Dear Wellington Community,
I am thrilled to announce that Marty Frazier, currently Dean of Faculty and Upper School English Instructor at Hathaway Brown School in Cleveland, will serve as Wellington’s next Head of Upper School beginning July 2026.
A seasoned, passionate educator, Marty brings extensive classroom and leadership experience and a clear vision for academic excellence in a joyful environment. A teacher’s teacher and a learner’s champion, he is deeply aligned with Wellington’s mission to help students find their purpose and realize their potential for tomorrow's world.
This announcement concludes a rigorous international search led by Carney Sandoe & Associates. Through conversations with faculty, administrators, students, parents, and Trustees, it became clear that Marty’s compass aligns perfectly with Wellington's strategic direction toward relevant, deep learning that prepares students to thrive and lead lives of impact.
In his first letter to Upper School faculty, Marty reflected on his visit: “In my brief time at Wellington, I could see profound evidence of transformative educators, and one of my most ardent commitments will be elevating and championing the joyful and effortful work of teaching on campus. The students I met spoke candidly and authentically about their enduring relationships with teachers and the ways in which educators at Wellington spark curiosity and possibility in their thinking…I am honored to join such a visionary and vibrant community, one committed to the unbounded potential of what school can and should be.” (Read his full letter below.)
In his role as PreK–12 Dean of Faculty at Hathaway Brown School, Marty has built schoolwide systems for professional learning, mentoring, evaluation, and hiring. Working with colleagues, he co-engineered these frameworks for professional development and curricular leadership to ensure alignment of values and student experiences.
A north star for Marty is one of Wellington’s core values, curiosity. As Hathaway Brown’s English Department Chair, Marty led a team of upper school educators in wondering how they could build a more vibrant and experiential program that sparked students’ curiosity. Together, they reimagined and reenergized every course in the catalog with an eye toward elevating student voice, expanding academic success for all learners, and connecting learning to real community needs, all while preserving important school traditions and high standards.
For Marty, success means building and supporting a diverse faculty who share a vision for future-focused, individualized learning and enduring, authentic relationships. The synergy with our Wellington Way is undeniable.
After beginning his career in education as a Teach for America corps member in Brooklyn, NY, Marty went on to serve as Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Breakthrough Charter Schools in Cleveland, where he was one of six founding educators. In this role, he helped design and implement school-wide systems for classroom management, operations, and culture in an Expeditionary Learning model. He later joined the humanities faculty at Montessori High School at University Circle before arriving at Hathaway Brown, where he has spent the last decade. Marty treasures his classroom teaching years, which he describes as essential preparation for leading an academic division within a larger school. Incidentally, the move from New York back to Ohio was a return to his home state, but coming to Wellington is a true homecoming, as Marty grew up in Central Ohio!
Marty earned his B.A. in English from Oberlin College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and an M.S. in Education from Pace University. While at Hathaway Brown, he completed a second M.A. in English at John Carroll University, and he is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Virginia.
An energetic thought leader, Marty’s commitment to inclusive teaching, curricular innovation, and professional collaboration extends beyond his school. He serves on the Folio Collaborative Advisory Board and has presented at national and international conferences. From 2018–2023, he held the Eleanor and Kelvin Smith Endowed Chair in English and served as Editor and Writer for English Journal’s “Teaching Shakespeare.” He has been recognized as a National Council of Teachers of English Emerging Leaders Fellow (2021–2022) and a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow (2017).
Marty with his dog, Theo, who is looking forward to entering his Jaguar era.
Great things are ahead for Wellington’s Upper School under Marty’s leadership. Please join me in giving Marty and his partner, Josh, (and their dog, Theo!) a warm Wellington welcome. We can’t wait to have them join our leap next July.
As we share this exciting news, I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to all who brought us to this point. First, my deep thanks to my friend and colleague Rishi Raghunathan for his many contributions to Wellington over the past six years. Rishi has profoundly shaped the Upper School culture, ensuring it remains a people-first community that celebrates authenticity, kindness, and connection. Rishi and his family will always be Jags, and we will be cheering him on in his continued journey as a school leader.
I am also deeply grateful to our Upper School Head Search Committee, co-chaired by Lindsey Smith and Erin Cornett, for their thoughtful and thorough leadership.
- Matt Bardoe, US Faculty
- Bryan Brautigam, US Faculty
- Erin Cornett, US Faculty and Grade 12 Dean
- Louis Frank, Middle School Head
- Shari Hicks-Graham, Trustee
- Dara Jackson, Director of Admissions
- Alyson Lee, US Faculty and Math Curricular Lead
- Lindsey Smith, Chief Operations Officer
From semifinalist interviews to finalist campus visits, this group invested immense time and care to ensure the best fit for Wellington and our students. Their work reflects the highest level of commitment to our school.
Finally, sincere thanks to our Student and Parent Advisory Committees, whose thoughtful questions and feedback helped guide the committee’s final recommendation.
As always, thanks for all you do for Wellington, and ... Go, Jags!
Eliza McLaren
Head of School
A Letter from Marty Frazier
November 11, 2025
Dear Wellington Upper School Community,
I am immensely humbled by the invitation to join the Wellington team as your next Head of Upper School. I know countless hours of conversations and logistics go into a leadership search, particularly for the very dedicated search committee, and I especially appreciate your willingness to participate in this process amidst the demands of an already busy season. I am equally moved by the trust Wellington has afforded me, and I am eager to strengthen this trust with all of you through sincere acts of deep listening, support, and celebration of your work.
My reverence for teachers blossomed early in life, thanks to the influence of my grandmother, Evelyn. A young adult in rural Illinois during the Great Depression, Evelyn missed years of schooling to take care of her family’s struggling farm; her father did not see the value in sending her to school. One day, a county truant officer tracked Evelyn down and forced her father to enroll her at the nearby high school, where she began to flourish under the care of dedicated teachers.
Evelyn joined the student council, performed in plays, and earned strong grades, all because of the guides who inspired her and saw her in ways no other adults had ever recognized her. She even became a teacher herself and raised me to cherish teachers and the transformative work that they do. Until she died at age 101, some of Evelyn’s most valued possessions were her yearbooks and report cards, records that tell the story of the power of the teachers in her life. I carry her story, one about the life-changing impact of teaching, quite close to my heart as I start this new chapter at Wellington alongside all of you.
In my brief time at Wellington, I could see profound evidence of such transformative educators, and one of my most ardent commitments will be elevating and championing the joyful and effortful work of teaching on campus. The students I met spoke candidly and authentically about their enduring relationships with teachers and the ways in which educators at Wellington spark curiosity and possibility in their thinking. I heard from imaginative and inventive colleagues pondering different approaches to interdisciplinary courses and constructing new ways to challenge and engage their students. At Morning Meeting, students looked up to a ring of caring adults surrounding them and cheering them on, helping them find connection and purpose in their day.
At most schools, experiencing one of these moments a day may be a rarity, but at Wellington, I saw them all within just hours.
I know the work of stewarding these opportunities for students requires vast wells of energy, creativity, and intellect, and I hope to lead with a deep sense of appreciation for all that it takes to deliver on the promise of what is really possible in schools. Wellington is unique in its bold pursuit of building the schools our students need, and I am honored to join such a visionary and vibrant community, one committed to the unbounded potential of what school can and should be.
I look forward to meeting with more of you in person soon and plan on visiting campus to get to know the entire community better. In the meantime, I’m eager to connect and hear from you.
Wellington’s invitation is the biggest honor I have ever received, and I take this opportunity with immense gratitude and gravity. I can’t wait to be a Jaguar.
Until soon,
Marty