From The Head of School - Newark Academy A Familiar Face, A Bold Future Welcoming Head of School Tom Ashburn When Newark Academy began the nationwide search in 2024 for its next Head of School, the community set out to find a leader with vision, heart and a deep understanding of what makes NA special. They didn’t have to look far. Tom Ashburn, a beloved figure at Newark Academy for more than two decades, officially stepped into the role on July 1, 2025, becoming the school’s 50th Head of School. With 17 years of experience as NA’s Middle School Principal and seven years experience as an English teacher in the Upper School, Tom is no stranger to the relationships and rhythms that define daily life at Newark Academy. But his impact runs much deeper than this. During his time at NA, Tom has helped shape the Middle School’s culture into one of joy, mutual respect and shared growth. He has championed student-centered learning, spearheaded the development of Capstone Experiences and also played a key role in the design and launch of the Wilf Middle School building. Tom also helped grow Newark Academy’s Summer Program into a thriving and sustainable offering that draws more than 1,700 students each year, and he served on the Return-to-School Task Force during the pandemic, ensuring continuity of learning through uncertain times. Tom Ashburn was the right person to build on the incredible legacy of Former Head of School Donald M. Austin and carry Newark Academy into its next era. A native of New Hampshire, Tom holds a B.A. in English from Marist College and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Saint Elizabeth, where he focused on servant leadership. He and his wife, Stacy, have three children: Matthew, Caitlin and Brady. As I’ve stepped into this role, two themes have risen to the top for me: community and trust. Community has always been NA’s strength. It’s seen in how we celebrate each other’s victories, gather as a community and honor the traditions that make Newark Academy feel like home. Trust is what allows us to grow together, to make bold choices and to know that we have one another’s backs. When those two things come together, Newark Academy becomes more than just a place of learning — it becomes a place where each of us knows we matter." Tom Ashburn, Head of School Leading with Intention: Five Priorities for the Road Ahead Head of School Tom Ashburn outlined five key priorities that will guide his leadership and shape Newark Academy’s path forward. These priorities aren’t just personal convictions. They reflect the vision of Newark Academy’s 2023 – 2027 strategic plan, Putting People First , which was launched by the Board of Trustees on the eve of the school’s 250th anniversary. Tom’s five focus areas align with the plan’s goals: supporting faculty and staff, prioritizing an excellent student experience, fostering authentic community engagement, and ensuring long-term sustainability. Tom shares those priorities in his own words: Students at the Center People First A Thriving Network Partners in Growth Future-Focused Students at the Center Championing a healthy, joyful and purpose-driven student experience "Students matter at this school. When they come here, they should feel it’s essential to be part of this community — and it’s on every adult to support them. Just as important, our students need to know that Newark Academy isn’t only about preparing for the future — what they do here matters now." People First Supporting, developing and retaining top educators and staff "Newark Academy has always been about great people and great relationships. For me, just like our strategic plan says, putting people first is what I’ve always done when I was in the Middle School, it’s what I did when I was an Upper School teacher, and it’s what I’m going to do as Head of School. People are what matter the most and giving them every opportunity for growth and success is paramount for me." A Thriving Network Strengthening alumni engagement and lifelong connection "One of my top priorities is building Newark Academy’s extended community and bringing our alumni back to campus. Our students have so much to learn from them and our alumni really embody the generosity of spirit that is core to NA’s mission statement. Alumni are eager to give back — and it’s important we create meaningful opportunities for them to do so." Partners in Growth Deepening parent-school partnerships with trust and transparency "There’s nothing more sacred than the trust parents place in giving their child’s education to Newark Academy. Parents are a child’s first and best teachers, so I want to partner with parents so they can understand why as professionals we’re making certain curricular choices or have certain policies and help them to support their child’s growth. One of the things that I’ve learned from my own parenting is that there are some things that professionals can do better than parents. That’s why I’m prioritizing finding ways to engage parents, because we all share the same goal: giving every NA student the best opportunities to grow and make the world a better place." Future-Focused Growing the endowment to ensure access and sustainability "Newark Academy needs greater resources to retain top-notch teachers for our students and continue to be the leading independent school that exceptional people want to work at. Growing our endowment is key — not only to support today’s students, but also those 30 or 50 years from now. A larger endowment would allow us to continue investing in our facilities — many classrooms, the dining hall and library are decades old. Continuing to renovate and expand our facilities will ensure the best spaces for learning and teaching in the years ahead."