Athens Academy announced Monday the appointment of Jeff Miles as its new head of school.
“As Athens Academy prepares to celebrate its 60th year in the fall of 2026, we are confident
that Jeff Miles’s vision, wisdom, and leadership experience will position the school for continued
excellence in the years ahead,” Board Chairman Frank Sinkwich said in a release.
Miles has served as head of school at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Rabun Gap, Georgia, since 2019. During his time at Rabun Gap, he created and implemented a strategic plan, significantly increased the size of the endowment, substantially increased enrollment, and raised over $30 million for capital improvement. He will officially take on his new role at Athens Academy on July 1, 2026.
Miles is also an active member of NAIS, SAIS, and the Southern Heads Association and is a 2025 Leadership Georgia inductee, according to the school.
Prior to his time at Rabun Gap, Miles worked at Christ School in Asheville, North Carolina, for seventeen years, serving in a variety of roles including teacher, coach, marketing and communications manager, director of student life, and assistant headmaster.
Miles holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Michigan State University, was a summer fellow at Vanderbilt University’s prestigious institute for independent school leadership and has his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mars Hill University.
“It was clear during my time on campus that the Athens Academy community is cohesive and mission aligned and shows a deep care for students,” Miles said. “Our family is eager to join such a community of excellence and looks forward to being part of a thriving community for many years.”
This appointment follows the Board’s establishment of a Search Committee in June 2025
after current Head of School John Thorsen announced his plans to conclude his tenure at the end of the 2025–26 school year. With almost 30 years of independent school leadership experience, Thorsen served as Athens Academy’s head for the past twelve years.
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