From homecoming in late October to mid-April, Head of School Ken Aldridge has been on sabbatical leave. In his absence, J.R. Niesweder and Jon Huxtable served as interim heads of schools. However, as we end the 2025-2026 school year, Mr. Aldridge has returned with many new experiences, ideas, and perspectives he gained along his sabbatical journey!
Last summer, Mr. Aldridge ventured to Idaho for four days, a completely off-grid trip, forcing him to spend time in nature and disconnect from all electronics. His experience in Idaho influenced his sabbatical, as the change challenged him to slow down and appreciate the world beyond his phone or computer.
Mr. Aldridge reignited his love for reading and carved out time to read. “I was able to recommit to reading and engage in books without distractions. It was a challenge at first, but I developed a joy of just sitting down and deep reading,” Mr. Aldridge says. He successfully unplugged from his smartphone, which opened time to invest in other interests like reading and travel.
Mr. Aldridge spent late January through early February traveling the south of the United States with his wife, Cassandra, combining personal and professional development into his trip. Mr. Aldridge explored Georgia, visiting Savannah and Atlanta, and was book-
ended with conferences in Hilton Head and at Duke University, which focused on AI and how it can be used to enhance student learning. Mr. Aldridge says, “I wanted to go back and visit the south, since my parents grew up down there, and my son is completing his master’s degree in Atlanta, so I appreciated seeing him.” In addition to his son, Mr. Aldridge traveled to Southern California to visit his daughter Mariah and enjoy quality time with his in-laws.
Mr. Aldridge employed an executive coach, who helped him to learn not to plan constantly; instead, he took time to slow down and treasure this time away. Executive coaching is similar to personal training for one’s career, offering guidance on professional growth and overcoming challenges. However, Mr. Aldridge used an executive coach, not necessarily to advance his career, but to focus on personal development and learning, not to plan every minute. His time spent at various educational conferences allowed him to ponder and create the strategic plan announced on April 29, 2025. The strategic plan crosses over all three divisions. It focuses on school-student-parent relations, working on how to effectively use the spaces available, and digital literacy, like AI, at Friends. Mr. Aldridge says, “I have talked to other heads [of schools] who have also done sabbaticals, and they’ve shared some wisdom with me about how sabbaticals allow you to return with renewed energy, but you need to pace yourself and be patient with the changes you want to make to the school.” Based on his sabbatical experience, Mr. Aldridge is interested in furthering his education by potentially pursuing graduate school. Mr. Aldridge considers long-term options, including the possibility of being a mentor or an executive coach, to continue supporting teachers and educators. As technology advances at a rapid pace and is a vital part of the education space, Mr. Aldridge hopes to dabble more with AI chat boxes, like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, to become more familiar with them and how they can positively and negatively impact students’ learning and teachers.
Sabbaticals are unique experiences that not every school offers. “They provide a tremendous opportunity for a combination of professional and personal growth among teachers, a time for professional renewal,” Mr. Aldridge says—teachers who take a sabbatical return with new perspectives and ideas to implement. Notably, “Algo-rhythms,” an Upper School elective combining computer coding and creating music, directly results from Margaret Anne Butterfield’s sabbatical in 2018.
During his sabbatical, Mr. Aldridge enjoyed time traveling, revisiting old hobbies, like reading, and having the opportunity to reflect and grow personally, while taking a step back professionally. Wilmington Friends is thrilled to welcome him back and excited to see what more he has to share!