Cincinnati Country Day School Announces New Head of Upper School

Jon Zeljo assumes role July 1^st

From Rob Zimmerman, Head of School, “Jon’s appointment is the culmination of a national and international search that was launched in March. The search committee began the process by reviewing dozens of resumes, from which three finalists were selected for on-campus visits with faculty, staff, students, administrators, parents, trustees, and alumni. Based on their collective input as well as my own assessment, it was evident that Jon was the right person to lead our Upper School and advance its legacy of rigorous academics in a joyful, student-centered environment.”

Jon currently serves as the assistant head of school & director of teaching and learning at York School in Monterey, California. In that role, Jon oversees the school’s academic programming and spearheads curricular initiatives, collaborating with department chairs and program directors to ensure alignment with learning outcomes. Among other tasks, he also supervises all faculty and oversees faculty hiring, growth, and evaluation, ensuring high standards and expectations. Jon also cherishes opportunities to engage with students, whether leading trips to Costa Rica or coaching athletics.

Jon earned his master’s in East Asian Studies from the University of Virginia and his bachelor’s degree from Duke University. As an educator for over 25 years, Jon has served in many capacities in independent schools and at the university level.

“I have spent my entire career as an educator – as a classroom teacher, department chair, program director, and senior administrator, roles that have shaped my passion for nurturing the innate curiosity and potential of young people. With my extensive experience in schools and a demonstrated commitment to purposeful and hands-on learning with real-world connections, I am eager to contribute my skills and vision to further Cincinnati Country Day School’s success in the capacity of Head of Upper School. As we enter a unique time in the evolution of schools, I am thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate with Country Day’s talented faculty and staff to help transition a distinctive and innovative school into its next phase of growth and success.” Shares Zeljo.

“I look forward to being at a school that envisions a student-centered program that combines its legacy of academic excellence with an innovative approach that builds students’ skills through immersive, hands-on learning. My priority is to work with the faculty, staff, students, parents, and community partners to implement the strategic plan, and I can’t wait to collaborate to accomplish this goal.”

Joining Zeljo will be his wife, Ali, and their two sons, Gianni and Gappo. Gianni will be a junior and Gappo will be a sophomore. Their oldest child, Nicky, lives in Boulder, Colorado, and their second oldest, Will, is a junior at the University of California, Santa Cruz.