Christopher Johnson has joined Jacksonville Country Day School (JCDS) as the new head of school, effective July 1. Pat Walker had been in this role since 2014.
Walker played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of the school’s Character Education program, weaving these values into not only the curriculum but the school’s mission as well. She has always prided herself on putting the interests and needs of the children first. To this end, she played a critical role in the development and implementation of an inclusive school logo in the early 2000s.
She also led the 2019 renovation and transformation of “The Center,” a centralized space on campus for learning, innovation and collaboration. Additionally, she has been an integral part of continuous improvements in safety and security measures throughout the school.
“I am indeed a fortunate person to have been able to work at a place I’ve felt connected to since my first time on campus in the spring of 1994,” Walker said. “I’ve loved this school as a happy parent, as a teaching assistant in third grade, as a teacher in first grade and as the admissions director. To cap that off with the great honor of being asked to be the head of school and serving in that capacity for nine years was a dream come true.”
Walker, along with the board of trustees, has spent the last year planning for and ensuring a seamless transition between herself and Johnson.
“We couldn’t be more grateful to Mrs. Pat Walker for the indelible mark she has left on thousands of JCDS students, graduates, families and faculty,” said Greg Wong, Ponte Vedra resident and former JCDS board chair. “We are highly confident Mr. Johnson will lead our school to even greater success in developing the minds, character and talents of young children.”
In late 2022, the JCDS Board of Trustees concluded the head of school search and announced that they had chosen Johnson as Walker’s successor.
Johnson completed the recent school year as head of upper school at Scheck Hillel Community School in Miami. Johnson said he is ‘‘thrilled to be the next head of school and could not be more excited to call JCDS home.”
Among Johnsons’ priorities is getting to know each of the students, parents, teachers, staff, Sharky (the school’s mascot) and community members. Besides joining as the new head of school, the other role that he is looking forward to is becoming a JCDS parent. Johnson’s daughter will be a part of this year's pre-K 4 class.
“Being both a leader in the JCDS community and a parent provides me with a unique dual perspective and further fuels my commitment to our school’s success,” said Johnson.
