Head of School Transition

After serving in various capacities in independent schools around the globe, Adrian Allan will retire on June 30, 2026 to enjoying with family and friends. During this next phase, Adrian is looking forward to spending time in both Hawaii and Laguna Beach, California, as well as traveling abroad. In the spring, we will celebrate all he has done for Harrisburg Academy as a community.

In today’s educational landscape, the role of head of school is consistently evolving. Appointing an interim head of school allows the Board of Trustees, with significant input from the community, to determine the most pressing needs facing Harrisburg Academy. Throughout the independent school network, qualified professionals serve only in this capacity both nationally and internationally. With vast experiences provided in a number of school settings and in consultation with the Board of Trustees, interim heads of school serve as a “bridge” between the outgoing head of school and the next permanent head of school by:

For the interim head of school, the Board of Trustees will be working to appoint a search committee led by a member of our faculty and staff. The search committee will be composed of members of the Board of Trustees, leadership team, faculty and staff, and parent community. Each finalist candidate will visit our campus and the search committee will seek recommendations from the broader community. 

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Dear Faculty & Staff, 

With mixed emotions, I write today to inform you of my decision to retire from my role as head of school, effective June 30, 2026, after seven wonderful years serving the Academy community. With my 77th birthday approaching in March and after spending the Winter Break with my wife in Portugal, I am looking forward to this next chapter focusing on family and new adventures. Having served in education for 54 years in eight countries, I am extremely grateful to have led this remarkable institution. 

As I enter this next part of my journey, I will carry fond memories of the Academy with me. From our humble beginnings along the Susquehanna in 1784 to our home on Erford Road, innovation and collaboration have remained a constant in Harrisburg Academy’s history. Witnessing the growth of our Spartans; collaborating alongside each of you; and partnering with our exceptional families, alumni, and community members, have truly allowed our community to flourish. I am grateful to have been part of continuing to build a community in which each of our students is seen, known, and celebrated. Together, we achieved authorization to offer both the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP), making Harrisburg Academy the only school in central Pennsylvania authorized as an International Baccalaureate Full Continuum School.

 

In just a short while, you will receive a letter from Mr. Mark Foster, chair of the Board of Trustees, with next steps regarding our leadership transition. In the coming months, I will work closely with the Board and administrators, ensuring Harrisburg Academy’s continued success. I am pleased to announce that Mr. David Shover has agreed to serve as our permanent head of Middle and Upper Schools, and Dr. Sarah Oatney-Weiler will continue as assistant head of school and head of Early Childhood and Lower Schools.  

Serving as Harrisburg Academy’s head of school has truly been one of the highlights of my career, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead such an exceptional community. Thank you for allowing me to call the Academy home. I look forward to continuing our progress in the coming months.

With Spartan Pride,

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Dear Harrisburg Academy Families, 

With mixed emotions, I write today to inform you of my decision to retire from my role as head of school, effective June 30, 2026, after seven wonderful years serving the Academy community. With my 77th birthday approaching in March and after spending the Winter Break with my wife in Portugal, I am looking forward to this next chapter focusing on family and new adventures. Having served in education for 54 years in eight countries, I am extremely grateful to have led this remarkable institution. 

As I enter this next part of my journey, I will carry fond memories of the Academy with me. From our humble beginnings along the Susquehanna in 1784 to our home on Erford Road, innovation and collaboration have remained a constant in Harrisburg Academy’s history. Witnessing the growth of our Spartans; collaborating alongside dynamic and devoted faculty, staff, and administrators; and partnering with our exceptional families, alumni, and community members, have truly allowed our community to flourish. I am grateful to have been part of continuing to build a community in which each of our students is seen, known, and celebrated. Together, we achieved authorization to offer both the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP), making Harrisburg Academy the only school in central Pennsylvania authorized as an International Baccalaureate Full Continuum School.

 

In just a short while, you will receive a letter from Mr. Mark Foster, chair of the Board of Trustees, with next steps regarding our leadership transition. In the coming months, I will work closely with the Board and administrators, ensuring Harrisburg Academy’s continued success. I am pleased to announce that Mr. David Shover has agreed to serve as our permanent head of Middle and Upper Schools, and Dr. Sarah Oatney-Weiler will continue as assistant head of school and head of Early Childhood and Lower Schools.  

Serving as Harrisburg Academy’s head of school has truly been one of the highlights of my career, and I am grateful for your continued support and belief in our mission. Thank you for allowing me to call the Academy home. I look forward to continuing our progress in the coming months.

With Spartan Pride,

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Dear Academy Alumni, 

With mixed emotions, I write today to inform you of my decision to retire from my role as head of school, effective June 30, 2026, after seven wonderful years serving the Academy community. With my 77th birthday approaching in March and after spending the Winter Break with my wife in Portugal, I am looking forward to this next chapter focusing on family and new adventures. Having served in education for 54 years in eight countries, I am extremely grateful to have led this remarkable institution. 

As I enter this next part of my journey, I will carry fond memories of the Academy with me, just as each of you do. From our humble beginnings along the Susquehanna in 1784 to our home on Erford Road, innovation and collaboration have remained a constant in Harrisburg Academy’s history. Witnessing the growth of our Spartans; collaborating alongside dynamic and devoted faculty, staff, and administrators; and partnering with our exceptional families and community members, have truly allowed our community to flourish. Thank you for your continued engagement and support which sustains our mission in meaningful ways. You are each living proof that the education and values fostered here ensure long after graduation.

I am grateful to have been part of continuing to build a community in which each of our students is seen, known, and celebrated. Together, we achieved authorization to offer both the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP), making Harrisburg Academy the only school in central Pennsylvania authorized as an International Baccalaureate Full Continuum School.

 

In just a short while, you will receive a letter from Mr. Mark Foster, chair of the Board of Trustees, with next steps regarding our leadership transition. In the coming months, I will work closely with the Board and administrators, ensuring Harrisburg Academy’s continued success. I am pleased to announce that Mr. David Shover has agreed to serve as our permanent head of Middle and Upper Schools, and Dr. Sarah Oatney-Weiler will continue as assistant head of school and head of Early Childhood and Lower Schools.  

Serving as Harrisburg Academy’s head of school has truly been one of the highlights of my career, and I am grateful for your continued support and belief in our mission. Thank you for allowing me to call the Academy home. I look forward to continuing our progress in the coming months.

With Spartan Pride,

Dear Harrisburg Academy Community, 

Moments ago, a letter was sent on behalf of Adrian Allan, head of school, announcing his upcoming retirement at the conclusion of this academic year. After 54 years of dedicated service to independent schools, especially Harrisburg Academy throughout the last seven, he has decided to embrace a well-deserved retirement!

Throughout his tenure, Adrian’s leadership has profoundly shaped our community. Under his guidance, Harrisburg Academy has continued to define educational excellence throughout the region. Some of his many achievements include leading our efforts to become an International Baccalaureate World School authorized to offer the full continuum, expanding professional development opportunities for our exceptional faculty and staff, and navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond these efforts, Adrian has touched the lives of countless members of our community, making Harrisburg Academy a true home for many. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I wish to extend our deepest appreciation to Adrian for his contributions to our community. He will be greatly missed! 

While we will have time to celebrate Adrian’s retirement and honor his contributions in the months ahead, I wanted to assure our community that the Board of Trustees has already engaged in thoughtful planning for our future. This leadership transition marks a significant moment in the life of Harrisburg Academy and our next steps will be carried out with close care, professionalism, and discernment. We are committed to a transition process that supports continued strength and strategic growth for our school. I am grateful to Assistant Head of School and Head of Early Childhood and Lower School Dr. Sarah Oatney-Weiler, and our newly-appointed Head of Middle and Upper Schools Mr. David Shover, for providing stable leadership of our divisions as we look toward the 2026-27 school year. 

To identify candidates to serve as interim head of school for next school year, the Board of Trustees has engaged with Donna Orem, former president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). In the coming weeks, a small search committee will move forward with inviting candidates to our campus who specialize in serving in interim capacities. Looking ahead, to help us attract the most talented candidates, the Board of Trustees will be partnering with a consulting firm to launch a national search for a permanent head of school to join our community. We look forward to embarking on this comprehensive and mission-driven search process, and we will update the community as our processes progress.

Please join me in thanking Adrian and wishing him well as he prepares for this next chapter. Answers to some of the questions you may have are available here, but should you wish to reach out regarding this transition, I encourage you to contact me by emailing transitionteam@harrisburgacademy.org. 

Sincerely,