R. Kirk Walker Jr., PhD

Dr. Kirk Walker has over 30 years of experience as a head of school, including at Bright School (Chattanooga), Ensworth School (Nashville), and McCallie School (Chattanooga), from which he retired. Upon retirement, he served as interim Head of School at Webb School (Knoxville) and then as president/executive director of the Southern Association of Independent Schools. He completed his administrative career as the interim Head of School at Girls Preparatory School for the 2020-21 school year. A Chattanooga native and parent of a GPS alumna (Caroline '04), Kirk previously served on the GPS Board of Trustees 2015-16.

Kirk currently serves on the boards of Chambliss Center for Children, the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, and Jacob's Ladder (a school for students with exceptionalities). He was also a past mayor of Ridgeside, Tennessee. Though technically retired, he continues to consult with not-for-profit boards in the areas of governance and strategic planning.

Kirk received a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar and member of Phi Beta Kappa. He then earned an MS and PhD from George Peabody College, Vanderbilt University (Nashville). He and his wife, Patsi, have three adult children and one grandson.