MARIETTA - The Walker School has selected Jack Hall of Augusta as its next head of school.

Hall will replace Don Robertson, who is retiring as headmaster of the Marietta private school, beginning July 1, 2011. The Walker School Board of Trustees made the announcement Tuesday after conducting a search with Wickenden Associates, a Princeton, N.J.-based search firm. Hall was selected from eight semifinalists after two days of interviews.

Since 1999, Hall has been the head of school at the Augusta Preparatory Day School in Augusta.

"I've been at Augusta for 12 years and have not applied to any other schools during that time," said Hall, 51. "This was the one search that I really was anticipating and looking forward to. Don Robertson and I have been friends for a good 10 years and I think very highly of him. It'll be an honor to serve at Walker and a privilege to follow Don."

When he arrives next summer at the school located at the corner of Cobb Parkway and Allgood Road, Hall will be in a familiar area.

An Atlanta native, he lived for some time in east Cobb. He has worked for 30 years at private schools in Georgia and Missouri, including the Westminster Schools, Lovett School, Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School. He served as president of the Georgia Independent School Association from 2006 to 2008.

Over his career, Hall has served as director of admission and financial aid, head of upper and middle schools and grade chair. He has also taught history, social studies, drama and religion as well as coached basketball, baseball and football.

At Augusta Prep, Hall leaves a school celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. He has overseen new construction, grown its endowment and completed a $9 million capital campaign that doubled the square footage of the school's campus, he said. In addition, Augusta Prep was selected a 2009 recipient of a $2 million endowment from the Malone Family Foundation, to provide scholarships for gifted students.

Hall said he is prepared to face the challenges associated with leading Walker - which like most private schools, depends on fundraising - in the current economic climate. Walker has plans to build new facilities for its upper school, middle school and performing arts program.

"When you're raising money to benefit students, it's easier, I think," Hall said. "Particularly when it relates to raising endowed funds that are going to underwrite financial aid and scholarship money for students of need who might otherwise not be able to attend a school like Walker. It's exciting to be able to do that."

Hall earned a bachelor's degree in theater from Davidson College. He received a master's in athletic administration from Georgia State University in 1988 and a master's in education administration from Columbia University in 1992.

He and his wife, Cathy, who is also an Atlanta native, have two children: Joseph, 20, a Furman University sophomore; and Alice, 17, an Augusta Prep junior who'll remain there to graduate.

Robertson, 64, announced nearly 10 years ago that he planned to retire around age 65. He has been Walker's head of school for 26 years and has grown the school from 450 students to 1,038 students. The independent, private day school is for students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Hall is an experienced leader and prepared to lead Walker in economic uncertainty, said Tripp Kay, chairman of the Walker board of trustees, in a letter to the Walker community.

"There is no question that Don Robertson will be missed by all of The Walker School," wrote Kay, an Atlanta accountant. "His visions for Walker 26 years ago have shaped who we are today."