Millbrook's Momentum - An Exciting Announcement
In an emotional all-school assembly on Friday, January 24, Headmaster Drew Casertano shared the news that he and his wife, Linda, will be retiring at the end of the 2020-2021 school year:
Board Chair Bill Menard '78 took this opportunity in front of the entire student body and faculty to thank Mr. Casertano for his three decades of service to Millbrook: You can look around here at the buildings, the program, the faculty who he has hired. He has assembled something really special here. All the time while keeping front and center what makes Millbrook, Millbrook. He’s had success after success. On behalf of my board colleagues, my faculty colleagues, and Millbrook’s students and families, we owe you a great debt of gratitude. Thank you!"
Mr. Menard, surrounded by his trustee colleagues on the theater stage, concluded by explaining the trustees' role and process in hiring Millbrook's next headmaster: We have worked with Mr. Casertano over the last five to six years to prepare for his eventual departure...We did our homework and put into motion a committee with trustees and faculty members. As we went through this process, we found a great candidate. We met earlier this year and the board of trustees unanimously and resoundingly and enthusiastically and decidedly offered the job, which has been accepted, to Mr. Jon Downs."
To a thunderous standing ovation, Headmaster Elect Jon Downs '98 joined the others on stage to offer his thanks:
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"We have been so privileged and honored to be a part of this community for 30 years, to have raised our family here and have them be a part of this community. It’s time for our family to make this change. It’s certainly the right time for the school. The school, by every measure, has never been stronger, and that’s the result of the work that the trustees, faculty, staff, and all of you do to make Millbrook, Millbrook."
Board Chair Bill Menard '78 took this opportunity in front of the entire student body and faculty to thank Mr. Casertano for his three decades of service to Millbrook:
"We have had for the past 30 years, the best headmaster in America. That’s not just us being proud of who we have and our school—it’s an objective fact. You don’t have to look any further than The Association of Boarding Schools, a professional organization that represents boarding schools across the country. Last December, they awarded Mr. Casertano the Ruzicka Compass Award, which recognizes that person who made the most significant contribution to boarding schools in the country. They award this once a year to one person, and Mr. Casertano rightly deserved that award. He is the finest headmaster.
Mr. Menard, surrounded by his trustee colleagues on the theater stage, concluded by explaining the trustees' role and process in hiring Millbrook's next headmaster:
"Our most important job as trustees is to hire the headmaster. Thirty-some odd years ago, our predecessors did a remarkable job. I don’t know at the time that they could imagine 30 years later Drew Casertano would still be here at the helm and have such a transformative influence on the school. But he has.
To a thunderous standing ovation, Headmaster Elect Jon Downs '98 joined the others on stage to offer his thanks:
"I want to thank Bill Menard for his leadership through this process and all of the trustees for their service to Millbrook School, belief in our mission, support of Drew, and for believing in me and in us.
I believe in Millbrook as much as I believe in anything in the world. I believe in it because I believe in each and every one of you and what this place can do for you. What it has done for alums, and what it can do for future Millbrook students. Mr. Casertano has said to us for years that we are devoted to the simultaneous pursuit of the best self and the common good. I believe that Millbrook, and the world, needs more magnanimous, Millbrook-minded pursuits.
I am thrilled to go on this journey with all of you and do my best as headmaster of Millbrook School beginning 524 days from now. We have a lot of work to do together, and despite Mr. Casertano’s resistance, a lot of that work will be celebrating and honoring the transformational three decades he has spent here with Linda and their family. He has put a light on Millbrook that will be with us forever, and he will always be my headmaster."
Click here to read letters from Mr. Menard, Headmaster Casertano, and Headmaster Elect Jon Downs '98.
I believe in Millbrook as much as I believe in anything in the world. I believe in it because I believe in each and every one of you and what this place can do for you. What it has done for alums, and what it can do for future Millbrook students. Mr. Casertano has said to us for years that we are devoted to the simultaneous pursuit of the best self and the common good. I believe that Millbrook, and the world, needs more magnanimous, Millbrook-minded pursuits.
I am thrilled to go on this journey with all of you and do my best as headmaster of Millbrook School beginning 524 days from now. We have a lot of work to do together, and despite Mr. Casertano’s resistance, a lot of that work will be celebrating and honoring the transformational three decades he has spent here with Linda and their family. He has put a light on Millbrook that will be with us forever, and he will always be my headmaster."
Click here to read letters from Mr. Menard, Headmaster Casertano, and Headmaster Elect Jon Downs '98.
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