Friends Academy has appointed Benjamin Kennedy as the school's new head of school. Kennedy will begin on July 1.

School officials said Kennedy’s dedication to students and his expertise in academic innovation, faculty development, and secondary school placement are qualities that will suit him well at Friends Academy.  His skill set will help him direct the school's stengths in areas including cross-curricular learning, experiential and outdoor education, and responsible citizenship, said officials.

As the son of a headmaster and teacher, Kennedy grew up on independent school campuses. He has spent the majority of his professional career in independent schools as a teacher, coach, and administrator. Kennedy earned his undergraduate at Dartmouth College and his graduate degree at Wesleyan University. After spending seven years as part of the administration of St. Andrew’s School in Delaware, Kennedy came to Shore Country Day School in Beverly, Massachusetts as its head of upper school in 2009.

At Shore, Kennedy was instrumental in pulling together a strategic plan that included advancements in the curriculum, teaching program, communications, and its early childhood programs, said officials. Last year, as part of his professional agenda to learn the best teaching ideas from schools nationwide, Kennedy visited Friends Academy to learn more about its Sally Borden Program and its curriculum for students with language-based differences.

Kennedy and his wife Christina have three young children and plan to move to the South Coast this July.