Greenwich's Whitby School Names New Leader

GREENWICH, Conn. – Whitby School head Doug Fainelli will retire next month and be replaced by international educator Bryan Nixon, the Greenwich school’s board of trustees announced.

Under Fainelli’s leadership, the school achieved International Baccalaureate Primary Years and Middle Years Program accreditation, becoming the first school in the country to be accredited by both the American Montessori Association and the International Baccalaureate Organization.

“It is an exciting moment in Whitby’s history, and we owe a deep debt of gratitude to Doug Fainelli for the strong foundation he has built for Whitby,” Patricia Franklin, chair of the board of trustees, said in a prepared statement. “In addition to having exceptional management and interpersonal skills, Bryan is an international leader in curriculum development, having been formally recognized by the International Baccalaureate organization as one of 12 international educators selected to write units of inquiry for IB’s Primary Years Program.”

The International Baccalaureate Program is designed to develop “inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect,” according to its mission statement.

“Four years ago, I seized the opportunity and the challenge to come out of retirement to help Whitby become the leading school it is today. With that milestone achieved, it is time for new energy, vision and leadership, and Bryan Nixon is exactly the kind of inspired and experienced leader who will take Whitby to the next level,” Fainelli said in a prepared statement. “I am proud to have shaped the school’s history, and deeply honored to be a part of such an exceptional place.”

Nixon comes to Whitby after serving in leadership roles for seven years at The Bavarian International School in Germany, a pre-kindergarten through 12 grade school offering all three International Baccalaureate curricular programs.

For the last four years, as head of school, Nixon was responsible for 920 students (from 45 nationalities and 32 spoken languages) and over 135 employees.

Nixon is an International Baccalaureate regional workshop leader and a team leader on school authorization and evaluation visits. He is also one of 12 people selected worldwide to write sample units of inquiry for the primary years program.

“I have spent my career working extensively with IB programs, delivering educational best practices within the classroom, successfully building schools to reach their fullest potential and, in particular, ensuring that a school’s curriculum is preparing students for the 21st century,” Nixon said in a prepared statement. “I’m delighted to have this opportunity to lead such a remarkable school and ensure we continue to inspire, engage and challenge our students.”

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