The Head of School Search Committee and the Board of Directors have completed the search for our next Head of School. It is our pleasure to announce that Tamee Carr Railey has been selected to serve as Head of School for Southampton Academy, effective July 1, 2023. Tamee joins us from Riverdale Elementary School in Courtland, Virginia, where she currently serves as Co-Principal, responsible for ensuring a positive academic environment for more than 550 students and over 80 staff members. During Tamee's tenure at Riverdale, she ensured curriculum alignment from Pre-K through 5th grade, which contributed to advancing the school from the school improvement status to the fully accredited status, earning the Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award in 2017 as presented by Governor McAuliffe. Riverdale Elementary was also recognized by Dr. James F. Lane, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction, as the 2020 recipient of the Board of Education’s Continuous Improvement Award through the Exemplar School Recognition Program. Tamee grew up in Wakefield, Virginia and graduated from Tidewater Academy. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human, Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise from Virginia Tech and holds a Master of Science degree in Special Education from Old Dominion University. She earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Administration and Supervision from Cambridge College and is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Education Program with a concentration in Advanced Educational Leadership at Regent University. Tamee and her family have strong ties to Southampton Academy. Her husband, Benjamin, is a member of the SA Class of ‘01 and their daughter, Danee, is a rising 9th grade student at SA. As a native of our region and long-time educator in local schools, Tamee brings a unique, thoughtful, and local perspective to the future of SA. She is professional and confidential while still being approachable and relatable. Tamee is a leader who rolls up her sleeves; you’ll find her participating in Field Day activities, directing traffic during school arrival/dismissal, reading to students at Dr. Seuss Read Across America Day, serving pizza during Teacher Appreciation Week, and working in the concessions stand. She makes it a priority to connect with her students, teachers, and families on a regular basis. Tamee has nearly two decades of leadership and teaching experience in the lower and middle school settings. Prior to her administrative experience at Riverdale Elementary School, she taught special education for nine years at Southampton Middle School in leadership roles such as Special Education Liaison Teacher, Special Education Department Co-Chair, School Based Intervention Team Committee Co-Chair, as well as Co-Chair of the Section 504 Plan Committee. In 2014, she was promoted to the Administration at Riverdale, holding various levels of increasing responsibility including Administrative Assistant, Assistant Principal, and Co-Principal. Tamee’s selection is the result of an extensive search conducted by the Head of School Search Committee. The committee was graced with a very strong applicant pool and narrowed the field to several highly-qualified semifinalists who were invited to interview sessions with groups consisting of parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and board members. After careful examination of the feedback and vetting of the candidates, Tamee was enthusiastically recommended to the Board of Directors, who, in turn, voted unanimously for her appointment. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to extend our most sincere thanks to the members of the Head of School Search Committee and everyone who contributed their time and efforts to be a part of this important process. We greatly appreciate your dedication and commitment to the integrity of the process. Please join us in welcoming Tamee Railey as Southampton Academy’s new Head of School!