Details

Appointment of Associate Head of School

Westminster School Headmaster Bill Philip announced that Dean of Faculty Mark de Kanter ’91, P’19, ’22 will become associate head of school at Westminster beginning July 1, 2020. This will follow the departure of Nancy Spencer P’13, ’15, the current associate head of school, who will become head of Shorecrest Preparatory School on that date after a 15-year tenure at Westminster.  

Mark was a day student from Granby in Westminster’s Class of 1991.  After graduating from Williams College with a double major in biology and English, he joined the faculty at Westminster in 1997. During his tenure, he has earned an M.A.L.S. at Wesleyan University, served as a dorm head, a department head, director of the Westminster Teaching Initiative, director of academic technology, Ecoteam leader and head coach of three varsity sports. He has taught AP Biology for close to two decades as well as a changing mix of other core courses within the science curriculum, and he has also taught electives in the English and history departments. His commitment and contributions to the school have been recognized with numerous faculty prizes, including holding the Walter E. Edge Jr. ’35 Master Chair, the Swayze Award and the O’Brien Award. Currently, as the dean of faculty, a position he assumed July 1, 2018, he supports faculty colleagues as an ardent advocate for professional development.



Outside of Westminster, Mark has contributed to the larger independent school community by serving on three NEASC Visiting Committees and on the CAIS Commission on School Growth and Collaboration. He is the president of the New England Prep School Track Association, a group that oversees all running sports for independent schools in New England.
Mark and his spouse, Kathleen Devaney, a history teacher and executive director of Horizons at Westminster, live in McOrmond House with their son, Emmett ’19 and their daughter, Samantha ’22.



“I am absolutely delighted that Mark will serve as associate head of school in the years ahead,” said Headmaster Philip.  “Please join me in congratulating him on this appointment.”

“I have been extremely fortunate to be associated with Westminster in many different capacities, from student to faculty to parent,” said Mark. “In each role, I have had mentors, friends and colleagues who have both challenged and supported me and other community members to be the best versions of ourselves. In this new role, I look forward to working with current and future Martlets, faculty and staff colleagues, and the greater school community to foster Westminster’s continued excellence in all of its endeavors.”

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