Letter from Interim Head of School George N. King, Jr.


Dear Woodlynde School Community,

It was with a great deal of enthusiasm that I recently accepted the Board of Trustees’ offer to become your Interim Head of School for the 2018 – 2019 academic year.

The time I spent on campus with faculty, students, and trustees recently confirmed what I believed to be true, which is that Woodlynde is an extraordinary school that is filled with gifted, intellectually curious students. It is a school where dedicated, passionate teachers, who are experts in their field, work tirelessly each day to help the students achieve their potential and prepare them to lead successful lives. The statement on the school’s website, “Where great minds learn differently,” totally captures the mission and essence of the Woodlynde experience!

There is much to be proud of and feel good about at Woodlynde, and there is also much to look forward to, especially the realization of the Board’s impressive campus improvement plans. I welcome the opportunity to work with faculty, students, parents, alumni, and trustees to maintain the school’s upward trajectory. Building on recent accomplishments, we will work together to pave the way for additional progress and success during the 2018 - 2019 academic year and prepare for the arrival of the new permanent Head of School at the beginning of the 2019 - 2020 academic year.

Although I met a number of wonderful people during my visit, there are many more that I have yet to meet. Therefore, I decided to tell you a few things about myself. My wife, Charliese, and I met in college and will celebrate our 42nd wedding anniversary in June. In addition to being an educator and an educational leader, I am also a professional musician specializing in jazz saxophone, a photographer, a member of Rotary International, and a life-long car enthusiast, and I enjoy attending motorsports events. I also enjoy working out at a fitness center three to four days per week. Charliese and I look forward to meeting you at various events that will take place at the beginning of the academic year.

I want to thank Search Committee Chair Sarah Houston and the Search Committee for a thorough interview experience that inspired me to want to become a member of the Woodlynde community. I also greatly appreciate Board Chair Maryann O’Conor’s insights and her strong commitment to Woodlynde’s growth and development. The time I spent with the Search Committee and other members of the community made my decision to accept the Board’s offer an easy one!

My first official day on campus will be Monday, July 2; however, I plan to spend a few days on campus in June so that we can begin the transition. Head of School Dr. Chris Fulco has graciously offered to spend time with me in June as he prepares for his own transition to a new school. I appreciate his willingness to help me get off to the best possible start. I hope you are as excited about the coming months as I am; although, I’m sure faculty and students are looking forward to a well-deserved, hard-earned summer break, one in which time passes slowly. As for me, the time can’t pass quickly enough, and July can’t get here fast enough! Until then, I hope the remaining weeks of the academic year are fulfilling for everyone, and I look forward to seeing you all on campus when school begins.

George N. King, Jr., Interim Head of School
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Woodlynde School is a private, co-ed college prep day school located in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that serves intelligent, talented students with learning differences in grades K - 12. Woodlynde provides a comprehensive, evidence-based Kindergartenelementarymiddle and high school program in a challenging yet nurturing environment for students with average to above average cognitive abilities (IQ) who have language- or math-based learning differences (such as Dyslexia, Dysgraphia or Dyscalculia), Executive Function Challenges, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or Auditory Processing Disorder. Even for those students without a diagnosed learning disability (LD), Woodlynde offers expert and caring teachers in small classroom settings that support academic success. Woodlynde School also offers a post-graduate (PG) program in partnership with Rosemont College as well as a regional Summer Camp for students who learn differently.