Announcing KCD’s next Head of School

Dear Bearcat Community,

On behalf of the Kentucky Country Day School Board of Trustees, it is with great honor, appreciation, and excitement, that I introduce Deena J. Carey as KCD’s new Head of School beginning July 1, 2025. 

The Board voted unanimously to appoint Ms. Carey based on the enthusiastic recommendation of the Search Committee. This appointment represents the culmination of a rigorous, thoughtful, and thorough search process led by a committee of trustees, alumni, parents, faculty, administrators, and staff in partnership with the search firm, The Education Group. 

Ms. Carey was selected from a talented and diverse pool of more than thirty applicants from around the United States. From that group, the committee interviewed seven semifinalists and invited four finalists to visit KCD’s campus in September. 

During her visit to campus, Ms. Carey emerged as an experienced, intelligent, and passionate educational leader—and the individual best suited to lead our fine school forward. She brings administrative and operational expertise, having held a series of roles of increasing responsibility at distinguished institutions around the country. She currently serves as Associate Head of School at the Isidore Newman School—the premier early childhood through 12th grade independent day school in New Orleans, Louisiana. Newman was founded in 1903 and has a total enrollment of just over 1,085 students this year. In her role, which she will continue to serve in through the end of the 2024-25 school year, Ms. Carey shares oversight of the entire school with specific responsibility for internal and academic affairs. At Newman, she has been involved in a variety of critical initiatives, including leading the school’s COVID response during the pandemic.

Ms. Carey’s strategic vision, ability to bring people together, and knowledge of managing complex school issues will be invaluable to our Bearcat community. Furthermore, her stellar academic background includes a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati. Most importantly, Ms. Carey’s education and expertise are matched by her caring nature, thoughtful listening, and depth of character.

Originally from Cincinnati, Ms. Carey and her family have deep roots in this region. She is the mother of two daughters; Katie graduated from Wellesley College in 2024 and Ellie is currently a junior at Boston College. As a family, they all look forward to reconnecting with old friends in the area and making new ones in the Bearcat community.

Appointing Ms. Carey to the position now enables her to visit campus several times throughout this school year so that she can begin getting to know our community and making preparations for a smooth transition into her new home. We look forward to her getting acquainted with the administrative team and the Board, meeting our students, faculty, and parent community, and attending key school events in the months ahead. She will work collaboratively with Interim Head of School Jon Kellam and the Board to allow her to transition into her role seamlessly and effectively next summer.

I am deeply grateful to the Search Committee and its co-chairs, Dr. Swapna Chandran and Ross Cohen, for their unwavering commitment throughout this process. Their dedication to undertake this responsibility in order to ensure our school’s bright future is truly appreciated by our entire community. Thank you, also, to the Education Group for their guidance and to the entire Bearcat community for your thoughtful participation in the process.

I would also like to offer a profound thank you to Mr. Kellam for his exemplary service as our current leader and for his assistance in Ms. Carey’s orientation and transition to KCD throughout the 2024-25 school year.

The Board and I are grateful and excited to build on KCD’s solid foundation with Ms. Carey’s leadership as we deliver our mission and empower our students as Citizens, Scholars, and Stewards. Please join me in welcoming Deena J. Carey as our next Head of School. We invite you to read her letter to the KCD community at this link, and we thank you, again, for your engagement and trust throughout this process.

Sincerely,

Chris Brice