Head of School Derrick Willard had a busy September, with a full slate of meetings, events and classroom visits as he continues to get to know the Ravenscroft community. 

In addition to meetings with individual members and committees of the Board of Trustees, who provide high-level governance and strategic planning for the school, Willard has prioritized spending time with faculty and staff, students, parents/guardians and alumni — wrapping up the month with Fall Spirit Week, two big class reunions and the rescheduled Fall Community Event.

While Willard’s engagement with employees kicked off right away when he assumed the role in July — he worked with new faculty and staff at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, hosted several departmental socials and jumped in on his goal of meeting one-on-one with every Ravenscroft employee — since the start of school he has been able to connect with many additional stakeholders in a variety of ways. 

Connecting with students

On campus, Willard enjoyed in-depth campus tours with members of the Admissions team, read stories to several Lower School classes, ate lunch with multiple senior advisories and attended fall athletic events for teams including volleyball, cross country, soccer, field hockey, tennis and football. 

One of the classes he visited in September was Laura Crudup’s Kindergarten class. “Derrick read the book ‘What Do You Do With An Idea?’ to my class,” Crudup recounted. “After the read-aloud, he talked about how no matter how small an idea is, it can change the world. Derrick made connections by asking the students how they got to school and shared that, long ago, transportation was a horse and a carriage. He then told the students who Henry Ford was and about his discovery in putting the world on wheels.

“Having Derrick read to my students was truly uplifting, as it demonstrated a genuine appreciation for the work I do,” she added. “The students were excited to have the Head of School visit our classroom and were eager to demonstrate what leaders in Kindergarten look like.”

Lauren Easters ’25, a member of Joel Karpowitz’s senior advisory, said that group enjoyed lunch with Willard — although, as both she and he came to Ravenscroft from Augusta Prep, he’s not exactly new to her. “Through both schools he has always reached out to me to see how I’m doing, how my last volleyball game went or even just what I think about school in general,” she said. “After moving schools this year, it was very helpful to have someone like him reaching out and checking on me when I knew almost nobody else. I’m glad that he is also continuing this kind of  support with other students and is willing to take their opinions on our school community.”

Willard enthusiastically participated in Spirit Week (even sporting pajamas on Monday’s theme day) and the Fall Pep Rally. After its rescheduling due to inclement weather, the Fall Community Event on Oct. 4 — made possible by the hard work and dedication of Ravenscroft’s parent-led groups and many employees and students — provided a festive wrap-up to a full month of engagement with students on campus. 

“I absolutely loved my first Homecoming and Fall Community Event. It was amazing to see the community come together undeterred by our weather-related changes,” he said. “My favorite memory was the Lower School kids cheering wildly with our mascot, Edgar the Raven, at the CBS17 Game of the Week pre-game show at Gonet Gateway! They all turned out in their green spirit shirts and made some noise. 

“I am so thankful for all the hard work and flexibility by our staff and our parent volunteers,” he added.

Meeting parents and guardians, alumni

Willard has also prioritized meeting current parents and guardians. In addition to attending all three divisional Back-to-School Nights, he joined the September meetings of the Parents’ Association and the Ravenscroft Athletic Club and attended the New Parent Barbecue, hosted by the Admissions team at Pugh Pond Sept. 10.

“It has been great getting to know Derrick, and I’m glad he was able to participate in an interview-style introduction for the parents. It was awesome for parents to see him being interactive and learn more about him in this setting,” PA co-president Sean Marlowe said of Willard’s participation in that group’s meeting on Sept. 12. “We are all so glad he has joined our community and look forward to the upcoming growth and prosperity that is sure to ensue.”

Willard has also committed to getting to know members of Ravenscroft’s largest constituency group: our 5,000-plus alumni. After co-hosting a fireside chat with alumni during reunion weekend in May, he has been working with the Office of Alumni Relations to connect with alumni, both here and away. He shared a personal greeting in the September Notes From the Nest alumni newsletter, where he and Alumni Engagement Officer Emma DeMent ’16 announced plans to reboot the popular Ravens On The Road alumni social series. 

He connected personally with alumni during two reunions that took place Sept. 27. He hosted the 50th reunion of the Class of 1974 — the first graduating class to attend the Upper School for all four years — at the Head of School House and also swung by the Class of 2019’s fifth reunion at the Ravenscroft Welcome Center. 

“While Hurricane Helene forced us to cancel school and some games, we were fortunate that the storm moved through in time to allow the Class of 2019 and the Class of 1974 to gather for their reunions,” Willard said. “Jenny and I enjoyed hosting the 50th reunion of the Class of 1974 at the residence and were so impressed that they have stayed friends for so long. We really enjoyed hearing stories of the early days on the Falls of Neuse campus. It was also a pleasure to visit with the Class of 2019 at their fifth reunion. I hope they enjoy the same long-lasting bonds [as the Class of 1974] and will still be gathering in 2069!”

Alumni Council president Anne Forsyth English ’98 said Willard’s engagement with alumni has been “impactful.”

“At the 50th-year reunion, Derrick and I enjoyed observing the emotional connection, laughter and storytelling of joyous classmates,” she said. “The Alumni Council and I are excited for Derrick’s upcoming visits to alums in various cities, with the first stop in Charlotte on Oct. 20.”

Willard also attended the Sept. 19 Leadership Donor Event, where he got to meet with some of Ravenscroft’s most dedicated supporters. It was at this event that former board chair Amy Batten and current board chair Laura Helton Kalorin ’92, co-chairs of the Head of School Search Committee that brought Willard to Ravenscroft, formally installed him as our 15th Head of School. 

“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,” Willard said of that evening. “I am so proud and so honored to be the 15th Head of School at Ravenscroft.”