, engaged and supportive families, and some real positive momentum. The foundation is strong, and the future is bright.
I look forward to greeting all our returning families on September 8 and will remain fully engaged through June 2027. We are all dedicated to solidifying our gains, celebrating our thriving community, and preparing for a smooth transition. Thank you for your partnership over the last 12 years. It has been an extraordinary journey.
Josh
