Will Stoetzer
CEO
Ingenuity Prep
Dear Ingenuity Prep Community,
I hope this finds you well and enjoying your summer break. It’s hard to believe that in less than one month, we’ll welcome students back to Ingenuity Prep for the 2025-26 school year. I’m already counting the days until the hallways are buzzing again!
In advance of that, I’m writing to share some personal news with you directly: the 2025-26 school year will be my final year as CEO of Ingenuity Prep.
Over the past 15 years we’ve grown from an idea into a thriving school community – one that will soon see its first alumni to graduate high school this year. As we celebrate those milestones, I’ve reflected on leadership and stewardship. Ingenuity Prep is in a strong place academically and financially, and we are still three years away from our next charter and accreditation renewals. Announcing my transition now keeps everyone’s focus on the year ahead while giving our Board the time it needs to conduct a thorough search for the next CEO – work that will take most of the coming year.
Of course, I will remain fully engaged as CEO throughout the entire 2025-26 school year – visiting classrooms, supporting staff, and ensuring your children receive the excellent education you expect. Beginning this fall, our Board will launch a search for my successor. They’ll share updates along the way and will involve families in listening sessions so your voices help shape the future. I’ll work closely with the Board and the new leader to pass along context, relationships, and vision so there is no disruption to our students’ experience.
Ingenuity Prep belongs to this community – our students, families, and staff. My role has been to serve as one of its caretakers, and I’m proud of what we have built together. Over the coming school year, my focus remains exactly where it has always been: on ensuring Ingenuity Prep is a supportive school community dedicated to academic rigor and civic leadership, preparing students for the path to the colleges and careers of their choosing.
I know change can prompt questions. Please feel free to reach out to me or any member of our leadership team; we are here to listen and support. I am excited for all we will accomplish together in the year ahead and confident Ingenuity Prep’s best days are still to come.
All my best,
Will
Derrick Mashore
Board Chair
Ingenuity Prep
Dear IP community,
I wanted to reach out to all of you following Will Stoetzer’s announcement sharing his decision to depart Ingenuity Prep at the end of the 2025/26 school year. When Will shared his decision with me, of course I immediately felt a sense of loss for the IP community, but at the same time, I also have so much gratitude for all he has done for our IP students and families.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Will for a decade, first as board member and most recently as Chair of the Board, and I want to thank him for all of his contributions to Ingenuity Prep. Will founded IP in 2013 with the goal of bringing more quality school seats to Southeast D.C. He succeeded. He has led the growth of the school from serving just pre-k and kindergarten, to now serving more than 800 pre-k to 8th grade students. He has continuously led IP with tremendous skill, passion, integrity, and commitment, always centering all of you- our IP students and their families- in every decision he has made. Because of his leadership, IP is in a strong position for the future.
As Will shared, he will be continuing to lead IP through the 2025/26 school year and will be integral to helping us plan for what’s next. Additionally, as a Board, we have a succession plan in place and have attracted board members with a range of expertise, so we are prepared for this moment and we are already working diligently on this transition. I will provide regular updates on the process and there will be opportunities for the entire IP family to share input as we move forward.
On behalf of the Ingenuity Prep Board of Trustees, I want to thank each of you for entrusting us to serve your families. Please know that each of us cares deeply about IP and are committed to its success.
Thank you again, Will, for all you have done for IP. We look forward to the deserved celebrations of you to come.
Derrick Mashore