Trustee Transitions

Leadership Transition Marks a New Chapter in School History

“The last two years have been challenging for independent schools for a lot of reasons, and Tabor had its own bumps,” says Regina Shakin, who was unanimously elected as Tabor's board chair last winter.

Like so many communities across the country, Tabor faced the complex challenge of navigating both a global pandemic and social justice concerns and conversations. In addition to overseeing this pivotal work, Tabor’s board had the critical task of hiring a new head of school.

Shakin says she has witnessed tremendous institutional growth since she first became a Tabor parent. The mother of three recent graduates, she credits Carmine Martignetti ’71, her predecessor as board chair, with leading the way. “I’m grateful for everything I learned from Carmine, and I think he did great things for the school,” Shakin says. “I know where Tabor was when my oldest daughter arrived in 2012, and I know where it was when my youngest daughter graduated in 2019. It’s a very different school, and it’s a very different school for the better.”

Since Martignetti joined Tabor’s board in 2006 and became chair in 2014, the school’s financial position has never been stronger. Successful capital giving has fueled significant endowment growth, and major construction projects have transformed the campus.

“We became much more aspirational and focused on competing in the New England boarding school arena,” Martignetti says of the last 15 years. “We’ve competed very effectively. We’re attracting the best and the brightest.”

While Martignetti is incredibly proud of the facility improvements that occurred under his watch, including construction of two new dormitories and over $9 million in funding for the new campus center, he points to another metric to illustrate the school’s progress.

“One of the most important things we’ve done,” he says, “is significantly grow our financial aid budget. In doing so, we’re able to attract a stronger, more diverse student population.” Under Martignetti’s leadership, Tabor’s annual financial aid increased from $5.15 million to $8.7 million.

As the school embarks on its next chapter, Martignetti says Shakin is the right person to lead the board. “Regina cochaired the search committee that recruited Tony Jaccaci to Tabor and she’s in a unique position to work with him as they both come into their leadership roles together.”

Shakin couldn’t be happier with Tabor’s new head of school. “Tony is everything I thought he would be and more,” she says. “He is thoughtful, patient and empathetic. He listens. You see it in the way he interacts with students, faculty, and the extended community.”

Board Chair Regina Shakin P'15, '17, '19

Carmine Martignetti ’71 | Regina Shakin P’15, ’17, ’19

Supplementing these qualities, Jaccaci’s previous experience as the head of Cincinnati Country Day School has proven invaluable. “I’m so grateful we have someone who knows what it is to be a head,” Shakin says. “We didn’t have the luxury of time. The things that are coming our way––whether it’s Covid, social injustice, or the campus center that we’re building––there’s work to be done on many levels. Tony hit the ground running and I’ve found him to be the best partner I could’ve hoped for in a head of school.”

In terms of how she plans to lead the board, Shakin says transparency is key. Reviewing and articulating the best practices of good governance is one of her top priorities.

“As we fulfill our role as fiduciaries of the school,” she says, “my North Star for the board is good communication. If someone thinks we’re operating behind a curtain––if they don’t understand who we are or what we’re doing––that’s a problem. The role of the board is to make sure that we have the right head of school in place, which we do, and to make sure we’re good at communicating the decisions we make. Sometimes the decisions are difficult, but they are the best path forward, as we believe, for the school.”

Part of making the right decisions, Shakin says, is being able to hear from all of the school’s constituencies. “That’s faculty and students, but it’s also alumni, parents, and former and emeriti trustees. Everyone should be heard, and they should be heard in a respectful way. We need to make sure everyone has a clear venue for expressing themselves.”

Cultivating a sense of belonging for all community members is essential work. As always, the student experience resides at the heart of Tabor’s ability to fulfill its mission.

“You step onto campus,” Shakin says, “and it’s a kind, welcoming, supportive place. That’s what’s important about Tabor. Now, do we want every student to have that sense of belonging? Yes! Have we always been able to deliver on that? We’re hearing ‘not always.’ But we’re certainly going to try. Because it’s very important. It’s important that every kid who comes through those doors and walks across the stage on graduation has that feeling.”

The role of the board is to make sure that we have the right head of school in place, which we do, and to make sure we’re good at communicating the decisions we make. Sometimes the decisions are difficult, but they are the best path

forward, as we believe, for the school. ”

– Regina Shakin, Board Chair

CARMINE MARTIGNETTI '71