Germantown Academy Head of School Rich Schellhas 1760 has announced the hiring of David Samson as the school’s next Head of Upper School. Samson is no stranger to GA or the Philadelphia area as he is a graduate of the Shipley School and worked in GA’s Upper School from 2004-15.

“An inaugural House Head at GA, Dave had the undeniable gift of turning Osbourn House into a close-knit family during his 11-year tenure,” said Head of School Rich Schellhas 1760. “During my own tenure as Upper School Head, I appointed Dave our first House Head Director, a position charged with building the school’s advisory program, managing divisional logistics, and coordinating the House Head team. A talented counselor, English, and Psychology teacher as well, Dave left GA to earn his administrative stripes at two outstanding independent schools before coming home now to the Academy. Since departing GA, Dave has steeped himself in innovative programs while building on his signature traits as an educator: knowing every student well and building a positive faculty culture. We are fortunate to have Dave return to GA, to help us evolve in important directions, and to remind us to focus on what matters most: the people we are fortunate enough to surround ourselves with each day.”

Samson will return home in July 2024 after spending the past nine years in two different independent school leadership positions. Since 2019, Samson has served as the Head of Upper School (5th-8th Grades) at Brookwood School in Manchester, MA. He is a member of the Senior Leadership team, the Board of Trustees, the Forest School Design Team, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging (DEIJB) Committee, and the Affinity Group Planning Committee. He was also on the Financial Aid Task Force for three years and co-led the Covid Academic Task Force. Samson teaches an 8th Grade class called “Community Life” which focuses on helping students build their social, emotional, and personal skill sets. He is a big proponent of student-led conferences, family engagement, restorative disciplinary practices, and curricular alignment.

Prior to his time at Brookwood, Samson served for four years as the Upper School assistant principal at Rowland Hall in Salt Lake City. He was as a member of the Board of Trustees’ Education Committee, designed and implemented a new academic scheduling system, led the school’s new teacher mentoring program, and created a new “First Year Experience and Foundations for Success” advisory system to support student transitions to Upper School. He also had leadership roles on several committees, including safety, Equity & Inclusion, admissions, and professional learning. Samson also led successful hiring searches, updated the school’s strategic plan, and served on the Board’s finance committee.

“I feel so fortunate to have been offered this position and am thrilled to be returning to Germantown Academy,” Samson said. “During my visits, I was captivated by the palpable energy and excitement in the Upper School. Classroom visits provided me with a firsthand look at teachers in action, fostering high levels of student engagement. Equally inspiring were the students who spoke passionately about their school and openly shared their hopes and aspirations for the future with me. I am excited to join the team and lead the Upper School forward.”

Samson is a graduate of Connecticut College, where he earned a BA in Sociology Based Human Relations and played varsity lacrosse. He then went to Lesley University to earn his MA in counseling psychology. Samson enjoys speaking at, and sending faculty to, regional and national professional development conferences, including Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and the RULER Institute at Yale. Samson, with his wife, Kate, their children, Beatrice and Sebastian, and their dog, Winnie, are excited about the move and the next chapter.