Highland School Welcomes Two New Members to its Board of Trustees

Alec Burnett and Tom Power bring deep community roots, executive leadership, and broad expertise to guide the school’s future.

WARRENTON, VA — Highland School is proud to announce the appointment of Alec Burnett and Tom Power to its Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2026. Both will serve three-year terms through 2029, bringing with them a wealth of leadership experience, civic engagement, and a genuine commitment to Highland’s mission. Highland School is an independent school in Warrenton, Virginia, teaching pre-K through 12th grade. Founded in 1928, the school is dedicated to a rigorous and supportive academic program, small classrooms, and experienced educators who prepare students to thrive, lead, and serve.

Alec Burnett

Alec Burnett is a lifelong Warrenton resident whose connection to Highland School spans decades — he attended Highland through 1977, and two of his children are Highland graduates. His appointment reflects both a professional commitment to education and community leadership, as well as a personal connection to an institution that helped shape his early years.

Burnett currently serves as president and chief executive officer of the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce, a role he has held since 2021. In that capacity, he works closely with business, government, nonprofit, and community leaders to advance economic vitality and quality of life throughout Fauquier County. He brings more than three decades of executive leadership experience spanning hospitality, business operations, and organizational management, including leadership roles with Hilton Hotels and as general manager and chief operating officer of Fauquier Springs Country Club.

A dedicated public servant, Burnett served as the elected Ward 2 representative on Warrenton’s Town Council from 2016 to 2020. He currently serves on the board of directors of Experience Old Town Warrenton and as a legislative liaison for the Advisory Council of Encompass Community Supports. He brings to Highland’s board a unique combination of governance experience, business acumen, and deep knowledge of the local community — along with a deep appreciation of the role Highland plays in preparing future generations of leaders.

Burnett and his wife, Teri, are the proud parents of three children: Hope, Devon, and Max.

Tom Power

A Highland School alumnus, Tom Power is the founder of Big Star LLC, a technology and telecommunications consulting firm he established in 2025 following nearly a decade as senior vice president and general counsel of CTIA, the trade association representing the wireless industry. His connection to Highland runs deep: both of his parents served as teachers at the school, with his mother’s career spanning over 30 years as an English teacher and librarian.

Power’s career has taken him to the highest levels of the public and private sectors, giving Highland’s board a perspective that is both nationally informed and strategically minded. Power served as U.S. deputy chief technology officer at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, chief of staff of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce, senior legal adviser to FCC Chairman William Kennard, general counsel of Fiberlink Communications, and as a partner at the law firm Winston & Strawn. He currently serves on the board of the Telecommunications Policy Research Conference and on the SpectrumX External Advisory Board. He holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia.

Power’s experience at the intersection of law, technology, and public policy positions him as a valuable voice on issues increasingly central to independent schools — from governance and strategic planning to the role of technology in shaping the future of education. His breadth of leadership across government, industry, and the nonprofit sector brings a distinctive and complementary perspective to Highland’s board.

Power and his family have deep roots in the region — he enjoys weekends at his farm in Culpeper. His mother, Ann Power, recently celebrated her 91st birthday surrounded by Highland alumni and former students whose lives she helped shape, a testament to the lasting bond the Power family shares with this school.

“I am thrilled to welcome Alec Burnett and Tom Power to Highland’s Board of Trustees. Their deep community roots, combined with their extensive professional expertise, make them invaluable assets to the school. We look forward to their strategic vision as we continue to grow and evolve. It is an honor to have such dedicated alumni and community members helping to guide our future, especially as the school prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2028-29.” –Adam Seldis, head of school at Highland School

“Alec and Tom do not just understand Highland’s mission and vision — they have lived them. Both are proud Highland alumni. Alec’s children are Highland graduates themselves, and Tom grew up watching his parents pour themselves into this school as teachers. That kind of lifelong, multigenerational connection shapes how you lead. Together, they bring remarkable professional depth — in business, civic leadership, law, and technology. I am honored to serve with them.” –Barrett Karr, chair of the Highland School Board of Trustees

Posted on: July 2, 2026