Jon and Nan Wagshul will be joining the Darlington Community this fall, having recently relocated from San Antonio. Jon will serve as chairman of the Upper School history department, and Nan will be the admissions associate in the Admission Office. They have one daughter, a rising Darlington sophomore named Grace.
Jon Wagshul comes to Darlington with 16 years of teaching experience, and most recently served at TMI–The Episcopal School of Texas. There, he taught human geography, U.S. history, and a sports in America elective. He also coached tennis and cross-country, served as an adviser and college counselor, and sponsored the school’s Honor Council.
In addition to his new role as the history department chair, Jon will teach and also serve as head tennis coach.
“When it comes to working with students, the subject matter that we are going to teach is important,” said Jon. “But it’s really about challenging them, teaching them to grow intellectually and to be analytical thinkers, and pushing them down that path to becoming a global citizen.”
He holds a B.S. in Russian from Georgetown University, where he graduated cum laude; a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law; an L.L.M. in Military Law from The Judge Advocate General’s School, U.S. Army; and an M.A. in International Relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. Jon speaks four languages and has studied abroad in Canada, Germany and Russia.
“In order to prepare our students to be the next generation of leaders, we need to teach them to understand the world around them, looking at different points of view and perspectives,” said Jon. “We need to set them up in their role as future leaders with the ingredients for success for college and beyond.”
A Navy JAG officer for 22 years, some of his previous positions have included interim director of the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies; adjunct faculty at the Naval War College; professor at The Judge Advocate General’s School, U.S. Army; and head of the civil law department at Naval Justice School.
“Jon's experience as a classroom teacher and his years of service to the country, coupled with his passion for young people and love of history made him the ideal candidate to be the next leader of our history department,” said Matthew Peer, Upper School director.
Jon’s wife, Nan Wagshul, will serve as admissions associate, handling initial correspondence with inquiries, coordinating the Tiger Expert Program, and providing administrative support to the Admission Office staff, among other duties. Before moving to Rome with her family, Nan also worked at The Episcopal School of Texas, where she was the assistant registrar. She has previous administrative experience as a human resources assistant and a legal assistant.
“I am thrilled to be able to work in a school setting and interact with the students and their families, as well as a group of colleagues which works together as a team,” said Nan. “From the beginning, even just looking at the website, we both got the sense that Darlington has a very strong sense of community. The more I learn about the school and speak with the people here, the more that really seems to be the case.”
She attended Southern Seminary Junior College and pursued a degree in business administration at St. Leo University. She later received a paralegal certificate from Old Dominion University, where she was an honor graduate.
“A highlight of my prior work as assistant registrar was the opportunity to interact daily with students and their families, and contribute to their school experience,” said Nan. “I look forward to having a similar opportunity in admissions.”
“What really makes her stand out is her past experience working in a day and boarding school atmosphere, her eye for data maintenance and record-keeping, and her ability to really relate with current and prospective families,” said Derek Perkins, director of admission.
The Wagshul family will reside on the Darlington campus.
