Indian Creek Announces Establishment of Office of Alumni Relations

Indian Creek School is pleased to announce plans to launch an Alumni Relations initiative, focused on fostering deep and lasting connections with both Evergreen Campus and Upper School alumni. Twenty-five-year ICS veteran Matt McCormick will lead this initiative and will assume the role of Director of Alumni Relations in July 2025. When McCormick transitions, Carol Mercer will take on the role of Middle School Principal to continue the momentum of this formative ICS program.

While Indian Creek has built a vast and talented network of alumni over its 50+ years, the opportunity to focus on engaging and strengthening this group will benefit the entire school community. The Alumni Relations Office’s key goals will include enhanced engagement, career support and networking, giving back initiatives, and alumni leadership development for both Evergreen Campus alumni and Upper School graduates.

“Strong alumni programming is integral to the long-term success of the school, as the Board showed when making this a priority in the 5-year strategic plan,” shares Head of School Booth Kyle. “Matt [McCormick] is uniquely positioned as the ideal fit to build this program, due to his strong belief in the Creek Mission and Vision, deep institutional knowledge, and highly relational personality. He knows kids, he knows our school, and he will be fantastic in this role.”

McCormick has worked with generations of ICS students, from his start as a Middle School teacher in 2001 through his leadership in both the Middle and Upper Schools. Over the years, he has helped guide ICS into the school it is today, building programs based on strong connections. He served as the Upper School’s first Dean of Students, was the founding coach of the Varsity Boys Soccer team, a founding Director of the School’s BLinc program, has directed over two decades of theater productions, and helped start the annual summer Alumni & Community Theater (ACT@ICS) program. McCormick served as Head of Upper School before embracing the opportunity to rebuild a Middle School program as Principal after Indian Creek’s campus unification. Over the past several years, he and Carol Mercer have worked together to build and lead a middle school program rooted in connections, kindness, and fun, and implemented a best-in-class Project Based Learning curriculum.

McCormick is excited to dive in and tackle his new work next year. “Some of my favorite moments each week are hearing from alumni and hearing how Creek helped them to thrive. I feel great about embracing this opportunity knowing that Middle School is in the absolute best hands with Carol leading an amazing team of educators.”

Head of School Booth Kyle couldn’t agree more, as Assistant Principal Carol Mercer steps into the role of Principal. “Carol has proven that she is a true leader over her years at ICS. She is smart, detail-oriented, and selfless. From her work in admissions, to her work with faculty, students and families in Middle School, she exudes the Creek culture. She is the logical leader to take our sixth through eighth grade program to continue the momentum of our Middle School and make it even greater.”

Over her 15 years at ICS, Mercer has welcomed hundreds of families to the Creek as Upper School Admission Director, mentored dozens of faculty colleagues, led field trips, organized PBL showcases, taught Upper School communications and Middle School Human Development classes, and played a foundational role in driving the revamped grades 6-8 program. She looks forward to leading Middle School in new ways. “The Middle School years are such an important time in kids’ lives, and the Indian Creek program is the best there is. I’m honored and excited to lead our amazing group of faculty in helping to guide Creek students through this time of tremendous growth.”

“I am very pleased with how this has worked out,” Kyle shared. “Both Matt and Carol are perfect for these new roles, and the establishment of a true Alumni Relations Office will help position ICS as the premier Annapolis-area independent school.”