Heathwood Hall names interim co- heads of school
Contributed by Heathwood Hall Episcopal School

Anne Weston

The Heathwood Hall Episcopal School Board of Trustees named Anne Weston and Steve Mandell interim co- heads of the school for the 2008- 2009 academic year. They will succeed Steve Hickman, who announced he would be leaving Columbia with his family at the end of this school year to become headmaster of Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Hickman, who has served as head of school since July 2000, will remain at Heathwood Hall through May 2008.

Weston and Mandell will officially assume their new roles June 1.

"We have complete confidence in Anne and Steve, not only because of their accomplishments while serving Heathwood Hall, but also because they work well together as a team," said Katherine Frankstone, who, along with E. Wade Mullins III is serving as co- chair of the school's search committee. "We believe their complementary backgrounds and skills, as well as their strong leadership and obvious dedication to Heathwood Hall, will serve us well during this transition."

Weston, currently the associate head of the school, has served Heathwood Hall in exemplary fashion for nearly 30 years as a teacher, counselor, and administrator. She currently heads Heathwood Hall's Upper School and oversees the school's faculty and full academic program, including the arts and athletics.

Steve Mandell

Mandell, currently the assistant head of school, joined Heathwood Hall in 2000 as director of college counseling.

In 2006, he was named assistant head for admissions and student services, adding enrollment and marketing to his list of responsibilities.

"Having Anne and Steve serve as interim co- heads for the 2008- 2009 school year will allow our search committee and school community the recommended length of time to undergo a comprehensive search process and find the right person to lead Heathwood Hall as the next head of school beginning in July 2009," said Mullins.

In December, the search committee began interviewing professional search firms, which traveled to campus and made presentations.

The committee selected Carney, Sandoe and Associates of Boston, which will help lead a community-wide dialogue with opportunities for school families, faculty, alumni, past parents and many others to have a voice in the search process.