Dear Westminster Community, 

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Head of School Search Committee, we are excited to share some wonderful news and the conclusion of our search. We deeply appreciate all the prayers offered for the committee, our school, and the candidates themselves during this important process. The Lord truly has directed our path. Filled with encouragement and gratitude, we are happy to announce Dr. Preston Atwood as the next Head of School at Westminster Academy!

Dr. Atwood has a passion for Classical Christian Education and has an impressive track record of executive leadership. He has been the Head of School at Regents Academy in Nacogdoches, Texas since 2020. We are confident that he has the skills and passion to carry out the mission and vision of Westminster Academy for years to come. Preston obtained his Ph.D. in Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies from the University of Wisconsin. He also holds a Masters of Arts in Hebrew Bible and Semitic Studies, a Master of Theology, and an Advanced Master of Divinity. Preston was classically educated himself during undergraduate studies at The College at Southwestern, at which time he also met his wife, Emily. In addition, for a little over three years Dr. Atwood has participated in a Head of School cohort hosted by the Society of Classical Learning, building relationships, receiving mentorship, and gleaning wisdom from leaders in Classical Christian Education from across the country. 

Dr. Atwood is a strategic thinker, relational leader, accomplished scholar, and eloquent communicator. A deeply committed and faithful follower of Jesus Christ, Preston holds a mature faith and seeks opportunities to use his gifts for God’s Kingdom. He is a dedicated husband to Emily, an intentional father to their eight children, and describes himself as an unashamed family man. Preston also enjoys writing and is a talented musician who enjoys playing piano, especially self-composed pieces. The Atwoods are extremely enthusiastic about Westminster Academy and look forward to their children being Defenders! We believe that our school will be exceedingly blessed both by Dr. Atwood’s leadership and through the entire family joining our community. 

As we reflect on this process that started back in March, we are reminded once again of God’s provision to our school. We are thankful for the Head of School Search Committee members who spent a great many hours performing various tasks – considering the needs of Westminster well into the future, reading candidate materials, praying for God’s direction, interviewing candidates during multiple steps in the process, reviewing references, and ultimately fulfilling the charge of recommending a new Head of School to our Board. Additionally, we are profoundly grateful to CarterBaldwin, our executive search firm, and specifically our lead consultant Chris Hornsby, who provided expert guidance through each step of this thorough process. Finally, having entrusted the search process to the committee, the Board has been graciously supportive throughout these many months, and following their own interview of Preston and in-depth analysis of his candidacy, unanimously voted to accept the committee’s recommendation and extended an offer to Dr. Preston Atwood, which he enthusiastically accepted.

We know you will be eager to eventually meet Dr. Atwood. We intend to provide opportunities for you to get to know him leading up to the 2024-2025 school year. His initial areas of focus will be building relationships with the Westminster community and gaining a deep understanding of our school.  At the same time, he will be ensuring stability throughout the leadership transition as he seeks to further the mission and vision of WA into the future. Until then, Preston and the Atwoods will finish well at Regents Academy before he joins us full-time in the summer of 2024.

Please continue in prayer for this transition, as we know many of you have throughout this entire search process. Pray for the Atwoods as they prepare to leave a place and people that they love and who love them. Pray for the entire Westminster community as we transition to a new leader. Pray for the Janikowskys as Ralph concludes an excellent tenure as our Head of School and as he and Linda transition into retirement. When looking back over the eight years that Ralph has led our school, we have much to praise the Lord for! Pray expectantly that He continue to bless Westminster under Preston’s leadership. Change, while inevitable in the life of any long-standing organization, brings varying levels of both positive and uncertain emotions. In the midst of it all, we are confident and grateful that God’s hand has led Preston and the Atwood family to Westminster, and we are delighted for what is in store for our school in the years ahead. Great is His faithfulness!

In Christ, 

Bryn Wilson
Chair, Board of Directors

Rob Bradsher
Chair, Head of School Search Committee