THE FIELD SCHOOL OF CHARLOTTESVILLE ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHANGES
-The All-Boys Middle School Celebrates Achievements of Head and Assistant Head of School and Welcomes New Administrators for the 2023-24 School Year-
(Crozet, VA – May 22, 2023) – Field School of Charlottesville – the area’s only all-boys middle school serving grades 5th – 8th – is excited to announce the appointment of Phil Stinnie as the Dean of Student Life and Director of Community Engagement. Stinnie will succeed Leo Connally, Assistant Head of Field School, who has announced his relocation to New Hampshire to serve as the new Dean of Academics of Cardigan Mountain School, a 6th – 9th grade all-boys boarding and day school. Stinnie will join Vito “Bo” Perriello III who was recently announced as the new Head of School beginning this July following the retirement of Dr. Charles “Charlie” Skipper.
Stinnie is a Charlottesville native who has worked at St. Anne’s-Belfield for 21 years, 19 of those alongside Perriello. There, he has served as Dean of Student Life and Director of Diversity, Director of Community Engagement, as well as the highly successful Varsity Girls’ Basketball Head Coach. Throughout his career, Stinnie has been lauded for his deep engagement with students and their families as a coach and mentor, as well as being a bridge-builder forging more diverse communities. He was also named the 2022-23 Central Virginia Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year and received his 400th career victory in the state semifinals in March. Stinnie was a standout student-athlete at Virginia Commonwealth University, is a member of VCU’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and was drafted by the New York Knicks. As a student in Charlottesville, he attended Burnley-Moran Elementary, Walker Middle, and Charlottesville High schools.
Stinnie’s role at Field School will be two-fold. On campus, he will support students to be set up for success and contribute to an inclusive culture of belonging. Off-campus, he will build awareness of Field School in the greater Charlottesville community. Stinnie and Perriello, who has coached the STAB Boys’ Lacrosse team for the past 19 years, will also focus on sports and outdoor activities and continue to build on the excellent existing academic and extracurricular programs at Field School to “develop well-rounded boys of character and accomplishment” – Field School’s mission.
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“Field School is a very special community. I look forward to building on the successes of the current leaders to ensure that everyone in the greater Charlottesville area is aware of the unique learning environment this school provides,” said Stinnie. “This stage of development, between 5th and 8th grade, is definitional for boys, and I want to make sure we’re maximizing both the contribution we make to each student and the number of young men we could positively impact.”
“I did not think that I could be more excited about my new role as Head of Field School,” said Perriello. “But, getting to lead this next chapter alongside an educational innovator and motivational leader of Phil’s stature is truly next-level. I have had the chance to witness countless times the positive influence he has had on young people as a dean, mentor, coach, and community leader, and I know he is going to make a profound impact on Field School and its current and future students.”
As Field School celebrates the additions of Perriello and Stinnie, it’s also reflecting on the successes of Dr. Skipper and Connally.
Dr. Skipper joined the Field School as the COVID pandemic began and led the school community through those challenging times. Since his arrival, Field School has grown its student body, its faculty, and its program. The school also earned its initial accreditation with the Virginia Association of Independent Schools, and Dr. Skipper helped complete the design for the new Field School campus on Garth Road. Dr. Skipper is stepping out of school leadership to focus on writing and consulting projects, although he will continue to work in an advisory role for Field School.
Connally taught for four years at Field School before his appointment as the Assistant Head of Field School. He led the successful multi-year effort to earn VAIS accreditation; introduced and grew Field School’s restorative justice system; led the curriculum development project and faculty support program; taught classes; coached; and, linked students, parents, faculty, and the community. Dr. Skipper remarked, “Leo Connally has touched the lives of many generations of Field School students and contributed to the growth and success of Field School in more ways than we can count. It is no surprise that he was in demand in the independent school world. We are thrilled for Leo and his new opportunity at Cardigan Mountain. I know the entire Field School community joins me to wish him well.”
For more information, visit www.fieldschoolcv.net or contact Mary Beth Bowen, 804-519-5779 or marybeth@hivecreativegroup.com.
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ABOUT FIELD SCHOOL OF CHARLOTTESVILLE
Field School of Charlottesville is an all-boys middle school serving grades 5th – 8th whose mission is to develop well-rounded boys of accomplishment and character. The school is located at 1408 Crozet Avenue.
Field School of Charlottesville admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
