Landon Head of School Leaving

[Anonymous]

Jim Neill, Landon’s Head of School for the last 10 years, has announced that he will be leaving after the 25-26 school year. No word on what he will do. It’s obviously his idea, not the school’s. He has been a great success, completing a $50 million fundraising campaign, updating the school’s whole physical plant, doubling their (relatively small) endowment, and been widely admired and appreciated by the boys, their parents, and alumni.
He could well be the best headmaster the school has ever had - it’s probably Jim or Paul Banfield, the school’s founder almost 100 years ago. He will be tough to replace.
I speak from the position of being both a Landon alum and a former parent.
What now remains to be done?
There was a time many years ago when Landon was widely regarded academically in the same league as St. Albans and Sidwell Friends with a college admissions record to match. I believe that I am correct in recalling a Landon class in the late 1950s that sent a full half of its graduating class to Yale or Princeton - and these were not athletic admits. It would be great if Landon could bring back some of that academic strength to go with other strengths they now have.

[Anonymous]

Agree with most of what you're saying except for your hopes for a return to 1950s colleges admissions?!

No one is going back to college admissions patterns of the 1950s, when those schools were not admitting by merit but took white men from specific schools in specific quantities on what was essentially a gentleman's agreement.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Obviously old time college admissions record like the one cited unobtainable now. I was just trying to show Landon’s academic strength then with a relevant fact from that time. Even back then sending half a graduating class to Yale and Princeton was truly exceptional. I imagine better than even STA or Friends achieved that year. (Correction, Class of 1960).

[Anonymous]

That's a huge loss for Landon. He's done much to restore the school's reputation and move it forward.

[Anonymous]

Landon is not St. Albans and doesn’t seek to be. If people want their sons to go to a school like St. Albans, they should go to St. Albans instead of trying to make Landon like St. Albans. Landon occupies a unique and necessary niche - it is not religiously affiliated, it is single sex, and it balances academics with athletics - which STA used to do too but now the kids do hours and hours of homework every night and the school basically can’t win a game in any sport. Not every school is for every child - they are all different and they don’t need to try to be the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Landon is not St. Albans and doesn’t seek to be. If people want their sons to go to a school like St. Albans, they should go to St. Albans instead of trying to make Landon like St. Albans. Landon occupies a unique and necessary niche - it is not religiously affiliated, it is single sex, and it balances academics with athletics - which STA used to do too but now the kids do hours and hours of homework every night and the school basically can’t win a game in any sport. Not every school is for every child - they are all different and they don’t need to try to be the same.

This. Why do we need another St. Albans or Sidwell Friends? Let Landon be Landon but aim for the best version it can be. More important than flaunting ivy acceptances, is transforming young kids into exceptional adults who are kind, honest and have good character. This is more important than ever these days. I don’t know any school that is even moderately successful in this regard

[Anonymous]

That is unfortunate. He seems like a true treasure and genuine in his ambitions for the school. I only met him on a handful of occasions during admissions so no real relationship with him, but hopefully, his successor proves to be just as valuable to the community.

[Anonymous]

He is almost certainly retiring. And you're right, OP. He will leave big shoes to fill.

[Anonymous]

I am not interested in single sex schools for my son, but Jim Neill is indeed an exceptional and remarkably charismatic head of school. I reckon that Landon still has a lot of work to do to overcome the frat bro stigma that still somewhat justifiably persists. I wonder who will replace him.

[Anonymous]

Wondering how this will affect our decision should our son get admitted. It was a top choice for us but I’m worried about going in with a new head.

[Anonymous]

I remember when he left NPS and the school had a similar reaction. Was any reason given?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering how this will affect our decision should our son get admitted. It was a top choice for us but I’m worried about going in with a new head.

We are in the same boat. Won’t know who the new head is before the commitment deadline so it’s a gamble.

[Anonymous]

School heads change regularly, I would not decline a school I otherwise liked because they get a new head, as you are likely to encounter that at another school, too. The upside is that you will likely have the same head for your entire time at Landon, should you start together with a new head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember when he left NPS and the school had a similar reaction. Was any reason given?

It would be ironic if Malcolm went to Landon!

[Anonymous]

Jim has set the school up to attract a first rate new head. The facilities are better than ever, no big fund raising or big capital expenditures needed for awhile, and students, parents, and alums are happy.
I personally would not be surprised to see Jim take on the leadership of a top tier boarding school. He certainly will be on the radar of any such school doing a head search.