Current Upper School Director Timothy Seeley announced Monday that Mark Thompson has been selected unanimously by an eight member search committee to take over as the School’s new Upper School Director on July 1.

Since 2005 Thompson has spent his days teaching middle school geography and history at Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA), a day and boarding school located in the town of Waimea on the beautiful island of Hawaii.

“I am very excited to have Mark join the North Cross School faculty. He brings a broad range of experience directing both academic and student life programs at some very fine schools. In addition, he has a great affection for young people and a desire to see them grow and thrive. He will bring great energy and enthusiasm to the upper school and help us to continue to develop new programs as well as build on the fine programs we already provide,” said Seeley.

This summer he and his family will move to Roanoke where he will take on his new position as the Director of the Upper School at North Cross School.

"I am thrilled to be joining the NCS community and becoming part of the vibrant North Cross School community that provides students and families with so many unique academic, artistic, and athletic opportunities,” said Thompson.

"My family and I are happy to be a part of the North Cross School community and Roanoke Valley. We look forward to the many educational, cultural and outdoor opportunities that the School and region afford our three young children. We also look forward to reconnecting with friends and family in VA, NC, and MD, and making new friends as well," said Thompson.

Thompson holds a Bachelors degree in history from Bates College in Lewiston, ME and a masters degree in social studies education from Boston University in Boston, MA.

He began his career at Trinity-Pawling School in Pawling, NY in 1991 as a history, economics, psychology, and political science teacher after spending several summers working in the summer program at two Connecticut schools. From 1995 – 1997 he worked as an economics and history teacher at The Webb Schools in Claremont, CA before starting in his position as an upper school history teacher at HPA in 1997. He left the school in 2000 to work at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Northfield, MA from 2000 – 2004. There he taught upper school history and economics in addition to his responsibilities as a house director. After a one-year position at Iolani School in Honolulu, HI, Thompson returned to HPA in 2005. An avid runner himself, Thompson has coached cross country and/or track and field at nearly every school at which he has taught. He and his wife Carolyn have three children, Kaile (7), Tyler (2), and Spencer (1). Kaile will join next year’s first grade class in the fall.

We've had previous posts about North Cross on April 30, April 16 and April 8.

• Share this entry
  • Digg this entry
  • Mark in Ma.gnolia
  • Tag with del.icio.us
  • Seed Newsvine
  • Post to Google
  • Add to Yahoo!
  • Share on Facebook
  • Submit to Reddit
  • Related at Technorati
• Posted by emily flora in Schools and education
• :: Comments (0)