CARY ACADEMY’S NEXT EXCEPTIONAL LEADER

Head of School Transition

Cary Academy’s Board of Directors has announced Paul Turnbull, Ph.D., as CA’s next Head of School, succeeding Dr. Mike Ehrhardt following his retirement at the end of the 2026–2027 school year.

Selected through an international search informed by employees, students, parents, alumni, and trustees, Turnbull emerged as a leader whose experience, values, and vision closely align with Cary Academy’s mission.

FUTURE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Meet Dr. Paul Turnbull

With a career shaped by curiosity, connection, and thoughtful innovation, Dr. Paul Turnbull brings nearly three decades of experience leading schools and school systems toward innovation, excellence, and long-term sustainability. Since 2013, he has served as president of Mid-Pacific Institute, a PK–12 community of approximately 1,400 students in Honolulu, Hawaii, recognized for deeper learning, the arts, and innovation.

At Mid-Pacific, he has expanded academic and faculty development programs, strengthened advancement and the school’s endowment, and launched groundbreaking initiatives, including an immersive technology program and a first-of-its-kind AI Advisory Council.

His commitment to education extends beyond his own campus. Turnbull founded Mid-Pacific’s Center for Educational Advancement, which serves hundreds of educators from public, private, and charter schools each year, and lectures in the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Independent School Leadership program.

Previously, Turnbull served as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, and principal in California, leading work in program development, school modernization, and community engagement. He began his career as a teacher and athletic director at an International Baccalaureate school in Canada.

Turnbull holds a Ph.D. in education from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Across his career, Turnbull has remained grounded in a student-centered approach to leadership, focused on creating the conditions for students to grow, educators to thrive, and schools to evolve thoughtfully.

He and his wife, Leslie, a writer and communications and advancement professional, enjoy spending time on the water, hiking, and traveling. They have three adult children and are looking forward to making North Carolina home and becoming part of the Cary Academy community.

The year ahead

Before Dr. Paul Turnbull officially joins Cary Academy as our next Head of School on July 1, 2027, he will spend time on campus throughout the year getting to know the people, programs, traditions, and culture that make CA distinctive.

Each visit will have a slightly different focus, moving from observation and learning to deeper connection with our community and, ultimately, leadership.

VISITS TO CAMPUS

Fall 2026 | October 29 – 31 | Observe

Getting to know CA

Dr. Turnbull’s first visit is all about experiencing CA in action. He’ll spend time with the Leadership Team, getting a feel for the rhythms of a school day, meeting with students over lunch, and joining us for community favorites including Friday Night Lights, our fall extracurricular theater production Something Wicked(er), and Middle School’s Fall Fest before dropping in on our alumni reunion.

You may see Dr. Turnbull around campus or at these events, and we hope you’ll say hello and offer him a warm CA welcome. We also want to give him time during this first visit to listen, observe, and take it all in. The goal is not to fit every conversation into October, but to let him begin getting to know the school naturally.

There will be more opportunities to connect as the year progresses. For now, the best welcome we can give Dr. Turnbull is the chance to experience the CA we know and love—curious, engaged, and chock-full of enthusiastic Charger Pride.

Winter 2027 | Learn

Deepening understanding of CA

When Dr. Turnbull returns this winter, his focus will shift from taking in CA’s day-to-day life to learning more about how Cary Academy works behind the scenes.

He’ll spend time with our Board of Directors, Alumni Board, and Department Heads and Leadership Team, building relationships and deepening his understanding of the people, priorities, and structures that shape CA.

He will also join the community for Taste and Toast, where families may have a chance to say hello and welcome him back to campus. While the visit is still centered on learning and relationship-building rather than broad community conversation, it marks another step forward in the transition and another opportunity for Dr. Turnbull to experience the community he’ll soon lead.

As we move into the second semester, we’ll also begin creating some more ways for the broader community to get to know Dr. Turnbull through the Magazine of Cary Academy and the CA Weekly.

Spring 2027 | Connect

Connecting and celebrating with the CA community

By spring, Dr. Turnbull will have spent much of the year listening, learning, and building relationships across CA. His final campus visit before officially becoming Head of School will offer more opportunities to connect with the broader community.

His time on campus will coincide with several of CA’s 30th anniversary celebrations, including our gala, creating a natural moment to bring together where we’ve been and where we’re headed next.

This visit will be more community-facing, with opportunities for Dr. Turnbull to spend time with students, employees, parents, alumni, and friends of the school in a range of settings. This is an important milestone in the transition, moving from getting to know CA to becoming a known member of the community he will soon lead.

As the school year draws to a close, we’ll continue sharing more opportunities to hear from Dr. Turnbull and get to know him ahead of his official start on July 1.

Summer 2027 | Lead

Beginning the next CA chapter

On July 1, Dr. Turnbull officially begins his tenure as Cary Academy’s Head of School.

By then, the transition will have been a two-way process. Dr. Turnbull will have spent the year getting to know CA, our people, programs, traditions, and culture, while our community will have had the chance to get to know him, his perspective, and the values he brings to his leadership.

That shared familiarity creates a strong foundation for what comes next. As the 2027–28 school year begins, the focus will shift from introduction to leadership, from getting to know one another to beginning the next chapter of CA together.