Country Day Selects Head of Upper School

Dear Members of the CCDS Community,

On behalf of the Head of Upper School Search Committee, I am thrilled to announce that Jon Zeljo (pronounced ZELL-JOE) has been selected as the next Head of Upper School, effective July 1, 2025.

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.”

Confirmed by his wide-ranging experience in education, Jon feels it is important for students to learn by doing, especially through service and experiential learning.

“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.”

Jon will be moving to Cincinnati along with 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.

While Jon has resided in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Colorado, and California, he has roots in this region. Growing up in Southwest Virginia, he attended Reds games every summer with his family. 

“The first star autograph I ever got was George Foster in 1981. In high school, I knew the major stats of every Reds starter, and my favorite players were Barry Larkin and Eric Davis.”

While Jon is confident he will attend plenty of Reds games once settled in Cincinnati – no doubt with his baseball-loving Head of School – Jon's family is “currently on a mission to visit every single baseball stadium in the country. But other than that, I like to spend my free time doing whatever my four sons are doing; their interests are always changing and developing, so I’m just along for the ride.”

In addition to taking the lead on the academic and co-curricular life of the Upper School, Jon is looking forward to getting involved with the Country Day community.

“It was evident during my visit that it’s the people who make Country Day such a special place. Everyone I met seemed authentic, professional, and friendly. What more could I ask for in a new community?”

Jon brings a proven track record of driving curricular innovation, empowering faculty, and igniting student engagement – qualities that will make him an exceptional leader for our Upper School. We are thrilled to welcome him to Country Day and eager to see the vision and momentum he will bring to lead our division into its second century.

Jon will succeed Jenn Weinheimer, who leaves CCDS in June after seven years of outstanding service to our students and community, for which we are deeply grateful. I want to thank Jenn in particular for her tremendous support through this transition process.

I would also like to thank our search committee members* for their swift and successful work. The committee approached this process with commitment and discernment, ensuring that our Upper School will be guided by transformational leadership.

Please join me in welcoming Jon and his family to Cincinnati. We are excited to have them join the Country Day community and look forward to Jon’s arrival in July.

Sincerely,
Rob Zimmerman `98
Head of School

*Head of Upper School Search Committee
Jamie Back
Sarah Beyreis
Christine Bridge
Elizabeth DiTullio
Jen Faber
Nat Tracey-Miller
Angela Barber-Joiner
Al Beauchamp
Theresa Hirschauer
Mark Morawski
Mary Horton
Carlton Monroe