Tabor Names New Associate Head for Finance and Operations/CFO

Tabor Academy is excited to announce that James Bonsey has been named as the new Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations/Chief Financial Officer beginning in August 2023. He brings with him more than 20 years of experience in business, real estate, teaching, and educational leadership. 

“We are thrilled to have James join the Tabor community. The position of Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations/CFO is an important and complicated role,” says Head of School Tony Jaccaci. “We feel that James is qualified on many different fronts and has experience from numerous aspects of school leadership, including classroom experience. Moreover, he has a natural curiosity and is an eager learner. As we continue to grow and prepare for our 150th anniversary at Tabor, I cannot think of a better individual to help us chart our path forward.”
 
Currently, Bonsey serves as the Associate Head of School/Chief Financial & Operating Officer at Kingsley Montessori School in Boston. There, he manages two campus locations. During his time at Kingsley, Bonsey has also overseen several expansion projects and successfully helped the school navigate through the pandemic, including sourcing and opening a temporary third campus in 2021 to allow the school to return to in-person learning. 

Before his role at Kingsley, he was an Intern Principal at Conservatory Lab Charter School in Brighton, MA and a Social Studies Teacher at Middle Creek High School in Apex, NC. Bonsey is also currently a member of the Board of Trustees at The Cambridge School of Weston in Boston and previously served as the Board Chairman of Carter Community School in Durham, NC. 

“Having served as the Associate Head of School/Chief Financial & Operating Officer for the past nine years at a Montessori school in downtown Boston, I am eager to continue the meaningful work of strengthening and enhancing the business and operational model of an independent school. I look forward, as a former high school history teacher and former boarding school student, to returning to the grade 9-12 boarding school environment,” shares Bonsey. “My boarding school experience formed my personal and professional foundation of confidence, resilience, integrity, collaboration, lasting friendships, empathy for the needs of others, and a genuine determination to make a difference in the communities to which I belong.”

Prior to his time in education, Bonsey worked in real estate development with firms in Boston, MA, Durham, NC, and London, England. “I am fortunate to be able to leverage my skills and experience working in the real estate development industry in both the UK and US for a decade. My diverse professional experiences enable me to view educational leadership from a variety of lenses and vantage points.” 

“As Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee I am really looking forward to working with James,” shares Trustee Steve Sprague ’68. “He struck me as very friendly and approachable, as well as extremely qualified. I was especially impressed that he had a lot of experience in the for-profit business world and then decided to change course and bring his expertise to the non-profit world of education.”

Bonsey shares that he is delighted to join the Tabor community and looks forward to getting to know as many community members as possible. “I am driven to identify the strengths, needs, and opportunities within the school community to help make Tabor’s rich educational experience sustainable in a constantly evolving and competitive marketplace. Tabor’s educational approach of delivering character development and a holistic learning experience is highly valuable preparation for lasting success beyond college. I can help Tabor preserve its competitive edge and leverage the key differentiators that define Tabor so that the school continues to thrive and be an attractive and compelling school for current and prospective families.”

In addition to his extensive experience, Bonsey has also earned several degrees including a bachelor’s degree in history and a Master of Business Administration from Swansea University (UK), as well as his Master of Arts in Teaching from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Master of Education in School Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. 

Bonsey will be joined here in Seawolf Nation by his wife and daughter. “I am blessed to have a wonderful family. I have been happily married to my wife Susie for nineteen years. We have a lovely daughter, Sarah, who is currently in seventh grade. We also have a Norfolk Terrier called Penny and a cat called Lily.” 
 
During his personal time, Bonsey says, “I enjoy traveling, hiking, cycling, and running. I also have a passion for experiencing a wide range of art, music, films, and museums. The study of history continues to be a real source of interest and personal enrichment. I am excited about the prospect of learning to sail and embracing my new role of helping run a world-class School by the Sea.”