7 minute read
Meet the Head of School
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Here is a personal look at the educational leaders who set the tone at their schools to ensure superb curriculum, effective teaching and student success. Learn more about the philosophy on which some of Atlanta’s top schools are built, and how their leaders implement these ideas. Atlanta Parent recognizes these administrative leaders’ dedication to students, teachers and parents.
Angela Naples, Head of School
Atlanta Academy
Atlanta Academy was founded in 2000 by Head of School Angela Naples and a team of passionate educators. Together, they established a vibrant community of dedicated faculty, engaged students, and involved parents, which still holds today. Throughout her career, Angela has served with numerous community and academic organizations, including the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Independent Schools, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools. Additionally, she served as a past board member for the Georgia Independent School Association. “We believe in giving every student the individual attention they need to succeed. My favorite part each day is walking our halls and feeling the spirit and enthusiasm of our students engaged in their learning. I can see fi rst-hand the remarkable job our teachers do to prepare our students to be good citizens and set them on a path to reach their full potential in high school and beyond.”
Atlanta Academy serves 390 private preschool-8th grade students in North Fulton. For more information, visit atlantaacademy.com.
Roswell atlantaacademy.com 678-461-6102
MEET THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Rick Betts, Head of School
Capstone Academy
Capstone Academy is a community of teachers and administrators investing into our students who become their own capstone project, representing a culmination of their academic and intellectual experience. Students who are balanced, who understand their own power of belonging in school, friendships, family, and the world, can then explore their education with a sense of wonder and pursue their own passions with an ultimate potential for their success. Rick Betts brings a wealth of school experience in Atlanta independent schools to his position as Head of School. Betts came to Capstone Academy, his third Head of School Position, with prior experience including 16 years at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, in Atlanta, where he served as Assistant Lower School Principal, Lower School Principal, Associate Head of School and, one year as Acting Head of School. His professional experience also includes time as a classroom teacher at Pace Academy and Fulton County School System. Betts has been involved in growing new schools, improving established schools, and living out his passion as an Educational Leader.
Atlanta capstoneacademy.com 404-458-5160
Joy Wood, Head of School
GRACEPOINT
Joy Wood joined GRACEPOINT in 2015, bringing with her more than 35 years of experience as an educator. Prior to coming to GRACEPOINT, Mrs. Wood served as the Director of Curriculum at Christ the King Catholic School and Elementary Principal at Wesleyan School. Since 1995, Mrs. Wood has represented the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools as an Accreditation Team Member. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Georgia Independent School Association.
During the summer of 2016, Mrs. Wood oversaw the relocation of GRACEPOINT to the campus of Piedmont Church in Marietta. Six years later, enrollment is now at 134 students. Having reached full capacity at the current facility, GRACEPOINT will move to a building located at 1407 Cobb Parkway once renovations are complete in the Fall of 2023.
The mission of GRACEPOINT is to equip dyslexic students with the skills needed to develop into independent and confi dent learners, through sequential, systematic and multisensory instruction. GRACEPOINT serves students in grades 1-8 using the Orton-Gillingham teaching method. The goal for each student is to instill a lifelong desire for growing in wisdom and gaining knowledge of the Lord so that each may fulfi ll God’s purposes and bring glory to Him.
Marietta gracepointschool.org 678-709-6634
Dr. Anna Bacon Moore, Head of School
The Howard School
Dr. Anna Bacon Moore was welcomed by The Howard School Community last spring to serve as the next Head of School. Dr. Moore brings deep experience and proven leadership to Howard. She served as Director of Student Support, Director of Summer School (grades 6-12), and Grade Level Dean for 9th grade girls at The Westminster Schools. Dr. Moore also served as an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Neuropsychology at the Emory University School of Medicine.
Dr. Moore shared her excitement at joining The Howard School team. “From the moment I set foot on The Howard School campus, I was aware of the passion and joy of this community. Since its founding in 1950, Howard has been a school marked by courage, creativity, and a deep belief in the potential of students with language-based learning disabilities. Howard has pioneered education of young people who learn differently and has maintained a commitment to partnership with parents and a focus on empowering students to be their own advocates in their journey. I am honored to join this vibrant place and to partner with Howard faculty, staff, parents, students and alumni as Howard continues its legacy of leadership and service to students.”
Atlanta howardschool.org 404-377-7436
Kristy Lundstrom, Head of School
The Mount Vernon School
Mount Vernon is a school of inquiry, innovation, and impact. The School is committed to creating and sustaining a school culture where all members feel valued and safe, sharing their authentic selves to design a better world…together.
As a co-educational day school with more than 1,200 students in Preschool through Grade 12, Mount Vernon sets the conditions for learners to excel in college, career, and citizenship. Thriving in a constantly changing environment with complex challenges, students engage in real-world problem solving throughout their experience, partnering with major corporations, non-profi ts, and civic environments and ultimately, making a positive impact in the local community. Graduating to top-tier universities, they are impact ready.
Kristy Lundstrom is Mount Vernon’s new Head of School for the 22-23 academic year. Refl ected in her personal and professional motto, “Kids Go First” Kristy is a strong advocate for students, an inspiring mentor for faculty and staff, and a strategic visionary for the School. With 25 years of experience in the United States and Europe, Kristy is an innovative educator with a depth of unmatched applied leadership coupled with a high level of emotional intelligence. Prior to coming to Mount Vernon, she held a variety of leadership positions, including the Executive Director of the Viktor Rydberg Schools (7 independent bilingual schools) in Stockholm, Sweden and the Head of School for the Scandinavian School of Brussels.
Sandy Springs mountvernonschool.org 404-252-3448
Carl C. Carlson, Head of School
The Walker School
The Walker School ushers in the 2022-23 school year with a new Head of School – Carl C. Carlson. He comes to The Walker School with a distinguished career as an educator. Carlson previously worked at Tampa Preparatory School as its Head of High School for the past eight years. Prior to his tenure in Florida, he spent 23 years in traditional New England Boarding Schools where he taught math and economics, coached basketball and soccer, lived in dorms and served in a variety of administrative roles. Carlson also grew up in a family of educators and was a “faculty child” on three different boarding school campuses in New England. He and his wife, Alison, who also works in independent school education, have three children: Cameron, age 23; Owen, age 20; and Zachary, age 17.
His personal interests include travel, basketball, music, gardening, reading, cooking and the Red Sox (and the Braves, when they’re not playing Boston).
Carlson attended Wesleyan University and holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard University. He brings extensive and versatile experience in all aspects of an independent school and considers independent school education his life’s work, personal purpose and an extension of his core values.
Marietta thewalkerschool.org 770-427-2689
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