On behalf of the Pomfret School Board of Trustees, I am writing to share that Head of School J. Timothy Richards has decided to step down as head of school at the conclusion of the 2024–2025 school year, roughly eighteen months from now.
For as long as I have known Tim, he has been driven by a fundamental belief that what is best for kids is best for Pomfret. Under his leadership, Pomfret has come to epitomize what a modern boarding school can and should be, a school committed to helping students find purpose and meaning in their lives during a transformative period. Tim has accomplished this without ever deviating from his core educational vision or sacrificing his own personal values.
Tim arrived in the summer of 2011 with his wife and trusted partner, Anne, and together they quickly set about developing an ambitious agenda for the future of Pomfret School, building upon the existing strengths of the institution.
During his time at Pomfret, Tim has presided over an incredible transformation, bolstering Pomfret’s enrollment, increasing its endowment by 67 percent, adding $27 million to the annual fund, and overseeing the largest fundraising campaign ($80 million) in its history, all while diversifying the composition of its student and faculty bodies, including the addition of many more people of color and other historically underrepresented groups.
Under his leadership, the School successfully adopted and implemented two strategic plans, navigated a global pandemic, retooled its approach to teaching and learning, and brought student wellbeing to the forefront. Tim also played a leading role in the wholesale renovation of virtually every academic space on campus, as well as Jahn Rink and Hard Auditorium, and the construction of two new buildings: the Health and Wellness Center in 2018 and VISTA, the new science building set to open in September.
As board chair, I feel there is no greater responsibility than choosing a head of school, and there is no one I trust more to lead a national search than Vice Chair Daryle Bost ’89. As a result, I have asked Daryle to convene and chair a Search Committee comprised of trustees and faculty to select Pomfret’s thirteenth head of school. The committee will work in partnership with a search firm (consisting of former heads of school) that has deep experience in national independent school leadership searches.
Change can be difficult, but it’s also vital. Like Tim, I believe new leadership is an essential component of growth for great schools like Pomfret. Our current strategic plan, Change Makers and Problem Solvers, provides a strong foundation for the School’s future; as we near the end of Amplify: The Campaign for Pomfret School, the largest fundraising campaign in Pomfret history, the School is operating from a position of real strength.
Tim and Anne, you have given so much to this school. On behalf of my colleagues on the board, I want to thank you personally and publicly for all you have done to make Pomfret what it is today. Over the next eighteen months, I look forward to celebrating your success and your future. Certa Viriliter!