SSA Country Day School Head Announcement

Dear Shady Side Academy Community,

I am very pleased to announce the permanent appointment of Dr. Jennifer Asmonga as head of Shady Side Academy Country Day School. Dr. Asmonga was one of three experienced and qualified candidates who were interviewed for the position by faculty and parent advisory committees.

Since taking over as interim head of Country Day School on July 1, Dr. Asmonga has moved into the leadership role as seamlessly as imaginable and has gained the support of faculty and parents alike. Her knowledge and understanding of children's learning, of how schools work, and of how to respect traditions while moving forward has been impressive, and we are excited to see what will come next.

Last year, as a learning specialist who helped Country Day make the transition to SSA's support services, Dr. Asmonga quickly grew to love and respect the school's history, culture and traditions. Her professional experiences in a number of elementary school settings give her a wealth of understanding about the needs of young children socially, emotionally and academically. She has a clarity of thought that is particularly well-balanced with the empathy and kindness that have been the hallmarks of Country Day for so very long. In a school that has undergone transitions over the last few years, Dr. Asmonga has proven herself a superb listener and a great advocate for students and teachers. She is gentle but firm, clear and kind. She is a leader who understands the nuances of both people and institutions and is mindful of competing needs and interests, but is not afraid to lead. We are enormously fortunate to have her at this moment in time!

"From the moment I assumed the role as interim head of school, the warmth of the Country Day School community has been there to greet me each day," said Dr. Asmonga. "When I walk around the beautiful campus, the school's distinguished history is ever present in my mind. It is an honor to become a more permanent member of the Country Day community, and I am very hopeful as I think about its future."

Dr. Asmonga joined Shady Side Academy in 2009 and has served in a variety of roles over the years. She was director of Camp Ren, our middle school summer day camp, from 2009-2011. At the Junior School, she served as a kindergarten long-term substitute before joining the faculty full-time as a fifth-grade teacher in 2011-2012 and as a learning specialist from 2012-2018. Prior to Shady Side, Dr. Asmonga was a special education teacher for grades 5-7 at Propel Montour Charter School from 2007-2009 and a fifth-grade teacher at the Urban League of Pittsburgh Charter School in 2006-2007. She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, a master's degree in social and comparative analysis in education from the University of Pittsburgh, and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Johns Hopkins University.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Jennifer Asmonga on her appointment!

Sincerely,

Amy Nixon

Interim Academy President