Listening & Learning: Krishna Rasik Davda, Incoming Head of School
Lower School Parent Coffee with Krishna
Mr. Krishna Rasik Davda, CBA’s Incoming Head of School, was greeted with a welcoming handshake from a lower schooler as he continued his Listening & Learning Tour. During his recent visit, he engaged with parents, faculty and staff, the leadership team, and several of our community partners as he approaches the leadership transition process through attentiveness, alignment and partnership.
During my visit to Chesapeake Bay Academy this week, I was struck by the strength of the community and the clarity of its purpose. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Judy Jankowski for her warm hospitality and thoughtful leadership throughout this transition. The care she has taken to facilitate meaningful introductions and conversations speaks volumes about her commitment to both people and process.
Across my time on campus, including conversations with the administrative team, faculty and staff, families, and community partners, I experienced a deep sense of pride, professionalism, and shared commitment to students. In every setting, from divisional parent-and-guardian conversations to our full faculty and staff gathering, there was a genuine spirit of reflection and engagement. The administrative team, in particular, created a space of trust and openness that allowed for meaningful dialogue. Their leadership and collaboration are clear strengths of the school.
Linda Rice, VP for Grantmaking, HRCF, Dr. Jankowski, and Mr. Krishna R. Davda
What stands out most is how deeply CBA’s mission lives through its people. There is a genuine sense of care, connection, and purpose that shapes not only the adult community but the daily experience of students as they build confidence and skills for what comes next.
I am thankful for the support and generosity extended to me throughout the week and look forward to joining this community in July. I am excited to partner with this dedicated team and support their continued work as CBA continues to serve its mission.
– Krishna Rasik Davda
Krishna Rasik Davda, M.Sc., will join Chesapeake Bay Academy as Head of School beginning July 1, 2026. With over two decades of leadership in schools serving students with Learning Differences (LD), Krishna has served as Head of Student Experience at The Overlake School (WA), Head of Middle School at Perkiomen School (PA), and Program Director at Franklin Academy (CT). He holds an M.Sc. in Public Policy & Management from the University of London and a B.A. in Medical Ethics from New York University.
Current Role: Head of Student Experience at The Overlake School (WA) since 2020. In this role, Krishna has provided leadership across Student Support programs, Experiential Education, Advising, Scheduling, Athletics, Academic Teams, Hiring, and Accreditation. He also contributed to the Wellbeing pillar of Overlake’s most recent Strategic Plan by introducing a team of educators to RULER, the evidence-based approach to social-emotional learning developed by Yale’s Child Study Center.
Previous Leadership: Head of Middle School at Perkiomen School (PA) for two years; fourteen years at Franklin Academy (CT), a boarding and day school serving students with LD in grades 8–12 and postgraduate. Rising from classroom teacher to Program Director, Krishna helped guide Franklin through critical growth years, establishing its reputation as a recognized model for neurodiverse learners.
Thought Leadership & Global Work: Co-author of the upcoming publication Getting Down to Business: A Playbook for Expanding and Enhancing Sustainable Student Support Services in International Schools (U.S. State Department), which provides frameworks for sustainable design of student support services worldwide. He has presented nationally and internationally on executive function, differentiated instruction, inclusion, student wellbeing, and skills-based teaching.
Head of School Transition Committee
Vickie V. Black, Committee Chair
Mindy Gumpert, Ph.D.
Dave Levin, M.D.
David Rathbone
Patrick D. Thrasher, M.D.
Cami Best-Jones
Liana Nobre
Debbie Ramos
Jared Setnar
Elizabeth Waranch
Thank you for your trust and confidence as the Transition Committee, the Board of Trustees, and Dr. Jankowski work thoughtfully to ensure a smooth and successful leadership transition for the CBA community. As always, please reach out with any questions to Elizabeth Waranch, Director of Institutional Advancement, at ewaranch@cba-va.org.
