Chris Carter, head of school at Bishop Seabury Academy for six years, has announced plans to step down at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

Carter said his wife was scheduled to complete her Ph.D. in social work next year and would be looking for a tenure-track faculty position, so the family will be moving.

“I’ve really accomplished the goals I set out to accomplish,” Carter said.

Carter came to Seabury, 4120 Clinton Parkway, in 2001. He previously was assistant headmaster and upper division dean for six years at Byrnes School in Florence, S.C.

In 2001, Seabury had 90 students, mostly in lower grades, and was located at 1411 E. 1850 Road, east of Lawrence.

Carter guided Seabury’s purchase of the former Alvamar Racquet Club in 2002. He also has overseen gradual growth at school, which now has 122 students.

The remaining large project on Carter’s plate will be a $1 million building to be constructed just west of the existing school.

The new building will include classrooms, an art room and a performing arts room.

Construction is set to begin this fall and should be completed sometime during the 2007-2008 school year.

Carter said a search committee and advisory committee would be appointed to select a new headmaster.

“I want to make it a very smooth transition,” he said. “In my mind, whoever’s going to come in will have a new building, and a healthy school with healthy enrollment. It will be an attractive position to whoever is coming in.”

Elizabeth Stella, president of the school’s board of trustees, said she was appreciative of Carter’s six years of accomplishments at the school.

“It’s an exciting time for Mr. Carter and his family and we’re doing all we can to support him and his family,” Stella said. “We want to thank him for all he’s done at the school.”

Stella, who has had two children graduate from the school, praised Carter’s role in bringing the school to its current location and his work on the capital campaign for the school’s new addition.

“We’re in a great place to start a second decade,” Stella said. “We’re looking forward to a very bright future. We appreciate all that Chris has done to help the school in that growth period.”