Welcome to the 26-27 School Year!

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." — Heraclitus

Those words have stayed with me this summer. So have three others. In a memorable commencement address to the class of 2026, legendary Davidson College basketball coach Bob McKillop shared stories about Steph Curry and the role that has brought him his greatest joy: being a grandfather. He tore a $100 bill into pieces to remind us that money is a poor measure of a life well lived. He warned us about falling victim to the "disease of me." And then, almost in passing, he offered a simple equation that has continued to resonate: Time + Love = Purpose.

The more I have reflected on Coach McKillop's words, the more I have come to believe that purpose is not something we find. It is a question we spend our lives answering. Perhaps that is why the final words of Davidson Day’s mission resonate so deeply: to lead with purpose. Because purpose is larger than the individual. It is a commitment awakened by community, and measured by what we accomplish together.

I experienced that truth again in Idaho, when I joined 23 fellow Heads of School from across the country for five days and four nights, navigating 82 miles of the Salmon River. No electricity. No internet. No phones, emails, or texts. Just a river, twenty-four educators, and the stories we carried with us. The river challenged us: four days of rain, nights in the forties, rapids that demanded attention. 

The river provided adventure, but its greatest gift was clarity. Without the noise and distractions of everyday life, we had the rare opportunity to slow down, listen, and reconnect with why we chose this work. We shared stories of students who changed us, teachers who inspired us, and moments that reminded us that education is ultimately about relationships. 

At the bedrock level, the river reminded me of a simple truth: purpose is built in the moments we choose to be fully present for the people who matter most. And when we give our time with intention and our love without hesitation, we create an impact that lasts far beyond our own journey.

The most important work before us this year is bringing our strategic plan, Moving Forward, Together, to life. This plan is more than a roadmap. It is a shared commitment to personal purpose elevating a shared mission: together, we empower students to embrace challenge, live with character, and lead with purpose. We must own the moment — the thread that connects Coach McKillop's river, our strategic plan, and every classroom interaction ahead of us. To own it is to pause long enough to reflect, be humble enough to acknowledge mistakes, and be bold enough to dream.

Davidson Day is changing, but some things will not change: our mission. Our CORE values. Our unwavering commitment to people and the power of purpose. As Heraclitus reminds us, no one steps into the same river twice. Like the river, each school year carries new challenges and new opportunities for who we might become. On a grander scale, I believe this is a defining season in the life of Davidson Day. Together, we have the opportunity to elevate this extraordinary school to the heights worthy of its people, its mission, and its promise.

We will need your help — all of you, students, families, faculty, staff, friends, and alumni — to make our bold dreams a reality. So here is what I'm asking: give your time, and give it with love. Show up fully for the student who needs a second look, the colleague who needs a kind word, the family member who needs to feel seen. Do that, again and again, and purpose will take care of itself.

Tomorrow, Head of Lower School Liz McAlister and Head of Middle and Upper School Andrew Griffith will share much more concrete information about the school year ahead, and how we plan to bring the pillars of Moving Forward, Together to life: Learning with Purpose, Growing with Character, and Investing for the Future.

For now, let me leave you with Coach McKillop's equation once more. Time + Love = Purpose. Time is the gift we are given. Love is how we choose to use it. Purpose is what becomes possible when we give both away in service of others. That is the invitation before us — to own this moment, together.

Enjoy the remaining days of summer, and I can’t wait to see you all soon. We have an incredible 2026-2027 school year ahead of us!