Norfolk Collegiate Names Jonathan Day as Next Head of School
Norfolk Collegiate’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Day as the next Head of School, effective July 1, 2026. Jonathan currently serves as Head of the Upper School at Savannah Country Day School in Georgia, where he has led with vision, care, and a deep commitment to students and faculty.
This exciting appointment follows a thoughtful and thorough search process that began in March 2025. Guided by The Education Group, the Search Committee launched a national and international search to identify the strongest candidates for our community. More than 50 educators expressed interest. Six were invited for confidential interviews, and four finalists and their spouses visited campus to engage with students, faculty, staff, parents, administrators, and trustees. After these visits and robust community feedback, the Committee unanimously recommended Jonathan Day, and the Board of Trustees confirmed his appointment on October 1, 2025.
A Note from Jonathan Day, Head of School-Elect:
“From the moment I first connected with Norfolk Collegiate, your warmth, candor, and sense of purpose struck me. Julie and I are thrilled to be joining this extraordinary community and look forward to calling Norfolk our new home.
Norfolk Collegiate has a clear mission, a shared vocabulary, and a deep sense of purpose. I am eager to partner with you to build on the many strengths already in place and to continue cultivating a community where students are known, supported, and challenged. It is an honor to be entrusted with this responsibility, and I look forward to getting to know each of you in the months ahead.”
Jonathan brings more than 17 years of academic leadership experience to his new role. Since 2016, he has served as Upper School Head at Savannah Country Day School, where he grew enrollment, strengthened the school’s learning resource program, and launched a Teaching Fellowship program that created opportunities for faculty mentoring and leadership.
Previously, he held multiple positions at Pace Academy in Atlanta, where he developed curriculum, taught, and served as Dean of Students in the Upper School. A graduate of Woodward Academy, Jonathan earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and his graduate degree from Louisiana State University. His career has been shaped by mentorship from two highly respected heads of school, both of whom view him as a natural leader for headship.
During his campus visit, Jonathan impressed the Norfolk Collegiate community with his warmth, authenticity, and ability to connect across all groups. Community surveys ranked him highest among all finalists, underscoring his capacity to inspire confidence and excitement. Jonathan, his wife Julie, and their two college-aged sons are eager to join the Norfolk Collegiate family and will be visiting campus throughout the transition year.
A Successful Search, A Strong Future
With Jonathan’s leadership, Norfolk Collegiate is poised to continue thriving as a place where students are challenged, supported, and inspired to reach their fullest potential.