Marcia Prewitt Spiller
Each month RG175 does a "deeper dive" to get to know one of our Independent School colleagues. This month we are spotlighting Marcia Prewitt Spiller. She was the Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Life at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA. Prior to being appointed to this position, Spiller was Head of The Children’s School in Atlanta a position she held for more than two decades. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, she is a graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. She received her graduate degree from Georgia State University. To read Marcia’s entire bio, click here.
Why did you choose RG175?
I chose RG175 because I wanted to be associated with the caliber of professionals currently employed at the firm. The reputation of the firm is stellar and it is known for not only taking care of the client schools, but also the applicants. It is important that applicants feel valued and respected during the search process and that’s one of the many qualities of RG175.
What are you looking forward to most about being a consultant in a search?
I am looking forward to assisting schools hire candidates who are the “right fit” for their schools. In the independent school world, we are fortunate that there are so many different schools with a wide variety of philosophies. As a consultant, it will be important for me to get to know the schools, make no judgements, and help them find the right people for the positions they are seeking to fill.
What is most rewarding about serving as a mentor to a school head?
I love mentoring! It gives me the opportunity to share what I have learned and keep school heads from making some of the common mistakes. I enjoy watching them grow in their roles as they become more confident and assured. I also have expertise in navigating independent school boards and enjoy helping heads who might need assistance in this area.
What are some of your former achievements when you were a head of school?
I am very proud of my career. I always made decisions based on what was best for students. I also had many opportunities to help teachers grow and become strong educators. I have been able to advance the work of inclusion and diversity and help schools put the focus on making all constituents feel valued. I have done board work on the NAIS board and the SAIS board that helped both those organizations clarify their roles and define their responsibilities to schools.
What are your thoughts on the search process?
The search process is invaluable to schools—probably the most important process a school undertakes. Identifying the right leader(s) is crucial to a school’s success and it will be gratifying to assist schools with this work. Getting it right has a profound impact on a school’s future success.