Nov. 1, 2017

From Tom Cangiano, President

Dear Shady Side Academy Community,

I am writing to let you know that the 2017-2018 school year will be my final year serving as president of Shady Side Academy. I have decided to accept a position as head of school of GEMS World Academy in Chicago. GEMS Chicago is only four years old, and the challenge of helping to establish and grow a new school at this stage of my career is a very compelling opportunity.

When our family arrived in Pittsburgh in the summer of 2010, we could not have been more warmly welcomed. One of the things that impressed us most about Pittsburghers is their pride in their city and region. Over the years, we have come to share this sentiment about Pittsburgh. Although it would always be hard for us to give up our allegiance to Boston sports teams, it was easy to develop a deep affection for this city and its people.

Being president of Shady Side Academy has truly been an honor and a privilege. I am proud of what we have accomplished over the last seven plus years, and the school is poised to make great strides in the future. Independent schools are operating in a very competitive environment, an environment that is very different from that of a generation or more ago, and Shady Side Academy has done a remarkable job of evolving to meet the needs of our students and families. We have tried hard to preserve the essential characteristics of a Shady Side education while ensuring that we are educating and preparing our students for the dynamic world of today – and tomorrow.

I am grateful to the SSA Board of Trustees for granting me the privilege of leading the Academy. Thanks especially to the three board chairs with whom I have worked so closely: Steve Lee, Mary Jo Dively and Mike Hannon. I am appreciative not only of their outstanding leadership and guidance, but also of their trust and support. In addition, I have been fortunate to work with such talented and dedicated faculty and staff members. They are truly the embodiment of what is best about a Shady Side education. I also have met so many Shady Side alumni over the years, and hearing their stories about their time at the Academy has been an important part of my own SSA education. Finally, as I learned when I visited this beautiful campus for the first time in the fall of 2009, Shady Side students are a spectacular lot. I will miss their warmth, their humor, their drive and their spirit. 

Glory to Shady Side, indeed!

Sincerely,

Thomas M. Cangiano
President, Shady Side Academy

From the SSA Board of Trustees

Dear Shady Side Academy Community,

After more than seven years at SSA, Tom Cangiano recently notified the Board of Trustees that he will be leaving Shady Side Academy at the conclusion of the 2017-2018 school year to accept a new job as the head of GEMS World Academy in Chicago.

Under Tom's thoughtful leadership, Shady Side Academy has grown and thrived. Tom led the development and implementation of our Strategic Vision, the reinstatement of our seven-day boarding program and the Country Day School merger. Tom also oversaw several key capital projects including the construction of Michael J. Farrell Stadium, the renovations of the Junior and Middle School science labs and, of course, the ongoing construction of the McIlroy Center for Science and Innovation. During his tenure, the Academy's enrollment has remained strong, our endowment has grown and we have operated with a balanced budget. We look forward to Tom finishing out the school year in the same strong fashion as he has led us in the past. Please join us in thanking Tom for his leadership and his many accomplishments at Shady Side Academy.

We are pleased to announce that Middle School Head Amy Nixon has agreed to serve in the role of interim president for the 2018-2019 school year while we conduct our search for Shady Side's next president. Amy has been head of the Middle School since 2004 and is an integral part of the Academy's leadership team and community. While Amy serves as interim president, the Middle School will have an interim head for the 2018-2019 school year. We will update you in the coming weeks when the Middle School's interim head position has been filled. The Board of Trustees offers its sincere gratitude and appreciation to Amy for her willingness to step into this important role.

In the next few months, the Board of Trustees will begin the presidential search process. We will convene a search committee and retain a search firm to support our efforts. We are confident, with the strength of this great institution, that we will attract a premier individual to lead the Academy into the future. The Board recognizes that this is one of our most important duties. We will undertake this task with thoughtfulness, reverence and fidelity to the Academy's mission.

We will keep you updated as this process develops. We appreciate your ongoing support for our school. Glory to Shady Side.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Hannon '74 

Chair, Board of Trustees 

Jon Kamin '91

Chair Elect, Board of Trustees