Home MENU About Us Head of School Blog This is an incredible time in the history of the McCallie School, and I consider myself blessed to be a part of it. When our founders, two brothers in their twenties with no prior experience in running a school, created this institution, it was a huge risk. Their willingness to think boldly about a place that would inspire boys to glorify and enjoy God through their learning and service was a gift to all of us who are part of the life of McCallie. I believe that willingness to take bold action is baked into the character of this school. We encourage our boys to lean into the challenges they face in these formative years, while providing them the support they need to meet those challenges head-on. As a school, we rely on our unrivaled knowledge of how boys live and learn to craft programs inside and outside the classroom that are tailored specifically to their needs. Those programs reflect our passion for the work of inspiring boys and building men who leave here prepared to live lives of honor. It is my hope that each person who joins our community here - whether as a student, a parent, an alumnus, or a friend - understands how special this place is, and truly grasps the importance of the work we do. As you explore our site, I hope you'll begin to learn what McCallie means to each of us and to you. Sincerely, A. Lee Burns III '87 Head of School Head of School Blog Thoughts from McCallie's headmaster about boys, education and the life of the school. Hope Amidst Fear Head of School Lee Burns '87 delivered these Easter remarks during a Chapel address to Upper School students on March 22, 2021. MARCH 25, 2021 LEE BURNS '87 Bonds and Brotherhood: We Are McCallie, We Are Family This is the text from a video message from Head of School Lee Burns '87 to alumni to update them on the work of the school's "Moving Forward Together as Brothers" Initiative. OCTOBER 6, 2020 LEE BURNS '87 VIEW ALL POSTS About Our Head of School: A Chattanooga native and McCallie alumnus, Lee Burns graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College and earned his master's degree in educational administration at Harvard. He has also studied at the London School of Economics. From 2000 to 2014, he served as Headmaster of Presbyterian Day School (PDS), a boys' school serving over 600 boys in Memphis. Prior to being appointed PDS headmaster in 2000, he served as a teacher, coach and administrator at Christ School, an Episcopal boys' boarding high school in North Carolina. He began serving as Head of School at McCallie in 2014. He served as the President of the Elementary School Heads Association (a group of approximately 250 heads of K-6 and K-8 independent schools around the country) from 2011 to 2013 and is a member of the Country Day School Headmasters Association and the Visionary Heads Group. He has been a presenter at annual conferences of The National Association of Independent Schools, the International Boys' School Coalition, and the Educational Records Bureau, and he has been published in Independent School, a magazine published by NAIS. Lee has been an avid tennis player, winning several state championships as a junior or adult. He enjoys tennis, squash, and various sports, as well as reading and writing. English