Dr. R. Kirk Walker Jr. '69, McCallie School headmaster from 1999-2014, will become the president of the Southern Association of Independent Schools in the summer of 2015.
photo by SAIA
Dr. R. Kirk Walker Jr. '69 has been named president-elect of the Southern Association of Independent Schools. Dr. Walker served as McCallie's fifth headmaster -- the first sole head not named McCallie -- for 15 years until his retirement from the position in June 2014. He is currently serving as interim head at the Webb School of Knoxville.
Read more about his years of leadership at McCallie in the Spring 2014 issue of McCallie Magazine, which honors his service to the school in the cover story by clicking the link. Last spring, McCallie's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name the new science and engineering building, currently under construction, in his honor. Walker Hall is scheduled to open for its first classes in January 2016.
The following announcement was made by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS):
The SAIS Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. Kirk Walker has been selected to serve as the next SAIS President, succeeding Dr. Steve Robinson on July 1, 2015.
Dr. Walker is well known to the independent school community, having served as head of the Bright School, Ensworth School, and McCallie School. He is currently serving as interim head of Webb School of Knoxville. Dr. Walker's deep engagement in SAIS includes seminal moments in the Association's history including the launch of the initial SAIS accreditation program in 2001, serving as chair of the 2006 Search Committee that brought Dr. Steve Robinson to SAIS, and leading eleven SAIS accreditation visits. Additionally, he has served on the SAIS Board of Trustees in many capacities including secretary, treasurer, Accreditation Committee chair, and Board chair, as well as having served on and chaired the board of the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools.
This historical perspective will serve Dr. Walker well as he meets the challenge of leading the membership and the SAIS Board of Trustees through long-term planning. The SAIS Board of Trustees is committed to articulating a future that respects the tremendous contributions of the past, recognizes the continuity of the present, and can adapt to the unknown challenges of the future. Dr. Walker brings unparalleled institutional memory to the task of leading the organization through a process of clarifying its goals and vision.
Dr. Walker was born and raised in Chattanooga and is a graduate of McCallie School. He holds a B.A. in Comparative Religion from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and an M.S. in English Education plus a Ph.D. in Curriculum Development from Vanderbilt University. He and his wife Patsi are parents to a daughter and two sons. He enjoys traveling with his family, hiking, scuba diving, reading, music, and badminton.
We are fortunate that SAIS is extraordinarily strong and continues to fulfill its mission of strengthening member schools by providing high quality accreditation processes, comprehensive leadership growth opportunities, and visionary leadership development programs. Through the dedicated leadership of staff, the association will continue to thrive during this period of introspection, environmental scanning, and future planning.
In accepting the appointment as the next SAIS President, Dr. Walker said, "I am both honored and excited. Over the years, I have been continually impressed by the Association's commitment to serving the needs of its member schools and to advancing quality education. I welcome the opportunity to be a part of its future."
Welcome to SAIS, Dr. Walker.