Incoming Head of School
Search committee announces next Head of School
Dear SCH Community,
It is with immeasurable pride and great pleasure that I write to announce that the Board of Trustees has selected Dr. Delvin M. Dinkins to be the next head of school for Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, effective July 2022.
Dr. Dinkins brings an impressive portfolio of skills and experience to this position, as well as an educational philosophy that closely parallels the values and mission of SCH whose core values are integrity, courage, diversity, thoughtfulness, and resilience. He embodies the strengths and character we are seeking in our next head, as well as the leadership experience to take SCH forward.
Dr. Dinkins currently serves as assistant head at the Pingry School in New Jersey, where he has overseen the implementation of the school’s strategic plan, supervised key academic and administrative initiatives, and designed and implemented a new flexible learning model and faculty professional development plan. In addition to being a leader, he is a teacher of English and stays closely tied to his students as a grade advisor and mentor.
Prior to Pingry, Dr. Dinkins served as head of upper school at Episcopal Academy. Before EA, Dr. Dinkins spent 18 years in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District serving in various capacities from teacher to elementary school principal and curriculum supervisor for the district.
In Dr. Dinkins, SCH has found an inspiring and thoughtful leader who meets all of the personal and professional characteristics we sought and more. He possesses a strong theoretical as well as practical academic knowledge, supported by multiple degrees, including an Ed.D. in educational and organizational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in educational studies from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Dinkins’ thoughtful style of leadership is characterized by a collaborative and inclusive approach. He has described himself as a “bridge builder, bringing people together and cultivating well-being.” At his core, he believes in the “potential of people to do great things and the promise of school to change lives.”
The SCH community’s enthusiastic response to Dr. Dinkins during his visit, coupled with the full support of the Head of School Search Committee, has led to his unanimous endorsement by the Board of Trustees as our school’s next head of school.
The Board of Trustees would like to thank everyone in our community who participated in the search process. Your feedback was invaluable and was integral to getting us to this point. We look forward to welcoming Dr. Dinkins, his wife, Davirah, and their two children, Bria (21) and Delvin (25), to the SCH community in July 2022. Over the next year, Dr. Dinkins and his wife, Davirah, will be working with Steve and his wife Pia to ensure a smooth transition for the entire SCH community.
Sincerely,
Patrick Lindsay P'19, P'23
Chair, SCH Board of Trustees
Tim Levin P'22, P'24, P'26
Nadine Badger Stevenson '90, P'24, P'27
Mims Maynard Zabriskie P'06, P'13, P'16
Search Committee Chairs
SCH At-A-Glance
Campus Drone Flyover
Head of School Search Committee
The ten-member team of the Head of School Search Committee are all current or former members of the school’s board of trustees. They bring a wealth of institutional knowledge and professional expertise to the task and include parents of 18 SCH students and 7 alumni as well as members of the 2015 Head of School search committee.
- Patrick Lindsay, SCH Board Chair
- Tim Levin, Chair
- Nadine Badger Stevenson '90, Chair
- Mims Maynard Zabriskie, Chair
- M. Brian Blake
- Dave Hayne
- Youngmoo Kim
- Debbie Maine H'16
- Elizabeth McCausland Salata ’02
- Andrew Topping
Patrick Lindsay, SCH Board Chair
Tim Levin, Chair
Nadine Badger Stevenson '90, Chair
Mims Maynard Zabriskie, Chair
M. Brian Blake
Dave Hayne
Youngmoo Kim
Debbie Maine H'16
Elizabeth McCausland Salata ’02
Andrew Topping
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will my child's educational experience be affected by this transition?
- What is the role of the Board of Trustees in the search process?
- Who is leading the search process?
- How will the Search Committee engage parents, students, faculty, and staff in the search process?
- How will the Search Committee communicate with the SCH community?
- What is the general timeline for the search for the Head of School?