Dear Members of the Appleby Community,
With very mixed emotions, I am announcing that I will be retiring as Principal of Appleby College at the end of the 2026-27 academic year.
I made this decision after thoughtful consideration, and have been discussing the timing with Bill Benson ’79, Chair of the Board of Governors, as well as other Board leaders for an extended period, and I deeply appreciate their support. While there are many compelling reasons to continue in the role I have been privileged to fulfill for the past 15 years, I believe this is the right moment for the school to benefit from a period of renewal and rejuvenation. Change of this kind can bring fresh perspective and energy, and I am confident it will serve the community well.
On a personal note, this has been a dream job for me. Having the opportunity to be part of a school and a community that is extraordinary in so many ways, especially when it comes to the people - colleagues, students, supporters, parents, alumni, friends and champions. Alison and I will very much miss our roles at the school, but also look forward to having more flexibility to do things that have not been possible in past many years.
One of the things I am proudest of is the shared leadership model we have at Appleby. There is a large number of employees and volunteers who take responsibility and initiative for making great things happen here. Our success is not dependent on one person or role, including the Principal. This is why I am entirely confident that Appleby will continue to flourish in the years ahead.
July 1, 2027 is still long way off, and there will be plenty of time for goodbyes next year. I look forward to continuing our efforts over the next year and a quarter as we build on the momentum underway in program enhancements, creating great experiences, innovating, building, and making Appleby an even greater school and community. In the coming months our shared focus should remain on the important work ahead while supporting the Board as they undertake the search for Appleby’s next Principal.
Sincerely,
Innes van Nostrand
Principal
Dear Members of the Appleby Community,
On behalf of the Board of Governors, I would like to express my thanks to Innes van Nostrand for all that he has done and continues to do for Appleby. The recent CAIS Accreditation Visit was a compelling reminder of what a great school Appleby is, and positive reinforcement that our future direction is very much on the mark. I echo his comments, however, that we will have lots of opportunities to express our thanks and celebrate next year. Today, our focus is on a) continued delivery of an exceptional Appleby experience for students while advancing implementation of Beacon Appleby – our ambitious strategy map for the future of the school, and b) conducting a comprehensive, rigorous search for the next Principal. The hiring of the Principal is often seen as the most important responsibility of the Board of Governors. To this end, we have already had a number of conversations about the search process and the leadership needs of the school over the next decade.
The Board has appointed a Search and Advisory Committee to recommend the next Principal. The members are: Dante Morra ’91 (PA, PP, Chair of the Search and Advisory Committee), Burhana Bello-Ayorinde (PP), Aubrey Baillie ’63 (PP, GP), Jas Brar ’98 (PA), Andrew Cockwell ’93 (PA, PP), Shen Goh ’91 (PA, PP), Steven Latimer (PP), Janice Madon (PP), Tracey Pearce-Dawson (ST), Geoff Spidle ’87 (PP), Christine Vasilaros (FA, PP), and myself.
We are also delighted to have retained Heather Ring who leads Caldwell Partners’ Academic, Not-for-Profit, Social Enterprise, and Culture Practice, to manage our search process. She has done this for many of the top independent schools in Canada, including Appleby’s last Principal search and our recent Chief Financial Officer search. She is a recognized leader in the field, and will be working with Appleby’s Chief People Officer, Majella Hillsdon.
As we embark on this search, I would also like to share that Fraser Grant '87, Head of School and Deputy Principal, has indicated his preference to continue in his current role and not to be a candidate for Principal. We will continue to seek the counsel of both Fraser and Innes throughout the process.
Over the next few weeks, the Search and Advisory Committee will be seeking input from all Appleby stakeholder groups on what you think should be the most important factors and priorities in selecting our next Principal. These consultations will take many forms, including online surveys, focus groups and one-on-one conversations arranged through Caldwell Partners. Further communications will be shared on how members of the Appleby community will be engaged in the search process. Please monitor Appleby This Week, Alumni Ties and your inbox for opportunities to share your thoughts, and for updates.
If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to reach out to Majella Hillsdon at mhillsdon@appleby.on.ca or 905-845-4681 ext. 195.
Sincerely,
Bill Benson ’79 (PP)
Chair of the Board of Governors
(PA Parent, PP Parent of Alum, GP Grandparent, Fac Faculty, ST Staff , ’## alum from the Class of 19##)
