About Us

Acting Head of School - Updated

Leadership Transition and Search Update

As always, the mission of the school remains our compass: to equip curious thinkers to lead lives of impact. Our girls and their experience at Chatham Hall are at the center of every decision we make.

We begin the 2026-2027 school year with tremendous gratitude for our faculty and staff and with confidence in the strength and momentum of Chatham Hall. Today, we are pleased to share an important update about our leadership and the search for Chatham Hall’s next Rector.

Appointment of New Leadership

Since joining Chatham Hall in June as Acting Head of School, Ann V. Klotz has worked closely with the Board and School leadership to assess opportunities, strengthen key areas of the School, and prepare Chatham Hall for the year ahead. Ann brings decades of independent school leadership, a deep understanding of girls’ education, and the perspective that comes from having successfully led a school community through periods of growth and change. Her insight has helped us begin this year with clarity and focus.

Jennifer Hiltwine, Acting Head of School at Chatham Hall

Building on that work, the Board of Trustees has unanimously appointed Jennifer Hiltwine, our current Chief Financial Officer, to serve as Acting Rector beginning October 1, 2026.

Jennifer has been an integral part of Chatham Hall since 2010, serving the School in leadership roles spanning finance, human resources, facilities, and operations. Over those years, she has developed an extraordinary understanding of how Chatham Hall works and what makes it distinct. She knows our students, our faculty and staff, our families, and the rhythms and traditions of this community. Her steady leadership, sound judgment, broad operational expertise, and deep commitment to the School make her exceptionally well suited to lead us at this moment.

Before joining Chatham Hall, Jennifer worked as an internal auditor at Liberty University and earned her B.S. in Accounting and Business Management from Averett University in Danville. Jennifer’s qualifications extend well beyond her professional experience; she knows and loves this School. Her belief in Chatham Hall, her care for our girls and the people who support them, and her understanding of the institution will be at the heart of her leadership.

Importantly, Jennifer will not be doing this work alone. To ensure continuity, Ann will collaborate with Jennifer, supporting the School and the Board throughout the year. She will bring her independent school expertise to areas including academics, residential life, faculty and staff development, and strategic priorities.

This leadership structure is intentional, pairing Jennifer’s deep institutional knowledge, operational leadership, and commitment to Chatham Hall with Ann’s extensive independent school experience. Together, their complementary strengths allow us to approach this year from a position of strength, providing continuity without standing still.

In the coming weeks, Jennifer and her family—her husband, Leigh, and son, Hunter—will move into the Rectory as she prepares to assume her new role.

The Search for Our Next Rector

At the same time, the search for Chatham Hall’s next Rector is moving forward. Earlier this summer, we re-engaged Katherine Stuart of The Education Group to lead a national search. A search committee has been formed, and we are encouraged by the interest in the position. We will continue to share updates with the community.

Looking Ahead

We are excited about the year ahead and feel certain that the mission and values of Chatham Hall will help us move confidently into this next chapter.

Together, we will continue to build on what is strong, embrace what is possible, and ensure that Chatham Hall remains a place where girls are known, challenged, supported, and inspired to lead lives of impact.

About Jennifer Hiltwine

Jennifer Hiltwine has served Chatham Hall since 2010, most recently as Chief Financial Officer, providing strategic and operational leadership across the School’s financial, human resources, facilities, and administrative functions. As a member of the senior leadership team, she has worked closely with the Head of School and Board of Trustees on institutional strategy, financial sustainability, risk management, capital planning, and long-term priorities.

During her tenure, Jennifer has played a key role in several of Chatham Hall’s most significant institutional initiatives, including the Boundless Potential capital campaign, the construction of the 33,000-square-foot Athletic, Health and Wellness Center, and the multi-year renovation of the School’s faculty housing. She has also strengthened the School’s financial planning and risk management practices and secured more than $2.5 million in revenue through tax credit programs and relief funding.

Jennifer’s commitment to Chatham Hall extends well beyond her professional responsibilities. In May 2024, the Alumnae Council and Board of Trustees recognized her as an honorary alumna of Chatham Hall, reflecting her longstanding dedication to the School and its mission.

Before joining Chatham Hall, Jennifer served as an Internal Auditor at Liberty University, Senior Financial Analyst with Corning Incorporated, and Senior Accountant with Goodman & Company, LLP. She earned her B.S. in Business Management from Averett University and has completed Dale Carnegie Leadership Training. She has also been recognized by the National Business Officers Association for her expertise in institutional risk management.

Jennifer is an active member of the Danville community and currently serves on the Board of The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region.

Ann V. Klotz

Ann Klotz, Acting Head of School at Chatham Hall

Ann Klotz as Acting Head of School, June 1-September 30, 2026

About Ann V. Klotz

Ann V. Klotz joins Chatham Hall as a consultant and Acting Head of School in June 2026. A graduate of The Agnes Irwin School, Ann knows the transformative power of girls’ schools. She earned a B.A. in English from Yale College, an M.A. from New York University, and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Bay Path University.

Ann has dedicated more than forty years to girls’ education as a teacher, administrator, and school leader, with a deep commitment to the intellectual, social, and emotional development of girls. She served as Laurel School’s Head of School from 2004 to 2025, where she helped establish the Center for Research on Girls and launch innovative programs focused on environmental justice and public purpose.

Ann is Chair of the Board of The Heads’ Network and serves on several independent school boards. Since retiring from Laurel, she has launched an executive coaching practice focused on supporting women aspiring to leadership roles in independent schools.

A writer and educator, Ann is the founder and editor of Well-Schooled: The Site for Educator Storytelling, where her work explores the intersection of motherhood and school leadership.

Rector Search Profile

Chatham Hall Rector Search Committee

Adair Ravencraft ’02
Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
Chair, Search Committee
Nina Botsford ’72
Campaign Steering Committee Co-Chair
Executive Committee
Mary Kay Karzas '71
External Relations Committee Chair
Executive Committee
Danielle Kimmel '04
Treasurer, Board of Trustees
Resource Management Committee Chair
Executive Committee
Kerry Irwin '98
Secretary, Board of Trustees
Executive Committee
Frazier Millner Armstrong '77
Trustee
Local Community Connection
Emily James '03
Trustee
Ex-Alumnae Council President
Amy Midkiff P’22, ’27
Parents Advisory Committee
Designated Board of Trustees Member
John Kingery
History Department Chair
Director of Global Scholars
Rev. Beth Barksdale
Chaplain
Director of Entrepreneurship Program
Alison B. Carter-Cady ’91

Chair of the Board of Trustees
Non-voting Committee Member