Colorado Academy’s incoming Assistant Head of School, Amy Wintermeyer, says there are three things that drew her to the newly-created role: the position itself, the place, and the people.
With 20 years of leadership experience in independent schools—including roles at The Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles, The Athenian School in the Bay Area, and the Hockaday School in Dallas—Amy was both humbled and honored to be named CA’s Assistant Head of School. A longtime admirer of CA, she notes, “It is clear to me that Colorado Academy is an incredibly special place with a mission and educational approach that mirror my own values.”
Amy’s professional track record focusing on experiential education, student wellness, and inclusion and belonging is relevant to some of the most important work CA will undertake in the coming years—and her direct experience overseeing athletics, student life, college counseling, learning support, fine arts, global travel, and outdoor education speaks to the expertise required to help lead a school of CA’s reputation and ambition.
“I am so excited for the opportunity to work in another Pre-K-12 school and see students grow and thrive across the different grade levels. The CA students I have met have impressed me with their innate curiosity, sense of adventure, and love for the community. I’m also looking forward to making a difference in the education, health, and well-being of students of all ages.”
Colorado and CA’s ideal location between Denver and the Front Range were also a huge draw for Amy and her family. A New England native, Amy grew up skiing in Vermont, and she is thrilled that relocating to the Denver area puts her family close to both mountains and longtime friends. She recently moved to Colorado with her husband and fellow educator, Bobby Henshel, and their eighth grade son, Dylan.
“CA feels like an incredible match for me and my family,” she attests—not just Colorado, or even Denver, but the school’s place at the center of educational innovation in the West. “The school’s mission focused on courage and kindness immediately resonated with me. I love that the school teaches to both the heart and the mind and considers the whole child.” CA’s mission inspires the kind of moments that fuel Amy’s commitment to education: witnessing teachers bring their subject matter to life on the school lawn, seeing students debate civil liberties or score a winning goal, and collaborating with colleagues to design a new experiential course or outdoor adventure.
Amy’s educational philosophy mirrors the thread that connects every classroom on CA’s campus: “I believe that the best teachers are lifelong learners, and students need educators who care as much about them as they do their subject matter. Learning should be joyous and authentic across every age, and curriculum should foster curiosity and a desire for deeper understanding. Students should feel challenged and supported throughout their intellectual journey, and the classroom environment should ensure that students feel safe and known. While mastery of content may be construed as the obvious goal, a love of learning, and the abilities to think critically and apply learning across disciplines, are the greater, long-term objectives to prepare students for college and a life of purpose.”
Having known Head of School Dr. Mike Davis and many members of the leadership team for several years, the people at CA were perhaps the biggest draw for Amy. “After working and consulting with schools around the country for the past two years, I knew that I was ready to return to a campus where I could work with educators and students on a daily basis. I knew that I was only interested in returning to a school with a healthy, high-functioning leadership team united by a strategic and innovative vision. Dr. Davis’s leadership style and impressive tenure, combined with the professionalism, trust, and rapport I’ve witnessed in my new colleagues, have me feeling both excited and honored to join this incredible team.”
Amy reports that the best administrators she has worked with have cultivated an environment of shared leadership and mutual respect, and she has strived to follow their example. Her most recent work at the Hockaday School offers a model of her engaged approach to leadership. As that school’s inaugural Assistant Head of School for Student Experience, Amy supervised the Office of Inclusion and Community, working to support the director’s initiatives and put student needs at the forefront of every conversation. She pursued professional development in diversity practices, partnered with parents around inclusion and belonging events, and regularly dedicated time to meet with student affinity groups and school leaders to integrate this work across grade levels.
“I am so looking forward to being a central part of a school community where I can have daily interactions with students, educators, and families. Valuing and supporting teachers, ensuring students are seen and celebrated, and embracing humility and practicing empathy to connect with families and the community are at the core of my work. I believe my values and commitment to authentic interpersonal relationships will only grow stronger at CA.”