Skip to content
Join us for STEAMfest 2023! Pre-register now!
  • Explore
    • Explore Woodlawn
    • Why Woodlawn
    • Mission & Values
    • Our Campus
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
    • Our Team
    • Board of Trustees
    • Career Opportunities
    • Tour Woodlawn
    • Contact
    • Map & Directions
    • In The News
  • Academics
    • Overview
    • Early Childhood
    • Lower School
      • Overview
      • Curriculum
      • Distinctive Elements
      • FAQ
    • Middle School
      • Overview
      • Curriculum
      • Distinctive Elements
      • National History Day
      • FAQ
    • Upper School
      • Overview
      • Curriculum
      • Distinctive Elements
      • Senior Capstone
      • FAQ
      • Commencement Awards
      • AP Courses
      • National Merit Awards
    • College Counseling
      • Overview
      • College Profile
      • Matriculations
      • Merit Scholarships
  • Admission
    • Overview
    • Who We Seek
    • The Process
    • Enrollment
    • Onboarding
    • Schedule A Tour
    • Request Information
    • Calendar
    • PBL Day
    • Discovery Days
    • Tuition / Assistance
  • Beyond The Classroom
    • Arts
    • Athletics
    • Outdoor Learning
    • Life Skills
    • Sustainability
    • Culture & Traditions
    • Service Learning
    • STEAMfest
    • Sharing PBL
    • Travel Abroad
    • Diversity
    • Exchange Students
    • International Students
  • Get Involved
    • Overview
    • Parent Connection
    • STEAMfest
    • Woodlawn Mentors
    • Donate
  • Giving
  • Families
  • Alumni
  • Back To School
WOODLAWN SCHOOL
  • THE GREEN & WHITE GALA
  • Summer Camp 2023
  • Families
  • Alumni
  • Giving
Menu
  • THE GREEN & WHITE GALA
  • Summer Camp 2023
  • Families
  • Alumni
  • Giving
  • Explore

    Explore

    About

    Why Woodlawn
    Mission & Values
    Our Campus & Story
    Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

    People

    Our Team
    Board of Trustees
    Alumni
    Career Opportunities

    Connect

    Schedule A Tour
    Contact
    Map & Directions
    In The News
  • Academics

    Academics

    Early Childhood

    Lower School

    Curriculum
    Distinctive Elements
    FAQ

    Middle School

    Curriculum
    Distinctive Elements
    National History Day
    FAQ

    Upper School

    Curriculum
    Distinctive Elements
    Senior Capstone
    FAQ
    AP Courses & Honors
    National Merit Awards
    Commencement Awards

    College Counseling

    College Profile
    Matriculations
    Merit Scholarships
  • Admission

    Admissions

    Overview

    Who We Seek
    The Process
    Enrollment
    Onboarding

    More Info

    Admissions Calendar
    PBL Day
    Discovery Days
    Tuition / Assistance

    Get Started

    Schedule A Tour
    Schedule Virtual Visit
  • Beyond The Classroom

    Beyond The Classroom

    At Our School

    Athletics
    Arts
    Outdoor Learning
    Life Skills
    Sustainability
    Culture & Traditions

    In The Community

    Service Learning
    STEAMfest
    Sharing PBL

    Summer Camps

    Around The World

    Travel Abroad
    Diversity
    Exchange Students
    International Students
  • Get Involved

    Get Involved

    Volunteer

    Parent Connection
    STEAMfest
    In The Community

    Donate

    Blazer Fund
    Annual Report

    Mentor

    Learn More

Press Releases

COME SEE THE DIFFERENCE

February 14, 2019

Paul Zanowski Selected as Head of School

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Board of Trustees of Woodlawn School is pleased to announce the selection of Paul Zanowski as our next Head of School, beginning July 1, 2019. Mr. Zanowski comes to Woodlawn from Kenston Forest School in Blackstone, Virginia, where he currently serves as Head of School.

The selection is the result of an extensive national search conducted by the members of the Board-selected Search Committee and assisted by Educational Directions, a search consulting firm based in Providence, Rhode Island. The committee selected three candidates as finalists who visited Woodlawn in January and met with students, faculty members, and parents. Mr. Zanowski received the enthusiastic support of the Board of Trustees, who made the final selection.

“Paul Zanowski is a leader with a proven track record of implementing and enhancing programs consistent with Woodlawn’s mission and philosophy,” said Jim Folds, Chair of the Woodlawn School Board of Trustees. “His commitment to project-based learning, his passion for independent school leadership, and his deep administrative experience make Paul an excellent match for our school. We look forward to working with Paul in the drive to further distinguish Woodlawn’s unique value in the marketplace.”

Mr. Zanowski began his career in education at Lancaster Country Day School in Pennsylvania, where he worked for four years as an admission officer and history teacher. After an interlude in the publishing business (based in Singapore), Paul returned to the independent school world, spending eight years at Westchester Country Day School (NC) as a teacher, coach, and development associate. He then served for five years at Greensboro Day School (NC) as assistant upper school head and dean of students, followed by another five-year stint at Ranney School in New Jersey, where he was head of upper school.

In 2015, Paul was named Head of School at Kenston Forest School, a K-12 school of 345 students in southeastern Virginia. In his four years at that school, he has grown enrollment by 40% and introduced a variety of innovative programs, including several project-based learning initiatives. During Paul’s 26 years in independent schools, he has gained a deep appreciation for their transformational role in the lives of students, and he is well-equipped to lead Woodlawn into our next phase as a progressive K-12 institution.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Paul majored in International Relations. In 2009 he earned a Master of Public Administration degree from UNC Greensboro. Paul and his wife Cathy, an occupational therapist, have two grown children, Nicholas and Katie Rose, who both reside in the Carolinas. Paul will be taking the helm at Woodlawn as the school enters its 18th year, and as it graduates its 10th and largest senior class.

“My wife and I are honored and excited to join the Woodlawn community,” said Mr. Zanowski. “I look forward to building on Woodlawn’s strong foundation of excellence as we embrace the challenge of preparing students to thrive in a highly dynamic, unpredictable world.”

Woodlawn School thanks the Search Committee and the consultants at Educational Directions, as well as all of the members of the Woodlawn community who have contributed greatly to the search process.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Woodlawn is an independent school founded in 2002 and located just north of Davidson, North Carolina. Enrolling students in grades K through 12, Woodlawn is accredited by both the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and offers a challenging, project-based academic experience.

BACK TO SCHOOL
FAMILIES
ALUMNI
GIVING
CAREERS

EXPLORE
ACADEMICS
ADMISSION
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
GET INVOLVED
TOUR WOODLAWN

BACK TO SCHOOL
FAMILIES
ALUMNI
GIVING
CAREERS

LET’S CONNECT

Facebook Icon-instagram1 Youtube Twitter Linkedin

135 Woodlawn school loop, mooresville, nc 28115
704.895.8653

THE WOODLAWN EXPERIENCE

Get an inside look at the Woodlawn Way and our
Project Based Learning approach.

Woodlawn is a private school providing a project based learning curriculum for early explorers preschool, lower, middle, and upper school academics. Our historic 61-acre campus is located just north of Charlotte, NC in beautiful Mooresville, and within driving distance of Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, North Mecklenburg, and Concord.

Woodlawn School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, or national, ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

© Woodlawn School 2023

Privacy Policy

Add Your Heading Text Here