Ravenscroft held its annual celebration of philanthropy on Thursday, Sept. 19, bringing together many of the school’s most dedicated and generous supporters for an evening of community and excitement about the future. In a special addition to the evening’s program, Derrick Willard was formally installed as the 15th Head of School.

Trustees Demetris Cheatham and Jenny Winston welcomed the nearly 200 guests before board chair Laura Helton Kalorin ’92 shared remarks reflecting on the evening’s purpose of celebrating with gratitude the continued support of so many alumni, families and friends.

Next, former board chair and Head of School Search Committee member Kevin Anderson ’82 gave the evening’s keynote, speaking of the school’s long legacy — as well as his family’s own legacy here, which spans three generations of Ravens — before turning his attention to the hiring of Willard in the fall of 2023. He said:

Derrick brings to Ravenscroft a passion for education as well as a profound and abiding respect for the values of leadership that aligns with our own charge of leading self, leading others and changing the world. Derrick has the curiosity of a true educator, recognizing that in teaching there is always the opportunity to learn. As I reflect on my impressions of Derrick through the search process, it was often the questions that came from thoughtful listening that gave me the best opportunity to see him as the leader we believe Ravenscroft needs and will find him to be.

In making the decision to select Derrick, the committee built a mosaic from many different interactions, whether from a resume, an interview, a reference, a lunch with students or the trial of leading the academic committee. At every turn, our confidence was affirmed and grew. 

… Derrick, we could not be more excited about the road that lies ahead. You are following in a long line of strong and impactful leaders, leaders who each played a part in building our school into what it is today. You are taking the reins of a great institution that is poised to move into an ever-more complex and fast-paced world with confidence, joy and clarity of purpose. On behalf of myself, my family and our Board of Trustees, I ask everyone in the audience tonight to join me in officially welcoming Derrick Willard to Ravenscroft as our 15th Head of School!

Anderson then invited Willard to the stage. Willard thanked the board, senior leadership, parents and friends of the school for making him and his wife, Jenny, feel so welcome. He also spoke of his gratitude toward the guests in attendance, saying, “I am mindful of your generosity and particularly your unrestricted giving that allows us to be nimble in a day and age where schools must be able to react quickly, particularly in the area of new technologies. Short of a capital campaign or a new physical structure, you may not always see the immediate impact of a gift, but I promise you are making a difference in the lives of our children.”

At that point, Kalorin returned to the stage with former board chair Amy Batten, her co-chair on the search committee, and they presented Willard with an official letter of installation they have both signed. It says in part:

Derrick is an outstanding educator with proven success leading in independent schools. He understands and is committed to doing what it takes to ensure Ravenscroft continues to realize its mission of nurturing individual potential and preparing students to thrive in a complex and interdependent world. And, as is evident from his first few months in the job, he leads with an energy and enthusiasm that is infectious and makes every day at school more fun. We are excited to partner with him as he leads our school into the future with our commitment to providing educational excellence, cultivating citizen leaders and emphasizing health and wellness.

On the occasion of his installation as Head of School, we want to thank Derrick for taking on this important role and pledge our full support — and the support of the entire Ravenscroft community. Derrick, we wish you a long and storied tenure and look forward to the mark you will leave on this institution’s long legacy of success.

Willard said afterward that he was touched by the sentiments shared with him.

“I was so moved by the installation ceremony at the Leadership Donor Event. To hear the vote of confidence from the search chairs and search committee members — and for my extended family to be present to hear that — was humbling,” he said. “I am so proud and so honored to be the 15th Head of School at Ravenscroft.”

Batten and Kalorin said they, too, were buoyed by the gathering.

“The Leadership Donor Event was a wonderful night of joy and appreciation. We enthusiastically welcomed the Willard family into our community and have set the stage for the next chapter in Ravenscroft’s history,” Kalorin said. “We also extended thanks to the many members of our community who have made Ravenscroft a philanthropic priority. Everyone gathered at the event has helped lift our school to new heights and allowed us to expand the scope of what is possible. I am very excited about what’s ahead for the students of today and tomorrow.”