Andy Sperling
Saint James,NY
Summary
Warm and engaging independent school educator with an optimistic and forward-thinking mindset. A connective, detail-oriented leader who believes that developing strong, authentic relationships creates an impactful and productive school culture.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of School
Harbor Country Day School
07.2022 - Current
- Establish effective communication channels between administration, faculty, staff, parents, and students.
- Implement innovative technology solutions to streamline administrative processes and enhance classroom instruction.
- Ensured fiscal responsibility through careful budget management and resource allocation.
- Led the accreditation process for the institution, successfully maintaining high standards of excellence in education.
- Achieved consistently high parent satisfaction ratings by addressing concerns promptly and transparently.
- Enhanced teacher professional development through targeted workshops, coaching sessions, and collaborative planning time.
- Managed assemblies to recognize student achievement.
- Partnered with senior administration to create cohesive vision, balancing structure and creative expression to drive productive student learning.
- Planned and implemented staff development and in-service training programs to enhance knowledge and skills.
- Enhance teacher professional development through targeted workshops, coaching sessions, and collaborative planning time.
- Guide strategic planning efforts for long-term visioning and goal-setting within the school community.
- Improve staff retention rates by fostering a culture of collaboration, support, and ongoing professional development.
- Spearhead fundraising initiatives to secure additional resources for academic programs and facility improvements.
- Develop a positive school culture by fostering strong relationships among faculty, staff, students, and parents.
- Monitor overhead, prepared budgets and directed spending and resources to support fiscal efficiency.
Head of Upper School
Lake Forest Country Day School
2012 - Current
- Carry out day-to-day operations for 180 students in grades 5-8 including overseeing curriculum design, supervision and evaluation of faculty, development of master schedule, and student discipline.
- Collaborate as a member of the senior administrative team and organize initiatives with Head of School. Established evidence-based advisory program with school social worker.
- Regularly partner with Director of Admissions to coordinate open houses, tours, marketing strategies, and family events.
- Create and facilitate in-service meetings. Implement evaluation system and professional growth processes.
- Lead division meetings and meet regularly with team leaders and department chairs.
- Design student-led weekly community meetings. Partner with parents regarding academic matters, social concerns, and disciplinary issues.
- Develop equitable system for faculty supervision duties. Teach eighth-grade algebra and geometry courses.
Asst. Head of Upper School
Lake Forest Country Day School
2008 - 2012
- Create middle school schedule and section courses.
- Manage student progress and all disciplinary concerns.
- Design and implement student activities program including coordination of fundraising, ordering spirit items and supervising spirit days, overseeing student-run assemblies and homecoming events, class gift selection, room parent sponsored activities and student policy formation.
- Create student nominated executive board to formalize student input. Lead the development of new 1:1 tablet PC program for 2011-12 school year.
- Coordinate comprehensive research process and facilitated meetings for faculty professional growth.
- Facilitate and present program to parents.
- Oversee full integration of technology into curriculum.
- Teach eighth-grade algebra courses.
Math Department Chair
Lake Forest Country Day School
1999 - Current
- Oversee and implement of middle school mathematics curriculum, coordinate budget, lead weekly meetings, and communicate with parents regarding student placement.
- Create and deliver varied lessons that allow for multiple student learning styles. Integrate technology into program and create calculator applications curriculum for grades 5-8.
- Coordinate annual math competitions.
- Teach algebra courses and develop units focused on abstract reasoning skills such as the comprehensive study and application of quadratic solutions.
- Integrate graphing calculator activities, web-based curriculum and problem-solving applications into program.
- Teach geometry course including two-column proof writing, application of theorems and postulates, and project-based learning unit on constructions.
Education
Certification - Nonprofit Management - School Leadership
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL2018
Masters of Educational Administration - Type 75 Certification
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL1997
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics Education (K-12)
Illinois State University
Normal, IL1990
Skills
- Storytelling
- Written Communication
- Relationship Building
- Strategic Marketing
- Collaboration
- Transparency
- Critical Thinking
COMMITTEE WORK
- Mission and Values
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Mathematics Curriculum (Chair)
- Retirement Planning
- Curriculum Documentation (Co-chair)
- Faculty Evaluation (Co-chair)
- Compensation & Benefits (Co-chair)
Personal Profile
- Listening to jazz, cycling, golf, and attending NFL games with my son
- Reading and listening to audiobooks or podcasts on leadership and educational trends
- Creating and cooking meals together with my wife.
Accomplishments
- Facilitate and implement school-wide RULER program (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence)
- Design and implement blended-block master schedule
- Lead Upper School math program focused on abstract reasoning and critical thinking approaches
- Design 1:1 ubiquitous tablet PC program from inception
- Create and facilitate student-led conference model connected to SEL student reflections
- Support and oversee middle school design-thinking curriculum
- Assist in plan and design process of renovation projects including innovation lab, auditorium, and gym
- Facilitate middle school FLL Robotics competition
- Coordinate annual live auction grade competition - helped to raise more than $100,000 to date
- Present at ISACS Annual Conferences on advisory program, mathematics teaching techniques, and SEL
- Present at AMLE on middle school flexible block scheduling
- Create and annually present Upper School 101 transition model for incoming Lower School families
- Present to Board of Trustees on MAP data trends, math curriculum, SEL, technology, and assessment
- Lead school-wide MAP testing training and develop parent education presentations
- Implement recurring parent education series on adolescent development and socialization
- Attend and present at monthly Parent Association meetings
- Lead diversity and inclusion training for all faculty and staff
- Design and lead cross-divisional in-service programs
- Oversee ISACS self-study accreditation process and implement plans and priorities (2012, current)
- Facilitate professional dialogue groups using summer reading
- Create opportunities for ongoing training around authentic questioning (Making Thinking Visible)
- Lead faculty workshops related to interdisciplinary teaching & differentiated instruction
- Member of ISACS accreditation visiting team (2010, 2018)
- Attended Instructional Coaching Institute (2019)
Program Contributions
Parent Education & Presentations
Professional Development
Timeline
Head of School
Harbor Country Day School
07.2022 - Current
Masters of Educational Administration - Type 75 Certification
Northern Illinois University
Head of Upper School
Lake Forest Country Day School
2012 - Current
Asst. Head of Upper School
Lake Forest Country Day School
2008 - 2012
Math Department Chair
Lake Forest Country Day School
1999 - Current
Certification - Nonprofit Management - School Leadership
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics Education (K-12)
Illinois State University