Head of School Search

April 20, 2026

 

Dear Westminster School Community,

 

Chris and I write to share that after 41 years in boarding schools, we will be retiring from Westminster at the conclusion of the 2026–2027 school year. My experience as a teacher, coach, dorm parent, advisor, and administrator has deepened my belief in the power of relationships at the heart of our work. After much reflection, we believe this is the right moment to begin the next chapter of our lives.

 

This decision comes with deep gratitude and a profound appreciation for the community that has defined our time on Williams Hill. Westminster is a place where relationships matter, where shared purpose guides our efforts, and where a commitment to the common good is lived out each day. It has been an honor to work alongside students, faculty, staff, families, and alumni who care so deeply about one another and about this school.

 

Over the last five years, much of our collective effort has focused on defining who we are today and preparing Westminster for the future. Through a comprehensive and inclusive strategic planning process that engaged all members of the community, we reflected on our strengths and considered where we must grow. That work affirmed our commitment to academic excellence, our deeply relational culture, and the enduring relevance of Grit & Grace, while also challenging us to evolve in a changing world.

 

In support of our students and faculty, we have expanded academic and wellness resources, added key student support roles, and increased capacity in college counseling. We have created more space for faculty leadership and professional growth and strengthened curriculum, advising, and student life programming. These efforts represent an important beginning and will continue to unfold in the years ahead.

 

There is still much to be done. We will remain fully engaged, supporting our students, partnering with faculty and staff, and advancing the priorities that will sustain Westminster into the future. This is not a farewell, but the beginning of a year of continued work together.

 

Chris has been an integral partner in this journey, contributing in countless ways to the life of the school and to the strength of this community. We are grateful to have shared in the daily rhythms of school life and in the many moments that make Westminster so special.

 

We are confident that Westminster School will continue to flourish with the energy and optimism that accompany new leadership. The Board of Trustees has been engaged in thoughtful succession planning and will share additional information about the search process in the coming weeks. There will be opportunities for community input and engagement as the process unfolds.

 

We are grateful for the trust you place in us and for the partnership that defines this community. Chris and I look forward to the year ahead and to all that we will continue to accomplish together.

 

With Grit, Grace, and gratitude,

Elaine White

Head of School

 

 

April 20, 2026

 

Dear Westminster School Community,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am writing to you regarding Elaine White’s announcement that she will retire from Westminster at the end of the 2026–2027 school year. 

Elaine became Westminster’s ninth Head of School in 2021 after a successful 33-year tenure at The Governor’s Academy, where she served in many significant leadership roles including Assistant Head of School, Interim Director of Advancement, Academic Dean, and Chair of the English Department. 

From the moment Elaine and her husband, Chris, arrived on Williams Hill, she immersed herself in the Westminster community and embraced the school’s mission and ethos with profound understanding and remarkable passion. With Westminster’s motto of Grit & Grace at the forefront, Elaine guided the school thoughtfully and successfully in her first year as the world emerged from the global pandemic. Her intentional and optimistic leadership reenergized the faculty, deepened the focus on student well-being, and strengthened the community.

Early in her tenure, Elaine led an inclusive and comprehensive strategic planning process to identify the key priorities that will drive Westminster’s growth and ensure that the school continues to meet its mission in a world driven by unprecedented change. That plan has guided Elaine’s work and her many accomplishments over the last five years. 

Elaine’s strategic focus has been on the people and programs that define and distinguish Westminster. With transformative faculty-student relationships at the heart of the Westminster experience, Elaine has invested in faculty, students, and academics with the establishment of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. This integrated center provides enhanced professional development and mentorship for faculty as well as academic coaching, subject-specific support, and dedicated writing and math resources for all students. Elaine has also initiated a comprehensive review of our academic program to ensure that it prioritizes skill development, interdisciplinary connection, student engagement, and thoughtful integration of technology. Finally, Elaine has made investments in critical areas—expanding the capacity and work of the college counseling office, restructuring the Dean’s Office and the disciplinary philosophy, reinvigorating the student life program, and increasing support and wellness resources for our students.

We know—and hear consistently from our alumni—that it is the people and programs that most profoundly shape our students’ experience and growth at Westminster and impact their lives most beyond Williams Hill. Elaine’s work in advancing these foundational elements will have a lasting impact on generations of Martlets and allow Westminster to approach the future from a position of considerable strength. 

Chris has been an incredible partner with Elaine in this work. In addition to practicing as a chiropractor, Chris has immersed himself in the Westminster community and impacted so many facets of school life. From serving as a coach on the JV boys’ lacrosse staff to hosting family-style lunches and morning dog walks with Nash, he has built meaningful relationships with students and colleagues alike, offering a steady presence, warmth and humor. His generosity of spirit and genuine interest in others has enhanced the fabric of the Westminster community.

There will be many opportunities between now and June 2027 to fully recognize and thank Elaine and Chris for their many contributions to Westminster. For now, I want to express my deep gratitude for their incredible dedication and service to our school. Elaine and Chris have given the best of themselves to Westminster over the last five years. They have been exemplary stewards of our mission and they have led the school forward with strong vision, incredible care, and most importantly, Grit & Grace. We look forward to working together over the next year to maintain momentum on key initiatives and plan for Westminster’s future.

As a board, we will begin our work immediately to select Westminster’s next Head of School. The search process will be led by trustee Christopher Campbell ’91 P’24, who will chair a diverse search committee with trustees, faculty, alumni, and parents. There will also be opportunities for all of you to participate in the process. In the coming weeks, we will share more details about the search process. We are confident that Westminster’s reputation for excellence will draw a diverse group of highly qualified and interested candidates and that we will be in a strong position to select our next Head of School.

The Board and I look forward to working with the entire Westminster community in the months ahead.

Sincerely,

Renée Lynch Carrel ’84, P’19, ’21

Chair of the Board