The Altamont School announced this morning Cecil F. Stodghill Jr., current head of school at The Doane Stuart School in Rensselaer, New York, as its new Head of School.
Stodghill will begin his duties as Altamont’s Head of School on July 1, 2022. He will be the sixth Head of School since Altamont was formed in 1975 through the merger of Birmingham University School and Brooke Hill School.
“I am absolutely thrilled by the opportunity to lead the Altamont community,” Stodghill said in a released statement. “Through collaborative leadership, I will prioritize upholding the school’s mission, preserving its legacy, and guiding its continued evolution.”
Stodghill brings to the position 23 years of experience in independent schools as a teacher, coach and administrator.
He began his education at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he would later return to serve as director of multicultural affairs and assistant director of admission. He also served as director of admissions and enrollment management at Providence Day School, director of graduate support at Academy Prep Foundation and associate director of admission at Berkeley Preparatory School.
Most recently, he has served as Head of School for The Doane Stuart School. In this role, he led the school community through a successful accreditation process, increased enrollment by 7%, constructed and implemented an academic continuity plan during the COVID-19 pandemic and created a culture of philanthropy and engagement by increasing annual giving by 10%.
“I am very pleased that Cecil has agreed to be the next Head of School at Altamont,” said Bryson Stephens, Altamont’s board of trustees vice president and search committee chair. “He is the right leader at the right time in our school’s journey; he will add significant value in our efforts to build a bright future on our strong foundation.”
According to school officials, Stodghill was selected from a large pool of applicants during a seven-month, national search headed by John Farber of RG175, a national search firm specializing in head of school searches for independent schools.
“We are excited to welcome Cecil and (his wife) Kim to Altamont,” Board of Trustees President Chris Nicholson said. “Cecil emerged from a strong candidate pool as a truly dynamic leader who understands independent schools through the lenses of his professional and personal experience. He has participated in all facets of independent school life in his career, making positive impacts at every stage of his journey. We know he will do the same here at Altamont, both at the school and in the greater Birmingham community.”
A native of Chattanooga, Stodghill has expressed his excitement to be “coming home” to the South to lead The Altamont School into the next great chapter of its history.
– Submitted by The Altamont School
