After a months-long search, Midland School in Los Olivos has appointed Hannah Nelson as its next head of school, starting in the 2024-25 academic year. This is the first time in Midland’s 91-year history that a woman has been named head of school.

Since its founding in 1932, Midland has had eight different heads of school. Midland started as an all-boys school and became co-educational in the mid 1970s.

Nelson, currently serving as assistant head of school at Watershed School in Colorado, was appointed to the Midland post after an extensive candidate search and a round of multi-day finalist visits to the school’s campus in Los Olivos.

“We believe that Hannah will be a talented and confident steward of Midland,” said Tom Mone, chair of Midland School’s Board of Trustees. “She has already demonstrated a commitment to embracing and advancing Midland’s mission, core values, and strategic goals and at the same time brings a spirit of innovation to develop and deepen programmatic offerings that align with our core principles.

“Hannah’s life story is also deeply connected to the outdoors and the environment, whether hiking, kayaking, climbing or biking.”

Midland School focuses on experiential and place-based learning, and as such the school’s faculty, staff and leadership tend to share these passions for the outdoors and the environment.

Nelson will be moving from Boulder, Colorado, to the Santa Ynez Valley with her family.

After visiting Midland School, Nelson said, “I could really feel the positive energy everywhere on campus. I especially enjoyed talking with students and hearing about the leadership opportunities they have and how they help to set a culture of accountability, trust, and belonging.

“It is so evident that Midland is a special place; I felt the magic.”