An experienced educator who has led a number of private institutions for nearly 30 years, James P. Power has been named the 13th Head of Schools of Culver Academies, effective July 1, 2016. Miles D. White, Chairman of the Board Trustees of The Culver Educational Foundation, made the announcement.
Power, 57, will succeed John Buxton who has led the northern Indiana college preparatory boarding school since 1999.
Culver Academies is a college preparatory boarding high school comprised of Culver Military Academy (founded in 1894) and Culver Girls Academy (1971). The Academies’ enrollment consists of 800 students from 38 states and 23 countries. The Academies’ also operate the Culver Summer Schools & Camps, a six-week program with 1,400 youth ages 9 to 17.
A native of Philadelphia, Power is currently the Principal of Upper Canada College in Toronto, serving in this role since 2004. Founded in 1829, UCC is a leading International Baccalaureate World School, with about 1,200 boys in grades K-12 and with a community of boarding students from 25 different countries. Previously, Power was the Headmaster of Georgetown Preparatory School near Washington, D.C., from 1993 until 2004. From 1986, he was at the Pomfret School in Connecticut, a co-ed boarding school, having served in such roles as an English teacher, coach, Assistant Director of Admissions, English Department Chair, Dean of Students, and Academic Dean.
During his tenure at UCC, Power served as President of the Board of the Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB), and as a trustee of the International Coalition of Boys Schools and of the Canadian Educational Standards Committee. He was a Klingenstein Visiting Heads Fellowship participant in 2003. Recognized for his years of distinguished service as a head of school, Power serves on the faculty of the Institute for New Heads of the National Association of Independent Schools and wrote a chapter, “The Administrative Team,” for The Head’s Handbook: A Guide for Aspiring, New, and Experienced Heads of School.
Power holds a BA in English from the College of the Holy Cross. His work toward the degree included one year at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. He also was awarded a Master of Arts Degree from Boston College in English and a doctorate (Ed.D.) from Boston University in Educational Leadership.
His wife, Mary, is a summa cum laude major in the Classics from Holy Cross. She also has a master’s degree from Harvard University, School of Public Health and a Master in Information Science from the University of Toronto. The couple has five grown children ranging in age from 18 to 25.
John Buxton and his wife, Pam, announced their retirement in April. They will continue to serve the Academies through the conclusion of the 2015-2016 school year.
About Culver Academies
Founded in 1894, Culver Academies operates on a 1,800-acre campus located on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Ind.
Culver’s mission is to educate its students and campers for leadership and responsible citizenship by developing and nurturing the whole individual through integrated programs that emphasize the cultivation of character.
For more information, visit www.culver.org.
