Dear Colleagues and Friends:
We have exciting news. At SSL (Strategic School Leadership), we have tried to grow carefully, for we want to make sure that we can provide the highest-quality support and service possible to schools and school leaders. Last summer co-founder Vance Wilson stepped back as co-managing partner, and while Vance is still very much part of the team, he is now less active with clients. But Drew Casertano has stepped up as a new co-managing partner, and we are as busy as ever.
Now we take another step forward. We are delighted to announce that Tom Hassan is joining our team, effective July 1, 2026. Many of you know Tom as the President of School Year Abroad (SYA) for the last decade; many of you also know him as the former Principal of Phillips Exeter Academy, a school he served with distinction in a range of roles for 26 years, including as Director of College Counseling, Dean of Admissions, and Assistant Principal. A graduate of Brown University, Tom earned his MA and doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and his life’s work has centered in schools. Recently, he has been serving on the boards of The Piney Woods School (MS), United World College – USA (NM), and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
With his varied experiences, Tom has worked with a great number of schools, and we welcome not only his experience and expertise but his warmth, energy, and wisdom. We feel that with Tom joining us, we continue to move “from strength to strength” in our mission of “serving school leaders so that their schools may thrive.”
Warm Wishes,
Rick Melvoin
Drew Casertano