Incoming Head of School

March 12, 2024

 

It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the appointment of Dr. Mark Ott as the new Head of School of The Kiski School as of July 1, 2024. His exceptional leadership qualities, extensive experience in education, and unwavering commitment to student success make him the ideal candidate to lead Kiski into its next chapter. These qualities were highly valued by the selection committee and echoed by members of the wider Kiski community. We are grateful for your involvement in the search process. 

Dr. Ott will join us from Windsor School at Albany in Nassau, The Bahamas, where he served as the Head of School since August 2020. During his tenure, he demonstrated remarkable leadership, recruiting world-class educators and faculty and leading innovative community outreach and strategic rebranding efforts amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in a 34% increase in enrollment. Dr. Ott also oversaw revenue increases of 40%, facilitated the construction of two buildings, and led both the school’s accreditation and NCAA registration processes.

Prior to his role at Windsor School, Mark held leadership positions at prestigious schools including Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, Punahou School in Hawaii, and The Blake School in Minnesota. He was also an English Instructor at the Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and held several international teaching roles, most recently teaching abroad in Spain. In addition to his teaching roles, Mark has coached football, basketball, and alpine skiing, and served as a dorm parent.

Mark is a respected scholar and author, with numerous publications and presentations on topics ranging from Ernest Hemingway studies to curriculum development. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, his master’s degree from the University of Wyoming, and a doctorate from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Mark and his wife Lori, along with their three daughters, Claire, Anne, and Olivia, are excited to join the Kiski community. He shared with us, "My family and I are inspired by the school's rich history and tradition of excellence, and we look forward to contributing to its continued success."

Mark will be the eighth Head of School in Kiski's 136-year history, and we are confident that his vision, leadership, and dedication to our mission will propel Kiski to even greater heights.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Mark as he assumes his new role as Kiski’s Head of School. We look forward to providing opportunities for you to get to know him and his family in the months ahead.