About Us

Jacqueline Smethurst is a nationally recognized thinker and leader of independent schools. During ten years as Head of School at Northfield Mount Hermon, she led collaborations with faculty and staff to devise and implement a comprehensive redesign of the school’s educational program. A consultant since 1998, Jacqueline has guided the founding of several innovative and successful  independent schools and a charter school, and assisted dozens more schools in the growth of curriculum, governance and fundraising capacities. She has recently served as interim head of Sage Hill School and The Pegasus School. Jacqueline holds a B.A. and M.A, from Oxford University, and is an Honorary Fellow of her alma mater, St. Hilda’s College, at Oxford. Jacqueline holds an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts. She came to the United States as a Fulbright Scholar. An educator, visionary, and accomplished speaker on education for a global society and meeting the challenges of change, Jacqueline believes cultivating public-private partnerships is critical to the health and growth of all communities.

David Drinkwater is an innovative and distinguished educator and administrator. His innovative approach to school-community relations defined his twelve-year tenure as Head of School at Metairie Park Country Day School, in New Orleans. In addition to strengthening the school’s academic, artistic and financial aid programs, David developed extensive relationships with the local community to enhance the school’s involvement in civic life. His work in community development and regional educational improvement continues with Wingspan Partnerships. David holds B.A., M.A. and D.Phil. degrees in History from Oxford University. He has served as assistant professor and associate dean at the State University of New York at New Paltz, and dean of students at Amherst College and Cornell University. He also served as head of Friends Academy, Locust Valley, New York. David's leadership in Wingspan Partnerships is complemented by his consultancy to SC21 Napa, a model of student-centered project-based learning pioneered by New Technology High School in Napa, CA, and emulated by 42 schools throughout the US.  This public-private partnership now engages an entire community in district-wide school reform.