Wichita Collegiate is thrilled to announce the hiring of our new Head of School, Matthew Carolan. Mr. Carolan will be just the eighth Head of School in Collegiate’s long history, and we couldn’t be more excited to see how his leadership will continue to shape the bright future of our school.
Mr. Carolan brings more than 30 years of experience in independent schools to his new role. He will be joining us after serving as Head of School at fellow ISAS school Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City. Prior to that, he had a long career at Pembroke Hill in Kansas City, where he saw his own two sons benefit from the value of an independent school education.
Mr. Carolan is a true educator, having gotten his start in third and fourth grade classrooms before transitioning to middle school classrooms. Even this past year he taught a senior level creative writing course, scratching an itch he has to be rooted in the classroom experience. His administrative experience is as varied as his classroom experience, giving him incredible insight into the inner workings of a multi-division school.
Mr. Carolan shared this after his on-campus interview: “From the moment I set foot on campus, I felt at home. Meeting with the leadership team, faculty, students across all grade levels, and parents, I experienced firsthand what makes Collegiate so special — the curious, kind spirit of its students, the passion of its teachers, and an ineffable sense of community.”
Throughout the search process, it became clear that Mr. Carolan is eager to learn about the values and traditions that have made our community so strong for the last 63 years while also sharing our vision for an exciting future for the next 63 years. Our school has a history steeped in academic excellence and community, and it was evident that Mr. Carolan felt that during his initial visit. He remarked, “I have long known of Collegiate’s strong reputation, but experiencing it firsthand through the interview process gave me a deeper understanding of why the school is so highly respected — for its intellectual vitality, vibrant arts, and athletic excellence. Equally important is Collegiate’s ability to uphold enduring traditions while preparing students for an innovative future. Graduates of Collegiate leave not only well-prepared but also confident, with a clear sense of who they are and what they stand for. Collegiate embodies the very best of independent schools, and I am honored to serve as its next Head of School.”
While we look forward to welcoming Mr. Carolan to campus officially on July 1st, we are excited that he will be visiting Wichita in the coming months. We know our community will welcome him with open arms as we step into the next chapter at Wichita Collegiate School… one that will be filled with his energy, vision, and leadership.