GA is a PreK-12, coed, nonsectarian day school in Fort Washington, PA

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School Leadership

Germantown Academy spent more than 200 years as a leader in educating boys in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. On its move to Fort Washington in the late 1950s, GA became a coed, suburban school on 126 acres of beautiful work and play spaces.

A non-sectarian, coed, independent day school and non-profit 503c organization, Germantown Academy is led by a Board of Trustees that is responsible for establishing broad policy goals that align with the operation of the Academy and furthers its mission. The Board provides fiduciary oversight of the Academy, appoints and oversees the Head of School, and engages in and supports long-range strategic planning.

Rich Schellhas was appointed Head Elect by the Board of Trustees in 2015, and took on the Head of School duties in July 2016. Schellhas oversees a faculty and staff of more than 300, along with his administrative One School Leadership Team (below) who educate and support 1,200 students and their families daily.

 

 

Rich Schellhas 1760
Head of School

Rich Schellhas began his tenure as Head of School at Germantown Academy on July 1, 2016. He arrived at GA in 2009 as the Head of Upper School and served in that role for six years. Schellhas was a leader in the building of the new Middle and Upper Schools, creating an updated Mission Statement, and establishing a school-wide Strategic Vision. In fall of 2015, the Board of Trustees appointed him Head Elect. Schellhas was inducted into the honorary alumni Class of 1760 in 2020.

 

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Nidhi McVicar
Assistant Head of School

Germantown Academy welcomed Nidhi McVicar in July 2021 as its new Assistant Head of School. Her main duties at GA consist of the continued development of strong curriculum and programs, including 21st century skills and innovative programs, experiential learning, ed-tech, equity and inclusion, strategic planning, faculty professional development, and research-based teaching and learning strategies.

 

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Michael H. Jordan
President, Board of Trustees

Michael Jordan started his three-year tenure as the President of the Board of Trustees in June 2023. He has been a member of the Board since 2008 and has sat on numerous committees, including the Executive Committee and Campus Planning Committee, and served as the Chair of the Finance and Investment Committees. Michael, and his wife, Samantha MacGregor Jordan ’88, are committee chairs of Our Moment, the Campaign for a Stronger GA, and he has been a member of several search committees for various positions at Germantown Academy. He is a Principal at Mill Creek Capital Advisors in Conshohocken. Michael and Sam have three children, Wills ’19, Talie ’21, and Mac ’23.

 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES


One School Leadership Team

Rachel Elwood
Director of Human Resources

Kevin Gilbert
Director of Operations

Tim Ginter
Director of Athletics

Dan Houston
Director of Facilities

Jonas Jeswald
Head of Middle School

Grace Judge
Director of Information and Instructional Technology

Dr. Andrea Kurtz
Director of Counseling

Dr. Molly MacKean
Head of Upper School

Laura Martin '82
Director of Admission, Enrollment and Financial Aid

Karen Mason
Director of College Counseling

David Pannepacker
Chief Finance and Operating Officer

Brooke Record
Director of Institutional Advancement

Sue Szczepkowski
Head of Lower School

Carla Zighelboim 1760
Director of Communications and Marketing