Ranney School Names Matthew Hall Head of the Middle School Division

Ranney School has named Mr. Matthew Hall as its Head of the Middle School, reporting to Head of School Dr. John W. Griffith. Mr. Hall, currently Dean of Students at Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, a highly regarded K-12 independent school very similar to Ranney School, will assume the position at the start of the new school year on July 1, 2015. He will lead the Monmouth County independent day school’s middle division, which serves approximately 200 students in grades 6, 7 and 8.

Mr. Hall was selected through a nationwide search of candidates with outstanding independent school leadership experience and student-centered philosophies to join Ranney School’s team of dedicated faculty and academic leaders, including the school’s strong division head team that includes Dr. Andrea Danial in the Lower School and Ms. Katie Gibson in the Upper School.

The search yielded more than 60 strong applications, but Mr. Hall stood out and was highly recommended for his experience, intellect, passion, temperament and love of middle schoolers. “The Middle School is rich with opportunity in student programming, curriculum evaluation, faculty development, co-curricular and advising programs and we are confident that Mr. Hall’s breadth of experience, educational philosophy and aptitude for leadership will continue to guide the division forward,” said Dr. Griffith.

“He understands the importance of interactive and self-motivated learning,” adds Dr. Griffith. “He supports personalized student development and believes, as we do, in a collaborative approach to the learning process across all disciplines. In a school that prides itself on the balance of the student body, Mr. Hall brings experience in building a student-centered and energetic culture and supporting the talents of students from athletics to the arts, forensics to community service. Further, Mr. Hall’s vision of great school communities and open communication align with our mission and forward-thinking strategic goals. We are thrilled to have him join us.”
Ranney School began its search in December after current Middle School Head, Mr. David Fischer, announced his plans to leave Ranney at the end of the current school year. Mr. Fischer has been with Ranney since 1997, serving as head of the Middle School since 2009.

Mr. Hall will work closely with Mr. Fischer as well as current Assistant Head of Middle School David Ketcham throughout the spring semester to prepare the division for new leadership in the 2015-2016 school year. The transition team will ensure that the needs of students and faculty are met and that the framework for advising and student-life programs continues uninterrupted.

As Head of the Middle School at Ranney, Mr. Hall will partner with the Lower and Upper School Division Heads to bridge culture, academic standards and student life programming across all grade levels. Nearly half of Ranney School’s graduates begin in the Lower School and continue through high school as “lifers” to graduation.

He brings to the position more than a decade of private and independent school leadership, including serving as Pace Academy’s Middle School Dean, Academic Dean and History Faculty member. Mr. Hall also led at New Jersey’s Delbarton School, serving as Co-Director of the Student Mentoring Program, Co-Creator of the Student Outdoor Leadership Experience, a Judiciary Committee Faculty Representative and as a History faculty member. His extracurricular career includes success as a student athlete at Amherst College, as well as coaching football, baseball and basketball for Middle and Upper School students. In fact, he established a Middle and Upper School football program for Pace Academy. He holds an Ed.M. in Education Leadership and Policy from the University of Illinois and a B.A. in Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought from Amherst College.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Ranney community as the Head of Middle School,” says Mr. Hall. “I am looking forward to continuing the tradition of excellence that has been established in the division, as well as looking forward to working with a strong faculty—across all divisions—and an incredible group of students to bring passion, innovation and enthusiasm to the Middle School. I also look forward to meeting the families that make Ranney a true school community, and I am excited to partner with them to support their sons and daughters through the critical middle years.”

Mr. Hall grew up in Middletown, where his father Thomas Hall served as mayor from 2005-2006, and looks forward to returning home to New Jersey, with his wife, Kelsey, who also works at Pace, and their two children, 5-year-old Rory and 3-year-old Declan. “We are all excited to be Panthers!” he says.