In his own words, the new president and head of school at The Barstow School, Art Hall, says, “How I lead flows from how I connect, communicate, and collaborate with those who are in my community, and especially, with those who are in my charge.” That statement, alone, bodes well for the future of the school, which is in its 141st year in Kansas City.
Coming from the Lakehill Preparatory School in Dallas, Texas, Art brings with him an impressive set of credentials, in addition to his outgoing, down-to-earth, larger-than-life personality, which immediately conveys his desire to lead Barstow with a clear head and a big heart. He earned two bachelor’s degrees from UCLA, in history and political science. Art went on to earn a master’s degree in education, specializing in gifted and talented learning from Southern Methodist University. Before Lakehill Prep, he was the assistant head at Tower Hill School in Wilmington, Delaware, where his real focus was on middle schoolers, for which every parent everywhere can be grateful. It takes a special kind of leader to keep middle school students happy in a learning environment.
Also in Art’s words, “My ‘feet-over-email’ approach allows me to speak face-to-face with teachers, which minimizes the potential for misunderstanding and/or confusion… I embrace the need to hear the community that I serve and to use the feedback as a well-developed backdrop to guide decision-making.”
Art and his wife, Paula, who has been a career school teacher, have four children, two of whom are finishing high school. Art has an extensive amount of private and independent school background in the obvious areas such as curriculum, board relations, fundraising, and management; but his expertise is also evident in his ability to relate to people the minute he enters a room. His interest in moving Barstow forward into its next 141 years stems from his desire to keep the traditions alive, while helping the school forge a path into an era filled with uncertainty. Art is willing to embrace challenges such as AI as it relates to learning, technology as it relates to students’ lives, and a back to basics feel about students, teachers, and parents communicating in a meaningful way for the students’ benefit.
His very personal, hands-on approach is bound to serve the independent, coeducational, and oldest day school west of the Mississippi, well. While Barstow has made great strides in learning, including the IDEA Space KC constructed to serve STEAM learning for the metro area, there are always issues arising in education that require fresh, new thinking and problem solving. Art Hall appears to be the bright star leading the way for the revered institution.
Featured in the September 6, 2025 issue of The Independent
By: Anne Potter Russ
