News Archive

6th Head of School Appointed

We are extremely excited to share the news that, following a unanimous recommendation from the Search Committee, the Board of Trustees has named Steve McManus as the next Head of School, starting in July 2022.
Steve impressed the Committee from his very first interview. The feedback from his visit was incredibly positive, and his references were outstanding. Throughout the process, Steve's authenticity and passion for working with students shone through – during interviews, at his campus visit, and in every reference. Steve has a strong record of creating inclusive and student-centered learning communities, rooted in progressive pedagogy, and the Committee has every confidence he will do just that here.
 
During his visit to Burke, Steve's profound appreciation for both the Middle and High School experience became readily apparent in his interactions with faculty and students. Steve's record of programmatic innovation, strong culture and community building across divisions, and strategic leadership all stood out to the Committee. In his session with our parent community, he clearly demonstrated a capacity to cultivate meaningful relationships with each Burke family. Overall, the feedback from his visit made clear that he would bring energy, dedication, creativity, and integrity to each day at Burke.
 
For the last decade, Steve has served as Upper School Principal at Friends School of Baltimore, working with 386 students and 55 faculty members in Grades 9-12. From 2005-2011, Steve was the Head of Middle School at Garrison Forest School. He is a seasoned administrator and experienced teacher, with more than 25 years of experience in both independent and public schools in the region. (You can hear Steve talk about his ongoing devotion to teaching in his role as an administrator in this interview.)
 
Steve holds a BS from Georgetown University, an MAT (master's in teaching) from Towson University, and a post-master's certificate in administration and supervision from Loyola University - Maryland. Following his undergraduate work, he served in the Peace Corps in Senegal. Steve is also a Trustee of the SEED School of Maryland and served on the Academic Affairs Committee for the Loyola Blakefield School. 
 
Again, thank you for the time and care that each of you invested over the last year, ensuring that myriad voices and perspectives from our community would inform our process. A special thanks goes to the trustees, parents, alumni, current faculty, and past staff members who served on the Search Committee. You can read more about the process that brought Steve to Burke on our website.
 
We are thrilled with the outcome of the search process and excited to welcome Steve to Edmund Burke School.
 
Sharon Davis P'19
President, Board of Trustees
 
Dawn Chism P'21 & P'24
Peter Sheridan P'24 & P'26
Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee
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Co-ed, progressive, college prep school in Washington, DC featuring a challenging curriculum in an inclusive environment for grades 6-12.