Carl Coombs Named Next Head of The Advent School
Dear Advent Community,
On behalf of the Search Committee and Board of Trustees, I am thrilled to announce that Carl Coombs has accepted the position as Advent’s next Head of School beginning July 1, 2027.
After an extensive year-long search that brought strong candidates from across the country, Carl was chosen for his deep experience in helping to lead Brimmer and May school in Chestnut Hill, but more importantly for his steady, empathetic leadership style, connection to pedagogy and social justice and passion for academic excellence. Carl embodies all of the qualities Advent was seeking in its next Head of School.
Carl joins us after 18 years at Brimmer where he started as the Director of Lower School Extended Day and progressed through the organization as teacher, dean, Head of Middle School and most recently Assistant Head of School and Head of the Lower School. Over this time he has become a beloved member of the community and was often noted to consistently bring steady and calm in any situation and being a thought leader who loves watching others thrive. Carl’s application stated it best:
”My leadership is grounded in the belief that schools flourish when students, faculty, and families experience a strong sense of belonging, purpose, and possibility. During my nearly 20 years in education, including a decade in senior leadership, I worked to build school cultures where people feel supported to grow, take thoughtful risks and contribute meaningfully to a shared vision for teaching and learning.”
Carl lives in Dorchester with his husband, Garth, and their two children.
Upon his appointment as Advent’s new Head of School, Carl added:
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as The Advent School's next Head of School. From my first conversations with members of the community, I was struck by Advent's warmth, its commitment to progressive education, its dedication to equity and belonging, and the joy that is evident in the lives of its students. I look forward to partnering with faculty, staff, families, and trustees to ensure that Advent remains a place where students develop a lifelong love of learning and grow into thoughtful, compassionate, and engaged citizens in a rapidly changing world.”
Carl lives in Dorchester with his husband, Garth, and their two children. In their free time they love to go to Broadway shows, travel and spend time as a family. Carl is also a certified spin instructor and enjoys reading.
We look forward to having Carl join the community and will look for opportunities to bring him to campus over the course of the next year. Bill Wharton will remain as Advent’s Interim Head of School for the 2026-27 academic year and will be an essential partner during the transition.
A special thank you to the members of the Search Committee for their tireless work the past 12 months. They volunteered countless hours to get to this place, and I and the Board are grateful for all they have done to get us to this exciting conclusion.
You will learn more about Carl over the coming months via the school’s weekly newsletter @Advent. In the meantime, please join me in welcoming Carl and his family to the Advent community!
Jennifer Carriòn, Chair
The Advent School Board of Trustees
