Fay School is pleased to announce the appointment of Susanna Whitaker Waters as Head of School beginning July 2024. This appointment was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees following the recommendation of the Search Committee. Susanna will be Fay’s ninth head of school and the first woman since our founder, Eliza B. Fay, to hold this position. We are thrilled to welcome Susanna and her family to Fay.

 

Susanna is currently Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs at Brooks School in North Andover. Since joining Brooks School in 2009, she has been a teacher, coach, dorm parent, advisor, history department chair, Diversity Leadership Council member, and Dean of Academic Affairs. Susanna won an award for outstanding contributions to the school early on in her time at Brooks, and she later held an endowed faculty chair for excellence in teaching and leadership. At Brooks and prior to her time there, Susanna has taught multiple grade levels and has rich and varied curricular experience. Susanna holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor of arts degree from St. Lawrence University, in addition to a master’s degree in education in Private School Leadership from the Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a graduate of Park School (K-8) and Concord Academy (9-12). She serves on the Board of Trustees at Park. She has also served as a trustee at The Village School, a private preschool in Boxford, MA, and as a consultant for Phillips Academy (Andover).

 

Susanna's appointment follows an international search. In a large pool of highly qualified candidates, Susanna truly stood out: the Committee was impressed with Susanna’s expertise in curriculum development, her extensive experience working with students and families, her thoughtful reflections on the future direction of Fay, and her enthusiasm, energy, and warmth.

 

As we move forward, the Board has created a transition plan and is in the process of convening a Transition Committee representing a broad cross-section of the Fay community. Susanna is looking forward to visiting campus in the coming weeks and spending time with students, families, faculty, and staff; she is eager to learn more about Fay and excited to engage with the whole community during the transition.