McKendry to Become HPA’s Head of School in 2015

Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s chief financial officer will take over the reins of the private Waimea school next year.

Robert McKendry will become HPA’s head of school on July 1, 2015, the school said today in a statement.

He will replace Lindsay R. Barnes Jr., who is retiring at the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

Barnes has led the school since the 2008-2009 school year.

McKendry will be HPA’s 11th head of school.

A certified public accountant who joined HPA in 2010, McKendry previously held accounting and controller positions in Michigan and California, HPA said.

He holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in finance and management from the University of Oregon and another in accounting from Baker College.

His promotion was announced today by Gregory Mooers, chairman of the school’s board of trustees, who described McKendry as a “truly exceptional candidate.”

“Robert’s leadership skills, intellect, and collaborative personality are appreciated by everyone who has worked with him,” Mooers said.

“Robertʻs work ethic, intelligence, moral compass, and his accomplishments at HPA are already the stuff of legend here,” he added.

McKendry’s wife is an HPA alumna, and the couple has two children attending the school.

Founded in 1949, Hawaii Preparatory Academy is an independent, co-educational college-preparatory boarding and day school that offers a full range of academic and extracurricular opportunities for 632 students in grades K-12 and post-graduate.

The school is located on two campuses encompassing 228 acres in the heart of world-famous Parker Ranch on the island of Hawaii.

HPA offers a boarding option for students in grades 9-12, and draws its diverse student body from Hawaii, 17 other states and US territories, and 18 other countries.