From the Head of School
Attending a boarding school means working with teachers who know far more about you than how you’re doing in their classes. Attending a boarding school also means becoming immersed in an educational experience that extends far beyond the classroom door… Perhaps the best part is that you don’t have to be a boarding student to reap the benefits.
From the Head of School
Greetings, and welcome to Stuart Hall! Since its founding in 1844, Stuart Hall has provided an excellent liberal arts education and has endeavored to develop the character and personal honor of every student. I have been fortunate to be a part of the Stuart Hall community since 2019, when I arrived with my family to become the new Dean of Students & Campus Life. I am thrilled to serve now as Head of School, and I look forward to continuing the school’s storied traditions.
My family and I were quickly embraced by this community upon our arrival, and I have since seen that our experience was not unique. This is truly a welcoming and inclusive environment to live, learn, and work. At Stuart Hall, we are delighted to share more about who we are and why we have been the school of choice for so many students over the years.
When I was 17 years old, I had the opportunity to attend a boarding school, and it was a transformational experience that set me on a path that has me in my twenty-third year in education. Attending a boarding school means working with teachers who know far more about you than how you’re doing in their classes, and this means they can offer the level of support and care you need as a person, not just as a student. Attending a boarding school also means becoming immersed in an educational experience that extends far beyond the classroom door. The friendships you form, the empathy you develop, and the self-awareness you gain through such an experience will be with you for the rest of your life.
Perhaps the best part is that you don’t have to be a boarding student to reap the benefits of attending a boarding school. Day students become every bit as present and involved as boarding students. As a boarding and day school serving grades 6-12, the same mentality and opportunity filter down to our middle school students. When you combine the boarding school lifestyle with a welcoming and inclusive environment, you get a truly special place, and that is exactly what Stuart Hall is.
Whether you are visiting to learn about the school as you consider applying or you are an alumna/us returning to check in on your alma mater, I know you will find Stuart Hall’s commitment to developing lives of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and contribution reflected in everything we do. I invite you to reach out or visit campus to learn more. We are proud of who we are and what we do, and we look forward to sharing it with you.
Regards,
Jason Coady
Head of School
About Our Head of School
Jason Coady has been at Stuart Hall since 2019, when he joined the school as the Director of the Staunton Campus, a role that evolved into the one he held from 2020-2022 as Dean of Students & Campus Life. He was first named acting Head of School in 2022 and took on the permanent appointment in 2023.
Jason began his career in education as a math teacher, dorm parent, and coach at Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, from 1999-2004. Jason joined the faculty at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, in 2004, where he lived and worked for fifteen years. He initially served as a math teacher, dormitory parent, and coach before moving into leadership roles including Student Leadership Programs Coordinator, Director of Community Service, and Internal Coordinator for Accreditation. His most recent role before departing for Stuart Hall was Director of Learning Research & Development, a position that saw him lead curriculum development initiatives, review the school’s academic leadership structure, and develop a new model for faculty workload equity.
Jason attended the United World College of the American West, a two-year international boarding school located in northeastern New Mexico. He went on to Drexel University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Engineering. He worked for one year as an engineer before pursuing teaching. He subsequently earned an M.A. in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University.
Jason lives on Stuart Hall’s campus with his wife, Stephanie Trauner, and their three children, Evan ’23, Emma ’25, and Elisabeth ’29. During the pandemic he developed his current hobbies of running and woodworking. He considers himself a novice at both and enjoys the learning process involved, as he finds it reminds him of what his students experience and keeps him humble.