Drew Charter School’s Board of Directors announced at today’s board meeting that Drew’s Head of School Mr. Don Doran will be retiring at the end of the 2018 – 2019 School Year. This comes after ten years of service to Drew Charter School and the East Lake Community and a long career in education with Atlanta Public Schools that spans 33 years, serving in several capacities including Teacher, Principal and Executive Director.  Under his leadership at Drew Charter School, the school has expanded to two campuses, faculty and student enrollment has doubled and students have excelled, often outperforming their peers in Atlanta Public Schools and the State of Georgia. Drew’s successful innovative model of Project-Based Learning with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) focus has been replicated through Purpose Built Schools in Atlanta and in other communities across the country.

Drew Charter School’s Board worked closely with Mr. Doran over the last year in the development of a Succession Plan for leadership at Drew Charter School to ensure a smooth transition allowing for the continual building on the progress of the school.

The board will engage a search firm, which specializes in education and non-profit leadership, through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process, to begin a national search for a new Head of School.  Once finalists are identified, parents, teachers and partners will have the opportunity to formally engage with these candidates.  Drew plans to announce the new Head of School by May 2019. The Head of School will begin in June 2019. To ensure continuity, Mr. Doran will counsel the new Head of School as he or she transitions into the new role and new school year.

The Drew Board accepts Mr. Doran’s retirement with mixed emotions. While we are sad that he is leaving and will miss his leadership and compassion for students and families, we support him in the next chapter of his life which will allow him to spend more time with his family and stay connected to Drew.

In his retirement, Mr. Doran plans to maintain an active role in the Drew Charter School community and East Lake neighborhood that he has called home for nine years.