Scott Wilson, ninth headmaster and graduate of the class of 1975 of Baylor School, announced his intentions to retire after the 2020-21 school year on April 29, 2020. Wilson has led the school since his appointment in 2009. Photo courtesy of Baylor School.Along with the announcement of Baylor School Headmaster Scott Wilson's plans to retire at the end of the next school year Wednesday, the school also announced the appointment of his successor - Chris Angel, current headmaster at the Hammond School in Columbia, South Carolina.
Angel is a graduate of the class of 1989 of Baylor School and has served as headmaster of Hammond School, a pre-K through 12 independent school, since 2009.
"It's a pleasure to welcome one of our own back home to Baylor," said Ryan Crimmins, chairman of Baylor's Board of Trustees, in a news release. "Chris has 25 years of impressive experience and earned respect from within the independent school community, and it all began at Baylor. He knows our community and our culture, and will bring with him a high level of enthusiasm and energy. He and Peggy, along with their daughters, will be a welcome addition to our school family. We look forward to working with Chris as we help write Baylor's next chapter."
After nearly 12 years at Baylor's helm, Wilson announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2020-21 school year in a video posted on the school's Facebook page Wednesday morning. Wilson said he informed the school's board of trustees of his plans to retire in January.
"While there is no perfect time to retire, after much thought and prayer, I've decided I will retire as headmaster at the end of next year," Wilson said in the video. "Baylor is a place that I have long loved, for 50 years, and I'll always love it."
Wilson, a 1975 Baylor graduate, was named headmaster in 2009. He previously worked at Baylor in various positions from 1981 to 1990, but then spent time teaching and leading several private schools in Georgia and South Carolina.
"I want to share with you how grateful I am and have been for the privilege of serving as the ninth headmaster of this school," Wilson said in the video. "My family and I have been well loved since we arrived here in 2009. I'm deeply proud of Baylor."
Crimmins accepted Wilson's announcement in the same video and said it was fitting to pause and reflect on some of the school's accomplishments under Wilson's leadership, including numerous facilities and campus improvements as well as academic recognition, such as the opening of the Scotty Probasco Academic Center in 2018 and the Von D. Oehmig Sports Performance Center.
"His track record has been incredible the past few years," Crimmins said of Wilson. "The board of trustees is grateful for the first-class manner in which Scott is managing this transition and it should come as no surprise that he has committed to making the next 15 months the best it can possibly be to prepare Baylor for his successor. The board, alumni, students, parents, and faculty are grateful for his outstanding leadership and efforts to achieve many milestones during his tenure."
Crimmins acknowledged that a search committee was created after Wilson notified the board of his plans earlier this year, and he complemented Wilson's efforts to ensure a smooth transition. Angel's appointment as the school's tenth headmaster will be effective as of July 1, 2021.
"I'm excited to rejoin a community that holds such a special place in my heart," Angel said in the release. "I'm especially grateful for the opportunity to lead an institution in which I believe, and one that has had such a significant impact on my own life. I look forward to working with Scott Wilson to make this transition as seamless as possible."
Chris Angel, current headmaster of Hammond School, a pre-K through 12 independent school in Columbia, South Carolina, was named Baylor School's tenth headmaster on April 29, 2020. Angel, a graduate of Baylor's 1989 class, will take over leadership of the school in July 2021 after current headmaster Scott Wilson retires. Photo courtesy of Baylor School.Wilson has served in various roles at Hammond from 1990 to 1997, and former headmaster Herb Banks Jr. also served as headmaster at Hammond, according to the release.
Baylor School, a private co-ed boarding school for students in grades 6-12, was founded in 1893. The school recently made news thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and a unique agreement with Hamilton County that allows the school's science lab to conduct diagnostic testing for COVID-19.
Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.