January 20, 2012

Dear Portsmouth Abbey Community,

It is with a sense of gratitude and pride and, admittedly, a bit of sadness that I announce to you that Deb and I have decided that next year, our 40th at Portsmouth Abbey and my 13th as Head, will be our last.  I will retire as Headmaster of Portsmouth Abbey June 30, 2013, at the conclusion of the 2012-13 academic year.

It was in July of 2000 that I accepted the Monastery's offer to lead Portsmouth Abbey School—first as interim head and very shortly thereafter as headmaster.  Since then, it has been an honor, working in close partnership with the Monastery and Board of Regents, to oversee the continued growth and strengthening of our School and the education of so many wonderful young men and women.  Indeed, over the past 12 years I have been greatly gratified to serve as the chief steward of Portsmouth Abbey's Mission, helping young men and women to grow in knowledge and grace by fostering Reverence, Respect and Responsibility in all we do, and to form them into good, compassionate and inquisitive people and global citizens.  The School is in a sound and stable place:  fiscally, we have never been stronger; our enrollment has never been higher; our physical plant, including our many green (or, as I like to say, Benedictine stewardship) initiatives, is an increasing source of pride and recognition; and the quality of our faculty and student body is outstanding.  This sense of accomplishment, along with the simple fact of my age, and Deb's and my desire to move onto another phase of our lives, has helped me decide that this is a good time to step down and pass Portsmouth's leadership to a successor who will continue to lead Portsmouth Abbey School, with vision, enthusiasm and conviction, forward in the Catholic Benedictine tradition.  

Although I am announcing my plans for retirement now,  the next 18 months will be "business as usual" for me and our School—there is still much to look forward to, and much  to do, including, in the near term, the completion of St. Martin's residential hall and the Science Center project, for which active planning is underway.  Our longer-term and ongoing initiatives, including our Capital Campaign and faculty endowment funding, are all moving forward with great momentum and clear and determined vision.  Furthermore, I am committed to supporting the Search Committee as it works to recruit my successor, through a thorough, inclusive and transparent process, and in ensuring a smooth and seamless transition in leadership.  

As Deb and I begin to plan for what is next in our lives, we are excited, both for ourselves and our family, and for Portsmouth Abbey School and Monastery, and we will dedicate ourselves to preparing our School community well to welcome our new Head.  In the meantime, my energy and passion for Portsmouth Abbey's Mission, its students and their families, its faculty and staff, and the Monastery will continue as always.   

In the four decades that Deb, Matt '95, Steve '97 and I have called Portsmouth Abbey our home, we have experienced much joy and fulfillment.  We are deeply grateful to the entire Portsmouth constituency for the support and hospitality shown us over the many years and are proud of the growth and success we have achieved together.  Portsmouth Abbey School and Monastery will remain an integral part of our lives, and we will always hold close our time spent on a campus so richly and uniquely influenced by its Benedictine tradition.  All of this has been an immeasurably rewarding experience.  

I look forward to an exciting and successful next 18 months.

With gratitude,

Headmaster Jim DeVecchi