Jim Ledyard
New Mexico School for the Arts [NMSA], a public, statewide, residential charter high school dedicated to artistic and academic excellence, has selected a new Head of School. Jim Ledyard assumed the Head of School on August 5.
Dr. Jim Ledyard is a veteran educator whose career has spanned high school and college teaching, secondary school leadership, and university administration. He has been head of three independent schools, most recently Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC, where he served for eleven years. Ravenscroft is noted for its exceptional programs in the fine and performing arts which flourished under Ledyard’s guidance. His teaching has focused on literature for the theater, with a specialty in Shakespeare. Ledyard has considerable experience as a board member of various arts-related organizations including a charter school in Washington, D.C., and a program located in Spoleto, Italy, for high school students skilled in the performing or visual arts. He studied at Princeton (AB), Stanford (MA) and Claremont Graduate University (PhD).
“The New Mexico School for the Arts will be a substantial and exciting addition to the educational landscape of the state. I am honored to be its leader. I am also extremely impressed by the long line of volunteers, Board members, legislators, arts activists, foundations and corporations whose vision and generosity have brought us this far. Planning is proceeding on all fronts, and we will be making announcements very soon on significant developments in campus location, audition procedures, curriculum and staffing.”
Sherry Thompson, Chair of the New Mexico School for the Arts Governing Board states: “We are fortunate to have Jim Ledyard taking the reigns of the New Mexico School for the Arts. His background and experience in education is exactly what the School needs as we move forward in our planning year.”
The following individuals are available for interviews:
- Sherry Thompson, Chair, Governing Board: 505 982-7023
- Catherine Oppenheimer, Vice Chair Governing Board: 505 603-2900
- Jim Ledyard, Head of School: 505 310-4194
Images: 505 310-4194 or via email at admin@nmschoolforthearts.org.