FREEMAN ACADEMY HIRES NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL
A search that began in spring has borne fruit at Freeman Academy.
More than a week after the private, Christian school began its 122nd term, school leadership has announced a new head of school has been hired.
Brian Paff, board chair at Freeman Academy, said this week that Brice Kauffman has been offered a contract that he has accepted to assume the role of the school’s top administrator. His first day on campus will be Oct. 6, but he “will be onboarding in the meantime to support a seamless transition once he arrives,” according to an email sent to staff Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Kauffman, who Paff notes has strong leadership experience in Christian education, most recently served as head of school at Providence Christian Academy in Georgetown, Kent. — a school that closed at the end of the last school year after 21 years, according to the News-Graphic of Georgetown.
Kauffman has also served as principal at Granville Christian Academy in Granville, Ohio and Shekinah Christian School of Plain City, Ohio before that.
“We are thrilled to welcome Brice to Freeman Academy,” Paff said in a statement provided to The Courier on Thursday. “He demonstrates a sincere passion for Christian education, and his knowledge and leadership experience will be great assets for our students, faculty and staff.”
Freeman Academy noted in its letter to staff and constituency that the school hosted Kauffman for a campus visit prior to the opening of the school year, and that he “expressed a sincere admiration and enthusiasm for the work happening at Freeman Academy.”
Kauffman replaces Dr. Brad Anderson, whose contract the school’s board of directors did not renew following the 2024-25 school year.
The school has utilized both outside consultation and internal leadership to help bridge the gap between heads of school.
Meanwhile, Freeman Academy continues to discern a path forward following two corporation meetings earlier this year that included information about both financial and enrollment challenges. A task force is expected to make a recommendation to the school’s board of directors — which will then be shared with the corporation — this fall.
