The Atlanta Girls’ School has announced the addition of Joan Countryman as its Interim Head of School. Countryman comes to AGS after previously serving as the Interim Head of School for Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Winfrey chose Countryman to help start the academy, find a permanent headmistress, hire faculty and select the first 152 students to attend the school.
Countryman has had similar education appointments in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College, her master’s degree from Yale University and is a Fulbright Scholar. Countryman, who has two grown children and four grandchildren with husband Ed Jakmauh, is also a board member at Haverford College, Sarah Lawrence and Paul Cuffee School.