"Westminster School seeks curious and engaged students who want to grow and learn in a challenging and supportive environment. Students who are motivated to become their best selves both in and out of the classroom, taking advantage of the myriad of opportunities Westminster has to offer."
“At Westminster, we aspire to an extraordinarily ambitious commitment to secondary education, a commitment to nurture the participation of our diverse school community across our entire program — from academics, to studios and labs, gyms, fields and rink, and service to our Hartford community partners. Westminster students are inspired by opportunities to make a difference in all their endeavors.”
"Through gritty trial and error, Westminster students grow into independent learners who are curious, critical thinkers. With the support of faculty, students gain the skills to understand the world around them and enrich their communities at school and beyond."
"Athletic success at Westminster is measured not only by wins and losses, but through the bonds created between teammates and coaches, individual and team improvement, and personal growth. When students learn how to be competitors and how to cooperate with one another, they are better prepared to be citizens of the global world."
"The visual and performing arts program at Westminster weaves the community together and nurtures the spirit of the Westminster campus. The arts at Westminster inspire students of all levels of experience from the very beginner to the advanced artist to practice the freedom of creative self-expression. Professional teachers guide students to work through the creative process from inception to the presentation, building a lifelong respect and appreciation for the arts."
Kerry Kendall Head of Visual and Performing Arts Department
“Driven by a desire to serve young people and conscious of the opportunities for private schools to support a public purpose, Westminster School’s mission statement concludes with the call ‘to commit to a life of service beyond self.’ Westminster’s Hartford Partnership programs aim to deliver on that mission while making a direct impact on people and programs in Hartford.”
Patrick Owens Executive Director, Horizons at Westminster & Hartford Partnerships
“Our community is built on a shared commitment to our values, traditions, and people. At Westminster, students are encouraged to be curious, explore new interests, and step into roles of service and leadership. Sustained, intentional engagement with peers and faculty across all areas of school life leads to the lasting relationships that are the hallmark of the Westminster student experience.”
On April 20, 2026, Westminster School Head of School Elaine White announced that she will retire at the conclusion of the 2026–2027 academic year after 41 years in boarding schools. In a concurrent communication, the Board of Trustees, led by Chair Renée Lynch Carrel ’84, P’19, ’21, shared that it will begin a comprehensive search for Westminster’s next Head of School. The Board has retained RG175, a global firm specializing in independent school leadership searches, to partner with Westminster’s Search Committee in identifying the school’s next leader.
September 3, 2026
Dear Westminster Community,
After a busy and productive summer, the search for Westminster’s next Head of School is entering its final phase. Since our last communication in early July, our search consultants from RG175 have engaged with a strong and deep pool of educational leaders and the Head of School Search Committee has reviewed outstanding applications from a large, diverse and talented group. Guided by the priorities in the position statement, the Search Committee conducted extensive interviews with the most promising candidates and has selected three finalists who will visit Williams Hill later in September.
We are excited about the candidates and what they bring to Westminster and we look forward to welcoming them to campus. During their two-and-a-half day visits, each finalist will meet with members of the broader Westminster community — including faculty, staff, the Board of Trustees, the Search Committee and selected groups of students, parents and alumni. Details of the finalist visits will be posted on the Head of School Search page.
After considering community feedback from the campus visits and conducting extensive reference checks, the Search Committee will make its final recommendation to the Board of Trustees. We hope to announce the selection of Westminster’s 10th Head of School to the community by November.
The strong applicant pool and candidate interviews reaffirmed what we already know — that Westminster’s reputation for academic excellence, its close-knit community, its exceptionally dedicated and talented faculty, and its compelling mission and motto of Grit & Grace set the school apart. We were gratified that so many accomplished educators want to lead the Westminster community.
As we welcome the three finalists to campus later this month, we appreciate your engagement and input. As always, please feel free to send additional thoughts or questions to headofschoolsearch@westminster-school.org. We look forward to sharing further updates this fall. With Grit and Grace,
Westminster has retained RG175, a global search firm specializing in independent school leadership searches. Consultants John Green and Molly King will lead the firm’s search team. Drawing on their extensive experience as former heads of school and search consultants, John and Molly bring invaluable expertise and a deep knowledge of independent schools to the process.
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.