While the hallways at ECS were quiet this summer, mine was a season of learning, reflection, and preparation as I began my new role as Head of School.

Walking through the school in those early weeks, I found myself drawn to the names and stories that line the Graduate Hallway. They are reminders of the remarkable history of ECS and the generations of girls and women who have shaped this community since 1909. As I learned more about that legacy, I also found myself thinking about what lies ahead: what girls need from their education today, and how ECS can continue to lead the way as the world evolves.

That meant becoming a student myself! Over the summer, I immersed myself in strategic leadership and girls’ education, taking part in the NAIS New Heads Institute and the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) Global Conference in Toronto. I was especially inspired by the opportunity to engage more deeply with research on girls’ development, including the work of psychologist and author Dr. Lisa Damour.

One idea stayed with me in particular: preparing girls to succeed in the world as it exists is only part of our responsibility. We also want them to have the confidence and imagination to question it, contribute their ideas, and create something even better.

What has been especially meaningful in my first few months at ECS is seeing how naturally that belief comes to life here. Our small-by-design environment allows teachers to truly know their students: their strengths, their interests, where they need support and when they are ready for greater challenge. Connecting with them has reinforced just how deeply those relationships define the ECS experience, from our youngest Kindergarteners finding their voices to our graduating students preparing for their next steps.

There is tremendous opportunity ahead as we build on this strong foundation and continue to evolve what an ECS education can offer the next generation of girls. More than a century after Miss Edgar and Miss Cramp opened the doors of their school, their belief in the possibilities education can create for girls remains as relevant as ever.

It is a privilege to carry that belief forward and to write the next chapter of ECS together. I look forward to sharing more reflections throughout my first year as Head of School as I get to know the stories and traditions that make ECS such a special community. 

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