KENNETT SQUARE, PA — Upland Country Day School announced that Andrew F. White will become the school’s 15th head of school effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Dr. Dan Hickey, who is departing after nine years to lead Archmere Academy.
White currently serves as middle school principal at Friends Central School in Wynnewood, where he oversees a division of 185 students within the school’s K-12 enrollment of more than 880 students. Upland said White was selected following a national search conducted in partnership with Carney, Sandoe & Associates.
At Friends Central, White serves on the senior administrative team and oversees faculty mentorship, curriculum development, enrollment management, budgeting, student conduct policy review, and auxiliary programming. He also continues to teach and advise students.
Before joining Friends Central, White served as head of the upper school at St. Bernard’s School in New York City, where he led academic programming, faculty collaboration, student life initiatives, and secondary school placement efforts. Earlier in his career, he taught upper school English at Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut.
“Upland’s commitment to the 4As and educating the whole child deeply resonated with me,” White said. “A Head of School must be a skilled chief executive who ensures the school’s long-term vitality while fostering a culture of joy and collaboration.”
White earned undergraduate degrees in English and Film Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in Cinema Studies from the University of Southern California, and a master’s degree in English Education from Columbia University.
The search process began in January 2026 and drew candidates from across the independent school sector, according to the school.
“We could not be more pleased that Andy White will be joining Upland Country Day School,” Board President William W. Wylie Jr. and Search Committee Chair Charlie Gerbron said in a joint statement. “His warmth, vision, educational leadership, and commitment to community make him an exceptional fit for Upland.”
White, a native of the Philadelphia region, said his visit to Upland’s John M. Cleveland Ice Rink during the interview process was “a religious experience,” referencing his longtime interest in hockey.
Upland Country Day School is a coeducational independent day school serving students from pre-kindergarten through ninth grade in Kennett Square. The school’s educational model is centered on its “4As” principles: Academics, Athletics, Arts, and Attitude.
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