John Carpenter

Head of School

M.Phil.

Education

A lifelong learner who has studied and taught overseas, John earned his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University where he double majored in History and Political Science, including a year-long Junior-Year-Abroad program at Glasgow University in Scotland. John next earned his Master's Degree in History at Trinity College Dublin while serving as a Rotary Scholar Foundation 'Ambassador of Goodwill,' which included touring and speaking at different Rotary Club chapters across Ireland.

Experience

A career educator dedicated to serving students, teachers, and families, John brings to Fusion Academy Southlake a wealth of experience as a teacher and administrator in the private school sector. John began his career teaching overseas as an Upper School History Teacher at the American School of the Hague in Holland, followed by thirteen years at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, VA, where he served as Middle and Upper School History Teacher, Summer Programs Director, and Upper School Dean of Students, guiding SSSAS’s transformation from a small summer service provider to one of the largest summer programs in the Washington, DC area. John also served for seven years as Alexandria Site Director for Johns Hopkins University’s ‘Center for Talented Youth,’ a summer academic enrichment program for approximately 300 local gifted 2nd-6th grade students.

John next served for three years as Head of Middle School at Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury, CT, followed by five years as Head of Middle School at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School in his hometown. John then went on to serve as Head of School at Caribbean School in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and most recently as Head of School at Academy High in Champaign, IL, a young and highly innovative school with a program and student population remarkably similar to Fusion Academy Southlake.

Fun Facts and Hobbies

  • Has completed 20 marathons and three ultramarathons, including both the NYC Marathon and Boston Marathon the same year.
  • Father of three kids, two who are currently in college and another who lives and works in Chicago.
  • An amazing air-guitar player and drummer who loves all types of music-- especially world, jazz/funk and bossa nova)!
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