Augusta Preparatory Day School announced the hiring of its new head of Upper School on Monday, slated to begin duties for the 2022-2023 school year.
“My energy and passion for empowering kids is what I lead with,” said Ryan Clements, who will be starting at Augusta Prep on July 1.
He will transfer from his current position as Upper School Dean of Students at Tampa Preparatory School in Tampa, Fla.
“I think people see that I’m genuine, and I want to make a difference for them,” he said. “I think that’s really what I bring to the table.”
Clements was connected to Augusta Prep by Carney Sandoe & Associates, an educational recruitment firm for private schools. His storied resume includes teaching business education in Newport News, Va. before teaching AP English and composition and creative writing and coaching track and field in Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa; all after 11 years in banking and before continuing his education career at Tampa Prep.
“Not only does he have everything we’re looking for in an Upper School head, he also has the business background and the customer service skills needed to grow our school at this crucial time,” said Head of School Derrick Willard.
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Clements says that Augusta Prep’s emphasis on building relationships as part of nurturing the education of students was one major appealing factor for him, as well as encouraging interactions with Willard.
“The school that I’m currently at, that’s our thing,” he said. “We’re all about relationships and what it can do for kids and their educational pursuits. And so, I wanted something that that had that same feel and that was, you know, that was the big initial draw.”
Clements says the students also gave him a warm reception upon his visit to the campus. He was able to speak with about 10 kids for 45 minutes.
“We were just having a good time talking to each other and feeling it out,” he said. “When you’re an educator and you have that kind of interaction with the kids, you want more.”
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Clements, a native of Endwell, N.Y., also noted that Augusta area itself was a draw, contrasting from Tampa’s “oppressive” heat and heavy traffic.
“It kind of reminded me a little bit of where I grew up in upstate New York,” he said. “There’s peacefulness about the Augusta area. The communities were beautiful.”
Clements will be replacing Andy Gyves who, after serving as head of Upper School at Augusta Prep for six years, accepted the same position at The John Cooper School, a private school in Woodlands, Texas, where he’ll also start this summer.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering education in Columbia County and business-related topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
