NASHVILLE, TN — Franklin Road Academy has named Jay Salato as its new head of upper school. Salato will transition from his current role of upper school Dean of Student Life beginning July 1, 2020. He will replace Prentice Stabler, who will remain at FRA, serving as associate head of school.
“I am excited for our entire school community and for the impact Jay will have on our upper school. He is a gifted educational leader who has a passion for our students and a commitment to the mission of FRA. During an extensive search, Jay emerged from a talented pool of candidates as a compassionate, student-centered leader devoted to the pursuit of excellence and the continued growth of our students,” said FRA Head of School Sean Casey.
A 2003 graduate of FRA, Salato holds a Masters of Education in Independent School Leadership from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in French and Masters of Education in Secondary Education with an emphasis in French from Vanderbilt University as well. He has also participated as a summer fellow at the Peabody Professional Institute in Independent School Leadership and the Klingenstein Summer Institute for Early Career Teachers through Columbia University in New York. Salato began his teaching career at Hillwood High School before returning to his alma mater in 2012 to teach French and serve as the eighth grade chair. He has served as the upper school dean of student life for the last three years.
“As an FRA alumnus, I am proud to embody the values I learned while a student at FRA. I have always resonated wholeheartedly with our school’s mission of inspiring, encouraging, and nurturing our students. I love FRA, and I could not be more excited about the opportunity to lead our upper school,” said Salato.
The selection of the new head of upper school is the result of a five-month national search conducted by Franklin Road Academy in partnership with Carney Sandoe & Associates, a consulting firm based in Boston, MA. The search committee began with a pool of more than 40 candidates, selecting three candidates as finalists who visited FRA and met with students, faculty and parents before a final selection was made.
Franklin Road Academy is a pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade coeducational independent school offering a challenging educational experience in an inclusive Christian community – all on one campus. FRA provides an excellent education within a collaborative learning environment, preparing students to attend the finest colleges and universities around the nation while also cultivating a concern for others in the community and beyond. The student body is represented by 12 countries, creating a diverse learning community where students learn how to work with others from all around the globe with many different talents. FRA is big enough to offer students opportunities to lead and challenge them to discover and pursue their passions and small enough to know its families and their stories. FRA fosters a healthy student experience with intentional class sizes that allow students to fully engage in the classroom while competing at a high athletic level or perfecting an art form.
