Leadership

Will Kesler, Head of School

B.A. in Literature, The University of Virginia
M.A. in Literature, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Will Kesler has been involved in independent school education for more than 30 years, first as a student and then as a teacher, coach, and administrator. A product of the Baylor School, Will and his wife, Julie, returned to Chattanooga after attending UVA, and Will began coaching at The McCallie School and teaching and coaching at Girls Preparatory School. During his 14 years at GPS, he served as the head soccer coach, the director of summer academics, the head of the Honor Council, and the English department chair. 

In 2010, Will accepted a position as the Middle / Upper School Director at Deerfield-Windsor School in Albany, GA. In addition to administrative duties, he continued to teach English and coach soccer and was a member of Leadership Albany. After serving DWS for four years, he accepted the position as Head of School at Battle Ground Academy. 

The 2023-24 academic year marks Will's ninth year at BGA. During his tenure, the school has experienced record growth in enrollment and fundraising. In addition to his role at BGA, Will serves as a member of the ISA Strategy Collaborative, the SAIS DEI Task Force, and SAIS Accreditation Teams. When not directly involved in school activities, you will probably find Will avidly reading, writing, listening to music, enjoying great films, or perfecting a BBQ recipe.

Will and Julie have been married for 26 years and have three kids — Bennett (’19), Ellen (’20), and Walker (’24). Their family is involved in the community through their church, civic, and social organizations, and Julie is an assistant teacher at Mustard Seed preschool. In their free time, the Keslers enjoy time with friends and family, especially time spent cooking and entertaining.