Daniel Hickey
EAST MARLBOROUGH — The Board of Trustees at Upland Country Day School has announced the appointment of Dr. Daniel E. Hickey the new Head of School beginning July 1, 2017. Dr. Hickey’s appointment represents the culmination of an intensive, national search process that involved the entire school community over several months. He will become the 14th Head of School in Upland’s 69-year history.
“We were extremely fortunate to have had a remarkably strong field of candidates and delighted to have found the ideal Head of School in Dan,” commented Mary Pat Fralick, president of the Upland Board of Trustees and chair of the Search Committee. “He is an inspirational leader who brings the right mix of experience, energy and vision to lead our school and to continue the extraordinary work of Tom Reid and the other distinguished Heads of School who have preceded him.”
Dr. Hickey is joining Upland from Tower Hill School in Wilmington where he has been the Assistant Head of School and the Head of the Upper School. Among his many accomplishments while leading the Upper School, he oversaw the largest enrollment growth (27%) in the school’s history. He has more than 20 years experience in all areas of independent school education and leadership. Throughout his career, he has also served as a teacher, coach, admissions director, academic advisor and even web master. Prior to joining Tower Hill in 2006, Dr. Hickey was the Director of Admissions at Archmere Academy in Claymont, DE and worked in the admissions departments at both American University in Washington, DC and Dickinson College, in Carlisle, PA. He holds a Masters of Arts from American University and a Doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership from University of Pennsylvania.
“Being local, I’d always had an admiration for Upland based on the quality of the students I’ve interacted with over the years,” Dr. Hickey said. “However, as I engaged in the search process and got a deeper look into the school community, I was simply charmed by the people, the campus and the overall heart of the school. Upland is a school that has so much to be proud of, yet remains unpretentious in the best of ways.
My main goal as Head of School will be to help harness and amplify the talent, dedication and love that so clearly exists in this community to craft a school culture that embodies the best possible combination of purpose and joy. It is already here in spades, and I hope together we can build on it and make Upland Country Day School the best possible version of itself.”
Dr. Hickey and his wife, Jessica reside in Wilmington, DE with their two sons, Aidan (age 16) and Brendan (age 13).
