The MS needs completely new leadership. It was wise to hire from the outside .

I'm pretty sure there are some disappointed internal candidates ...

Couldn't be happier. There are great women edcuators at Landon and it is terrific to see another one joining their ranks.

Anonymous wrote:I think the OP's point was that for Landon, an all-boys school with a history of, ummmm, extreme maleness stuff, it's a big step to appoint a female head at the middle school level.

+1

Knew her during her GDS days. Smart, intellectually curious, tough, and has a great sense of humor. Likes new challenges. Good pick by Landon.

Anonymous wrote:Impressive. Does anyone know anything about her personal life? Married? Kids? Where grew up? Brothers? Personality?

I don't think it's appropriate to try to draw out those sorts of largely non-public details, and agree people may be more inclined to ask when it's a woman. I do know she was the starting goalie for the Harvard women's varsity soccer team, so she'll have good coaching bona fides if she does some soccer coaching at Landon.

Anonymous wrote:This school looks for every opportunity to pat itself on the back.

I posted the original item and I'm a teacher at another independent school.

A much needed change. Congrats and best wishes to the new MS Head. Landon has sorely needed a fresh perspective and actual leadership within the MS and this is a great step.

I think the OP's point was that for Landon, an all-boys school with a history of, ummmm, extreme maleness stuff, it's a big step to appoint a female head at the middle school level.

This school looks for every opportunity to pat itself on the back.

FWIW My niece and nephew attend Friends Seminary Upper School in NYC and both have very positive things to say about her as do my brother and sister-in-law.

Anonymous wrote:Impressive. Does anyone know anything about her personal life? Married? Kids? Where grew up? Brothers? Personality?

It isn't impressive to hire a qualified woman. Maybe it's progress for this particular school but its decades behind many other schools and career fields. And I don't think we'd be as interested in the personal life of a man.

Impressive. Does anyone know anything about her personal life? Married? Kids? Where grew up? Brothers? Personality?

Here's a link to Landon's news item on the hire:

http://www.landon.net/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=1182

I've gotten the sense that Landon has really been trying to change things the past few years, and I'm impressed that they've hired a woman as their Middle School Head. And not to undersell the new MS Head in just focusing on her being a woman -- she started at GDS in this area, had an admin post at a top DC Charter (Thurgood Marshall Academy), and most recently was an Upper School Dean at a good NY private school, Friends Seminary.

I'm at a different school, so I won't be in a position to see how it goes, but I'm impressed by the move and I wish the new MS Head the best of luck.