New Head of School Named

Ken Cheeseman will join Webb
as Head of School
in July 2020

The Webb School Board of Trustees has named Ken Cheeseman as the new head of school following a national search this fall. Cheeseman brings extensive experience and expertise with education in independent day and boarding schools, strategic planning, policy setting, admissions and fundraising. He has also served on state and regional independent school associations. He will officially join Webb in July 2020 and succeed Ray Broadhead, who has served as head of school since 2010.

“I’m delighted on behalf of the board to welcome Ken. He distinguished himself immediately with his experience and his vision. I and my colleagues look forward to a great partnership. Our school is in a strong position, and we look forward to building on a firm foundation,” said Vance Berry, The Webb School Board of Trustees chair and alumnus. Berry noted that Cheeseman’s passion for education, experience and his significant leadership qualities, are enhanced by his idea that “two key elements in effectively leading a school are serving the teachers and staff in ways that maximize their talents and creating powerful and effective ways for partnership between parents, teachers, administration, alumni and friends of the school.”

Head of School Search Committee Chair Farrar Vaughan added, “Watching this process unfold has been a very affirming experience for the school and for me personally as an alumna. Ken’s background fits with our goals to have Webb be successful in every aspect of the educational experience.”

“I am humbled and so grateful to have been chosen to lead and collaborate with such an esteemed faculty, leadership team, and Board of Trustees,” said Cheeseman. “Building upon the 150 years of timeless and enduring values that define The Webb School, I am energized by the good work ahead to connect the timeless with the timely, research-based pedagogy that will equip our Webb graduates to lead their generation.

“During my interview, I was so impressed with each constituent group -- students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, leadership, and the board -- and with each meeting, I was more and more convinced that the Webb community and culture was an exceptional match for me, Cathy, and Abby Faith.”

He added, “The Webb School, inclusive of its mission, people and resources, provides a strong foundation to be able to dream about what is possible and then pursue that vision for the betterment of generations of Webb graduates.

“I am excited to get to know the Webb School community, not only in Middle Tennessee, but the alumni and past parents around the globe. I am particularly interested to hear the alumni stories of how Webb shaped its graduates to be who they are today.”

Ken is a graduate of University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Economics and he received a Master of Education in Curriculum Leadership from Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tenn. He is currently serving as head of school of Fort Worth Christian School in Fort Worth, Texas, where he works closely with the Board of Trust to fund and forward the mission and set policy for the 61-year-old college-preparatory school serving 650 preschool-through-12^th grade students. Prior to that, he was Head of School at St. Paul Christian Academy in Nashville, Tenn., for 16 years and partnered with the Board of Trust to raise more than $10 million in physical plant enhancements and assisted with strategic planning, policy setting, and fundraising for the 4-year-old through 6th grade, pre-college preparatory day school. Earlier in his career, he was Academic Dean at Brentwood Academy in Nashville, Tenn., and served in various leadership roles at day and boarding schools including TMI Episcopal in San Antonio, Texas, McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Woodberry Forest School, Orange, Va.

Ken and Cathy Cheeseman have four children, Allison 24, Claire 21, Carter 18 and Abby Faith 12.

“I am thrilled to partner with Ken to serve the faculty and students of Webb as we move our family and join this wonderful community,” Cathy Cheeseman remarked. “It was truly a pleasure to be on campus and meet so many constituents of the community: trustees, faculty and staff, and upper school and middle school students. Each person I met warmly welcomed us and shared his and her unique insights and perspectives about Webb, revealing why Webb is such an extraordinary, high-impact, school community. What a privilege it will be to serve purposefully, invest whole-heartedly and love well the people in the Webb community.”

Abby Faith Cheeseman, 12 and a seventh grader, also looks forward to being a part of the Webb Community. “The Webb School seems like a great place for me to be challenged and prepared for the future alongside people who will know and value me.” She added, “Boarding schools have always been magical places to me, and I’ve always wanted to go to one (but with my mom and dad, somehow). Well, my dream has come true. Though there will be sadness in leaving my home and the relationships I have built here, for certain, I am excited to start this journey at The Webb School. It will be a great place to grow into who God created me to be."

The Cheeseman Family

The Cheeseman Family

Read more about the Cheeseman Family

Cathy Cheeseman is a former middle school teacher, and has coached cross country and track at the middle school and high school levels continuously since 1989. Her teams have won numerous state titles and national rankings, and she has been named Coach of the Year in Division II in Tennessee multiple times over the last 20 years and four other times was named Tennessee Girls' Coach of the Year by USA Track and Field for all divisions, public and private, in Tennessee. One of the accomplishments of which she is most proud is that more than 20 of her girls went on to run in college, and she keeps up with all of them to this day.

Ken Cheeseman noted that one of the most special gifts to them as parents “is the amazing gift that God gave us as Cathy has coached all of our children in high school. Both Allison (Davidson College ’18) and Claire (Belmont University ’21) won multiple individual state titles and helped their Brentwood Academy teams win three cross country and three track state titles” He added, “Allison, thanks be to God, earned a scholarship to run for Davidson College, and Claire earned a scholarship to run for Belmont University, where she is in her third year this year.”

The move to Texas gave her the opportunity to coach their only son, Carter. “Had we stayed in Nashville, she would not have coached him. What a two years they enjoyed. Their partnership as mother/son and coach/athlete bore fruit that has never been seen in the 61 years of our school. Together, they won seven individual state titles in two years, breaking the Texas state record in both the mile and two-mile in our division. They qualified for and traveled to both the Nike and Footlocker National cross country championships both Carter's junior and senior years. Carter finished sixth and 10th in the Footlocker national championship, earning All-American both years. On the track, he ran fast, being ranked nationally in both the mile and two-mile both years.”

He finished his career running 4:05.69 for 1600 meters and 8:50.45 for 3200 meters, ranking among all-time bests in the state of Texas. The award-winning runner also made the Under 20 Team USA in cross country, finishing as the second American, 31st overall at the World Championships in Denmark last March. As a result, he earned a scholarship to run for Notre Dame, one of the top men's programs in the NCAA.

According to her father, Abby Faith has shown the same interest, passion, and prowess as the other three; her mother has coached her for the last two years of middle school. Abby Faith won the last two Dallas/Fort Worth independent middle-school, cross-country championships.

New Head of School Named

Ken Cheeseman will join Webb as Head of School in July 2020

Ken Cheeseman will join Webb
as Head of School
in July 2020