Dear Walker Community,
I hope your summer is off to a great start. For the past few months, I have been wrapping up my work at Tampa Prep, celebrating the graduation of our youngest son and his classmates from high school and preparing for our move to Marietta. My wife, Alison, and I are now settling into our new home and have started to explore the area, make connections and build our new lives as empty nesters.
July 1, is an exciting day for me as I officially begin my tenure as Walker’s next Head of School. I am grateful to the many people in the Walker community who have already devoted time, energy and care to my transition. Members of the Board of Trustees have welcomed me, answered questions and provided guidance; senior administrators have met with me to collaborate and advise; faculty and staff have introduced themselves and shared hopes for the future.
Over the coming weeks and months, I will be busy taking a deep dive into everything Walker. To kick things off, I just completed New Employee Orientation with other new faculty and staff. Later this month, I will attend the National Association of Independent Schools’ Institute for New Heads followed by our Senior Administrators’ Retreat to team-build with new and returning administrators and plan for the upcoming school year. Then, our Board Retreat will take place in August. I will work with the Board of Trustees to identify my immediate goals and to outline an action plan for the year and beyond. I also will be connecting with as many faculty and staff as possible. The summer is filling up quickly!
I look forward to the start of the school year, to welcoming students to campus and connecting with you at back-to-school events.
In the meantime, all the best for a healthy, safe and restorative summer!
Carl C. Carlson
Head of School