Daniel J. Alig, former St. John’s Upper School Dean of Students and English Department Chair, has been appointed by the Board of Trustees to be the next Head of St. John’s School. Dan will join us as St. John’s eighth Head of School in the summer of 2021.
Dan, who received a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Emory University in 1997, is widely recognized as one of the top independent school division leaders in the country. Dan comes to St. John’s from his current position as Head of the Upper School at The Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia, a position he has held since 2013. During his time at The Lovett School, Dan has strengthened and transformed the school in a number of areas, including expanding the school’s academic offerings and reputation; leading diversity initiatives that increased the diversity of the student body and promoted the hiring of faculty and administrators of color; supporting and expanding faculty professional development; growing the school’s counseling and college counseling programs; and expanding the school’s wellness initiatives.
Dan is no stranger to St. John’s. Prior to joining The Lovett School in 2013, Dan spent 13 years as a leading and beloved member of the St. John’s faculty and administration, serving as an English teacher, coach, advisor, college counselor, Admissions associate, and ultimately Upper School Dean of Students and English Department Chair. During his time at St. John’s, Dan’s leadership as Upper School Dean and Chair of the English Department, and the relationships and connections he built with students and faculty, were invaluable. Throughout the interview process, Dan’s continued love of St. John’s and the St. John’s community was clear. We are so pleased to welcome him back home to St. John’s.
Dan’s leadership, enthusiasm, and intellect, along with his knowledge of and experience with St. John’s, make him the perfect choice to be our next Head of School. Dan is a teacher at heart who values St. John’s commitment to academic excellence. He recognizes the importance of development of the whole child, the role of chapel in a student’s spiritual life, and St. John’s mission that every member of the community will be known and loved. He is an excellent listener and communicator. He is visible and engaged in all aspects of the school. He is a friendly, approachable leader who builds strong, supportive relationships with students, faculty, and the community. Dan also values the importance of diversity, both in the student body and in the faculty and administration, and is committed to building upon St. John’s community and inclusion efforts over the past several years. Simply put, Dan is a unique and special leader with the vision and skill set to lead St. John’s into the future.
The Search Committee is very grateful for the community’s help and support throughout the search process. With excellent guidance from consultants at Spencer Stuart, the search committee relied heavily on the input and feedback received from the SJS community, including faculty, staff, administrators, students, parents, and alumni, to formulate the Position Specification that guided the search.
The search also highlighted the tremendous successes that St. John’s has seen over the last 11 years under the leadership of Dr. Mark Desjardins. The Board of Trustees and the entire community will forever be grateful and appreciative for all that Mark, Maro, and their family have done for St. John’s.
Please join us in welcoming Dan, his wife, Jenine, and their son, Harrison, back home to St. John’s. We look forward to opportunities for Dan to further connect and introduce himself to the entire community.