Overlake School Names New Executive

in Redmond has selected Matthew P. Horvat as its new head of school, effective July 1, 2012. Horvat's acceptance caps a year-long, nationwide search for a new leader for the 44-year-old, independent college prep school.

Horvat, now principal of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (UCLS) high school, succeeds current head of school Francisco J. Grijalva, Ed.D. Grijalva announced last year that he planned to step down on June 30, 2012, after 17 years as Overlake’s head. 

Deborah Black, president of The Overlake School Board of Trustees, calls Horvat a “gifted leader and educator” with a passion for academic excellence that will further enhance an already outstanding school.

“Matt has an impressive record at UCLS of academic advancement, progress on major initiatives and effective leadership, all while teaching a section of algebra,” Black said in a news release.

Horvat has previously been Head of the Upper School at the Browning School, Dean of Students at the Collegiate  School (both in New York City), and a math and computer science teacher at The Chapin School in New York, the Taipei American School in Taiwan and the Noble and Greenough School in Massachusetts.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in non-Western history from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in mathematics education from Boston University, received a summer fellowship from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College Columbia University, and is enrolled in the Executive Scholars Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

He is a triathlete, who also earned a silver medal in rowing for the U.S. at the 1991 Pan American games. For more information about Horvat, visit http://overlake.org/headsearch.

In announcing his successor, Black praised Grijalva’s  “outstanding years at Overlake.” Under Grijalva, Overlake has grown to serve 533 boys and girls in fifth through 12th grades, has added a global service program with partner schools and built and upgraded facilities, including three new, state-of-the art classroom buildings during 2008-2011.

—From The Overlake School