It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the appointment of John Edwin “Win” Bassett IV as Montgomery Bell Academy’s next Dean of Faculty & Academics.
Win has faithfully served MBA for the past decade as a teacher, coach, advisor, Associate Dean of the High School, and, most recently, Director of Summer School. As a member of the English Department, Win currently teaches 9th-grade English and has led curriculum initiatives, including the development of new grammar and vocabulary manuals and the redesign of core instructional materials. He has mentored new teachers and consistently invested in strengthening the craft of teaching at MBA.
In his role as Director of Summer School, Win provides strategic leadership for a program serving nearly 500 students each summer, overseeing all aspects of teaching and learning, recruiting and guiding faculty, and partnering across departments to support mission-aligned programming.
Beyond the classroom, Win has been a steady leader in shaping school culture. As Associate Dean of the High School from 2019 to 2022, he partnered in overseeing student life, faculty hiring, character education, and key school programs. He also advises the school’s Honor Council, guiding faculty and student leaders in upholding MBA’s Honor Code and helping facilitate the drafting and adoption of a new Honor Code in 2025. His leadership reflects a deep understanding of our mission and the importance of cultivating integrity, respect, and courage in our boys.
Win’s academic preparation is equally impressive. He earned a Master of Arts in Religion and Literature from Yale Divinity School, along with certificates in Anglican Studies and Educational Leadership and Ministry. He holds a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and dual bachelor’s degrees in electrical and computer engineering from North Carolina State University, where he was a Park Scholar. This breadth of experience—spanning the humanities, law, engineering, and educational leadership—equips him with both intellectual rigor and thoughtful perspective as he steps into this new role.
In a recent letter, Win wrote, “Perhaps my chief qualification for this role is that I love the boys. I am grateful for and proud of the relationships I have built in the classroom and while running alongside them, and I hope to bring the same approach to ensuring that our teaching and learning consistently reflect the mission, values, and distinctive character of MBA.”
As Dean of Faculty & Academics, Win will serve as the school’s chief academic officer, stewarding MBA’s academic vision, supporting faculty growth and development, ensuring curricular coherence across divisions, and advancing excellence in teaching and learning.
Over the coming months, Win will work closely with Associate Head of School and Academic Dean, Dr. Tim Boyd, to help create a smooth and thoughtful transition as Dr. Boyd prepares to assume his role as Head of School at Harding Academy on July 1. We are grateful for Dr. Boyd’s leadership and are confident that this collaborative transition will position our academic program for continued strength and continuity.
Please join us in congratulating Win on this well-deserved appointment. We also extend our warmest congratulations to his wife, Gracie, and their two children, John (4.5) and Merritt (9 months). We look forward to the leadership and vision Win will bring to MBA’s academic program in the years ahead.