On Saturday, September 27, Peddie formally acknowledged and welcomed Mr. Hamilton into our community at the installation of the head of school.

A baseball fan from New England, Mr. Hamilton acknowledged that despite the competitive rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees, he is still excited to be joining the Peddie community. After all, from its warmer winters to the easy commute into Princeton, Hightstown certainly has its host of advantages. As the previous head of school at Berwick Academy in Maine, the shift to a boarding school experience presents a refreshing change of pace for Peddie’s newest head of school. 

Having spent the first 21 years of his career working at a boarding school and the last 12 at a day school, Mr. Hamilton is most excited to “get to know the students and faculty in a 360 degree way, and for them to see me not just as head of school in my office, but as a person that they can laugh with and have a nice time.” He is excited to get to know Peddie community members in a more personal way beyond the classroom, though he did mention that in the future, he may consider returning to the classroom as an English teacher.

The more Mr. Hamilton learned about Peddie’s commitment to such a strong academic and extracurricular program — one that prepares students not only for the short-term destination of college, but the long-term pursuit of success in life — the more he realized how closely Peddie’s core values align with his own personal beliefs. He calls himself a questioner by nature, and as Ms. Rodrigue remarked at his recent installation, “he has unquestionably immersed himself in the life of Peddie in a short time.” As the new head of school, he sees this year as full of potential for meaningful change. More than anything, he hopes to create a community where every student and faculty member is seen as who they are, not just as members of a school, but individuals with real goals. One faculty member even commented that, “His authenticity and thoughtfulness are distinctive and contagious.” He aims to help every person at Peddie feel valued and supported. 

As Mr. Hamilton continues to adjust to his new position, the Peddie community looks forward to a memorable, fun-filled year!