Exciting New Additions to Our Team

Exciting New Additions to Our Team

Dear Wellington Community,

I am excited to announce two appointments to the Wellington team: Dr. Nick Williams as director of athletics and physical education and Ms. Nicole Franks as assistant head of early childhood and lower school. Both appointments conclude highly competitive, nationwide, monthslong searches to find and recruit these experienced leaders to join Wellington. I want to thank my colleagues who served on the two search committees, and in particular Lindsey Smith and Shelley Brown who chaired the committees.

Director of Athletics and Physical Education: Dr. Nicholas Williams

Dr. Nicholas Williams will move from Nashville, Tennessee, to join the Jaguar community this July. He brings extensive experience in athletics and independent schools, as well as at the collegiate level, having served as an athletic administrator, student programming coordinator, coach, and physical education teacher in lower, middle, and high school departments. Most recently, he has worked as a project manager in the student life department at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Williams’s belief in and understanding of the vital role of physical education and athletics runs deep as he was a multi-sport, state championship-winning varsity high school student-athlete and a four-year Division I track and field student-athlete who graduated cum laude from High Point University. Dr. Williams holds a Doctor of Education degree in leadership from Vanderbilt University with research focusing on student-athlete belonging and success. Dr. Williams shares, "I am both humbled and exhilarated to join the extraordinary Wellington community as the director of athletics and physical education. With deep knowledge and passion for fostering excellence in athletics and physical well-being, I look forward to inspiring our students and helping them succeed.” Fun fact: Dr. Williams attended Wellington as a prekindergarten student before moving with his family to Nashville where his dad served as the athletic director at Vanderbilt University for 19 years. Dr. Williams remains in touch with several of his Wellington classmates, including alumni board member and Wellington Trustee, Jacob Robinson '10.

Assistant Head of Early Childhood and Lower School: Ms. Nicole Franks

We are excited to welcome Ms. Nicole Franks to our community as the assistant head of early childhood and lower school. Ms. Franks has over two decades of experience in early childhood education and lower schools, and has spent the past 15 years as the director of early childhood/associate director of kindergarten-grade 2 at the Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She is skilled in curriculum development, teacher mentorship and instructional support, student and family support, and program administration. Ms. Franks brings experience collaborating closely with parents and caregivers, guiding faculty through evaluation and professional development, and ensuring curriculum is innovative and aligned with research-backed practices. At her current school, she has taken the lead in implementing the science of reading into literacy instruction, backed by her certification in the field, and has also driven initiatives focused on inclusivity and social-emotional learning. Ms. Franks shares "Choosing Wellington is about more than joining a dynamic community—it's about fostering an environment where students, educators, and families can grow together, challenge one another, and create lasting impact. I am delighted and honored to be part of a school deeply committed to belonging. During my visit, I was inspired by the educational agility of philosophy and approach I saw in action across campus."

Ms. Franks and Dr. Williams will begin their positions on July 1, 2025. Both will be relocating to Columbus, and I know from my own recent experience how warmly this community will welcome and embrace them. I am excited for you to meet them both.

Thank you for all you do for Wellington, and … Go, Jags!
 

Eliza McLaren
Head of School