Ian Moorhouse Named Wheeler’s New Chief Operating Officer

February 23, 2022

Photo of Ian Moorhouse smiling at the camera. Though the background is blurry, he appears to be standing in an ice rink and appears from the chest up.
Ian Moorhouse

The Wheeler School is pleased to announce that after an extensive, national search for a new Chief Operating Officer, Ian Moorhouse, who is currently the Director of Operations at Dexter Southfield in Massachusetts, has accepted the position. He will transition to Wheeler over the course of the spring and begin full-time on July 1.

During the search process, members of the search committee (who are listed at the end of this announcement) screened many qualified applicants and hosted three finalists. Each finalist visited campus to meet administrators, faculty and staff, and trustees, and to spend time touring Wheeler’s city and farm campuses. “The search committee surveyed all constituencies on the candidates, and a clear consensus and great enthusiasm emerged around Ian’s candidacy,” says Head of School Allison Gaines Pell. “It was clear to those who met with him that Ian would bring empathetic and energetic leadership, as well as extensive experience, to the role.”

Moorhouse says the enthusiasm was mutual. “From the moment I stepped on to the Wheeler campus, the energy and passion for working with children, the depth of the program offerings, and the stunning facilities made a huge impression. I felt I had to be part of it. I can’t wait to get started!”

As Director of Operations at Dexter Southfield, Moorhouse leads and manages a team of 25 staff members to care for a 36-acre campus. He has been responsible for several construction projects during his tenure, including a new academic building and several new athletic facilities, totaling $45M of new construction. He has also been responsible for the development and oversight of all auxiliary programs, which have increased revenue for the school significantly over time. Notably, prior to his work in independent schools, he was Executive Director at Hill House, a Boston-based community center, a 5th-grade teacher in a charter school, and a stage manager for the London City Opera. Moorhouse is also the son of an English farmer, a decades-long participant in Big Brother Big Sister, and a dedicated trustee for both the American Camp Association of New England and Norwood Youth Ice Hockey–which, Head of School Gaines Pell notes, “are all experiences we know will enrich the Wheeler community.”

Ian lives with his wife Jen and three children, London, Cameron, and Ivy in Norwood, MA, where they enjoy all kinds of sports, especially ice hockey, gymnastics, and golf.

When he joins Wheeler this summer, Moorhouse will succeed Wheeler’s longtime Chief Operating Officer Gary Esposito, who will transition into a part-time role at the end of this school year.

Search Committee Members

  • Jim Belluche, Facilities Team, Providence campus
  • Wellington Cabrera, Facilities Team, Providence campus
  • Keith Estey, Facilities Manager, Wheeler Farm campus
  • Mark Harris, Aerie Program Director
  • Karie Hayes, Director of Technology
  • Sean Kelly, Athletic Director
  • Peggy O’Neil, Director of Counseling and Student Health
  • Kathy Wilson, Chief Financial Officer
  • Young Un, Head of Strategic Innovation

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