As the new headmaster of Oak Mountain Academy, Paula J. Gillispie looks forward to school starting back on Aug. 13.

With over 30 years of classroom and administrative experience, the Smithfield, Va., native arrived at Oak Mountain a few weeks ago to start her tenure as headmaster at the Carrollton private school for pre-kindergarten to 12th-grade students.

“The anticipation that I have right now to watch the school grow ... because I feel that Oak Mountain Academy is on the mountain ... people forget its here,” Gillispie said.

Rhyne Owenby, director of development and marketing at Oak Mountain Academy, expressed optimism about Gillispie and the upcoming school year.

“We’ve got so many things coming up and so much potential for growth,” she said. “Its a great place. I say that as an administrative point of view and a parent as well.”

One of Gillispie’s goals is growing the school’s student body, and she also would like to finalize an honor code and add a foreign language experience to the lower school.

“The honor code almost goes without saying, but we’re going to make it formal,” she said.

Students and faculty will sign a code for honesty, respect and responsibility, pledging to not lie, steal, cheat or commit a dishonest act.

“It will permeate everything we do,” Gillispie said.

She tells children she assume actions are right until they are taught they are wrong. She will sit with them and ask which value they were not thinking about.

“It will hold us to a higher standard,” she said.

The foreign language component will allow the teachers already in the schools to focus on a language they are comfortable speaking and teach basics to students.

“At the end of the year, we’ll have an Interpretational Day with a skit and the clothes [allowing students to share what they’ve learned],” Gillispie said.

Students will be exposed to three or four different languages before they leave fifth grade.

“It helps them decide which language they want to take in upper schools,” she said.

While she plans some changes, Gillispie is also planning to keep some traditions alive. After being hired in January, she had the opportunity to come back during the spring and winter and talk to faculty and students. She asked last year’s senior class what they would not want to see change in the school and was told Kite Day and Feast Day.

Kite Day, a tradition that has been going on for 50 years, allows the older kids to work with the younger kids, fostering a school family.

Last June, Headmaster Rick Parmer left the school to return to teaching in his hometown in Alabama. Interim Headmaster Ferrell Singleton, a headmaster for Lakeview Academy and an independent schools consultant in Gainesville, took over for a year.

Gillispie interviewed for the position in November and was told she had the job in January. After her employment, she spoke weekly with Singleton to learn about the school.

“We worked very closely,” she said. “He’s an extraordinary man.”

Gillispie grew up traveling in a military family. When she married, she and her husband raised their son in Georgia and she taught in Fayette County. About 13 years ago, her husband’s company transferred him to Virginia, where she worked as headmaster for Hampton Roads Country Day School and Lower School for Hampton Roads Academy.

She also served as the middle school dean of students for Hampton Roads Academy while teaching language arts and coaching forensic teams.