List of 9 items.

• A Message from Susanna Waters, 10-6-23

  Dear Members of the Fay Community,

  
  

  With much excitement, I am pleased to further introduce you to Susanna Whitaker Waters. Susanna will join Fay School in July 2024 as our ninth Head of School, and she is eager to meet all of you in the coming weeks.

  
  

  After a comprehensive search resulting in a deep well of impressive candidates, Susanna stood out.  It quickly became clear to the Search Committee that Susanna approaches her career and her life as an educator and a member of a school community with joy, thoughtfulness and intentionality. If you would like to learn more about Susanna’s background, please click here to read the remarks I shared with faculty and staff on October 3. I could not be more excited about what Susanna’s leadership will mean for Fay School's next era. 

  
  

  Susanna embodies Fay’s mission and the values we hold most dear. Her immersion in the many facets of education and boarding school life show a deep commitment to her colleagues, her students, and their families. Susanna’s continued association with her own K-9 alma mater displays a deep respect and understanding for how independent elementary and middle schools have a lasting impact on students’ lives.

  
  

  Susanna’s accessibility as a leader extends not just to her team but to the broader community, reflecting her open and authentic personality. Practicing distributed leadership together with empathy and understanding has allowed Susanna to empower others to be their best, and her success is evidenced by her receipt of numerous fellowships and awards throughout her career.

  
  

  Susanna is well prepared to build upon Fay's strengths and continue our mission of establishing the foundation for a meaningful life for all our students. Please join me in welcoming her to the Fay community.

  
  

  Best wishes,

  Ann Laquerre P '16

  President, Board of Trustees

   

  ********

  
  

  Dear Members of the Fay Community,

  
  

  I wish to express my profound excitement and gratitude for the incredible opportunity to serve as Fay's ninth head of school. I enthusiastically accept this appointment, and I feel truly honored to become part of the Fay School community.

  
  

  Toward the end of last week, during that period of time when one waits in suspended animation hoping for life-changing news, I began my morning like any other. My daughter Milly by my side, we descended the stairs and turned on the lights, then headed over to flip the page on our nature-themed calendar. Staring back at me was–you guessed it–a moose! To learn later that day that I would be entrusted with the privilege of leading Fay School made it a perfectly auspicious beginning. 

  
  

  There admittedly might be some confirmation bias in my choice of Fay! I have enjoyed years of teaching Fay School graduates who stand out amongst their peers in their preparedness, engagement and eloquence. I suspect this might have something to do with the Vox Inventum and Creativity & Design programs, in combination with the strength of academic curricula and character education, beginning with Fay’s youngest learners. As a graduate of a K-9 independent school myself, I am entirely convinced of the transformative nature of a Fay School education, and I have seen evidence of that in my own classroom time and again. 

  
  

  I commit wholeheartedly to lead in service of Fay School’s mission, joining dedicated colleagues who deliver an exceptional educational experience that nurtures each child’s potential through a broad, balanced and challenging program that establishes the foundation for a meaningful life. I pledge to uphold and model the school’s values and to honor the traditions that bind generations of Fay students, families, alumni, faculty, and staff. I look forward to partnering in energetic and innovative thinking as we thoughtfully consider the Fay of today, and of tomorrow, and I will endeavor to ensure every child enjoys a sense of belonging as the school evolves.

  
  

  I am grateful to the Search Committee and Board of Trustees for their vote of confidence. The last few months have put their fervent love of Fay School and belief in its mission on full display. I am excited to work with the Trustees and to learn from this group and so many others who have a special connection to Fay. I also look forward to working with Rob Gustavson and the Head’s Administrative Team to ensure a smooth transition. Thank you to the Brooks School community for supporting me every step along the way of my leadership journey and for generously helping me to celebrate this thrilling next step. 

  
  

  Willie, Ainsley, Cal, Milly and I are looking forward to meeting all the mooses we can in the months to come! We know that every student, parent, teacher, and staff member contributes to making Fay the exceptionally vibrant and diverse community that it is, and we want to get to know you. We appreciate your warm welcome of our family and can’t wait to wear the red and white. We’ll be seeing you soon!

  
  

  With gratitude and excitement,

  Susanna Waters

• Head of School Announcement, 10-2-23

  Dear Members of the Fay School Community,

   

  We are pleased to announce the appointment of Susanna Whitaker Waters as Head of Fay 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).

   

  Next summer, Susanna will be moving to the Fay campus with her husband, Willie Waters, who currently serves as Associate Director of Admission and Alumni Gifts Officer at Brooks School, and her three children, Ainsley, age 10; Callum, age 6; and Camilla, age 2.

   

  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; we will share more information about these meetings shortly. In the next few days, Susanna will send an introductory email. She is eager to learn more about Fay and excited to engage with the whole community during the transition.

   

  Sincerely,

   

  Ann Laquerre

  President, Board of Trustees

• Search Committee Update, 9-22-23

  Dear Members of the Fay Community, 

   

  Over the course of two days this (or last) week, the Search Committee conducted interviews with each of the shortlist candidates. Our goal was to determine which candidates we could envisage as Fay’s next leader, and we engaged candidates in conversations on a variety of topics including leadership style, building relationships in the school community, managing cultural changes, their approach to DEI, and their strategic vision for Fay. Candidates also had time to ask questions of the Search Committee.

   

  The Search Committee is unanimous in its selection of finalist candidates, and they will meet with us in person in the coming week.

   

  We are excited about each of the finalist candidates and their potential to be Fay’s next leader. We’re looking forward to spending more time in conversation with each of them and giving them the opportunity to see Fay in person. 

   

  We’ll continue to keep you informed as the search process moves forward. Updates will also be posted on this webpage. Please reach out to Ann Laquerre, Beth Whitney, or Paul Abeln if you have any questions. We are happy to talk with you at any time. 

   

  Sincerely,

  Ann Laquerre P ‘16

  James P Shay ‘78, P’15, 17

  Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee

   

  Search Committee Members:

  Ann Laquerre P ‘16

  James P. Shay ‘78

  Melissa DeMarco Bois P ‘19, ‘20, ‘22, ‘23

  Dr. Alex D. Curtis

  David W. Harris ‘58

  Helen Lin P ‘20

  Beth Whitney P ‘26 ‘29

  Dr. Paul Abeln

  Gilbert Zawaira P ‘26, ‘29

• Search Committee Update, 9-8-23

  Dear Members of the Fay Community,

   

  We are pleased to send you this update on the Head of School search process. 

   

  After our selection of the longlist candidates in July, Lucy Hayes of Perrett Laver conducted in-depth interviews with each candidate to further assess their suitability for the position of Head of Fay School. These interviews also gave each candidate the opportunity to learn more about Fay and the expectations of the position. 

   

  On August 31, the Search Committee met to review the results of those interviews and to discuss each of the candidates in detail. A shortlist candidate pool has been identified, and the entire Search Committee will meet with each candidate in mid-September with the goal of identifying two or three finalist candidates. 

   

  We are very  impressed with the strength of the shortlist candidate pool. Each candidate has skills and experience that make them worthy of consideration as Fay’s next Head of School, and we look forward to speaking with each of them individually.

   

  We will continue to keep you informed as the search process moves forward. Updates will also be posted here on the Head of School Search webpage. Please reach out to Ann Laquerre, Beth Whitney, or Paul Ablen if you have any questions. We are happy to talk with you at any time. 

   

  Sincerely,

  Ann Laquerre P ‘16

  James P Shay ‘78, P’15, 17

  Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee

   

  Search Committee Members:

  Ann Laquerre P ‘16

  James P. Shay ‘78

  Melissa DeMarco Bois P ‘19, ‘20, ‘22, ‘23

  Dr. Alex D. Curtis

  David W. Harris ‘58

  Helen Lin P ‘20

  Beth Whitney P ‘26 ‘29

  Dr. Paul Abeln

  Gilbert Zawaira P ‘26, ‘29

• Search Committee update, 7-21-23

  
  Dear Members of the Fay Community,

   

  We are pleased to share this update on the Head of School Search process. 

   

  The response to the publication of the Head of School Position Profile in May has been very strong. Prospective candidates have expressed a great deal of respect for Fay School, its mission and philosophy, and the accomplishments of Rob Gustavson. Candidates have been excited about the future opportunities afforded by the School’s strong position.

   

  On Thursday, July 13, the Search Committee met with Lucy Hayes of Perrett Laver to review and select candidates for the longlist. We were impressed with the overall strength of the candidate pool. We reviewed applications from Canada and the U.K., but the vast majority were candidates from independent schools across the United States. At the conclusion of our meeting, we identified a diverse group of candidates who will move forward to the longlist. The longlist pool includes men and women, candidates of color, sitting Heads and Assistant Heads of School, and senior school administrators.

   

  From now until mid-August, Perrett Laver will conduct in-depth interviews with each of the longlist candidates to further assess their suitability for the position. During these meetings, candidates will have the opportunity to learn more about the expectations of the position and to deepen their knowledge of Fay School. In late August, we will review the results of the longlist candidate interviews and meet to select candidates who will advance to the shortlist. In September, all shortlist candidates will be interviewed in depth by the whole Search Committee. 

   

  The Search Committee is excited about the response from prospective candidates. We will continue to keep you informed as the search process moves forward. If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback, please reach out to Beth Whitney, Paul Abeln, Jim Shay, or Ann Laquerre. We are happy to talk with you at any time. 

   

  Sincerely,

  Ann Laquerre P ‘16

  James P Shay ‘78, P’15, 17

  Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee

   

  Search Committee Members:

  Ann Laquerre P ‘16

  James P. Shay ‘78

  Melissa DeMarco Bois P ‘19, ‘20, ‘22, ‘23

  Dr. Alex D. Curtis

  David W. Harris ‘58

  Helen Lin P ‘20

  Beth Whitney P ‘26 ‘29

  Dr. Paul Abeln

  Gilbert Zawaira P ‘26, ‘29

• Update from the Search Committee, 5-31-23

  Dear Members of the Fay Community,
  
  

  Thank you to everyone who has participated in the Head of School search process by sharing their thoughts and providing feedback to our search partner, Perrett Laver (PL).
  
  

  During the last few months, Lucy Hayes and her team at PL have been gathering information about Fay School. Your feedback, along with information provided by the Search Committee and the School’s administration, has been used to prepare a detailed Position Profile that describes our school and helps candidates to imagine the possibilities here at Fay. It details the skills and attributes that we seek in our next Head of School. We are pleased to share this Position Profile with you here, and a copy will be posted to the Head of School Search webpage. This Position Profile will be used to attract a pool of candidates.  
  
  

  At the same time, PL has been reaching out to its network of educational leaders to proactively identify potential candidates. In the U.S., the position has been posted to the career boards of the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). In the U.K,. the position has been posted to the Times Educational Supplement (TES) job board, which attracts educators from across the globe. 
  
  

  The next phase of the search process includes assessing candidates, establishing the initial candidate pool, and identifying the longlist of candidates to be interviewed by PL. The Search Committee will then review the results of those interviews and establish the shortlist candidate pool that best reflects the key attributes and skills we seek in our next Head of School. Shortlist candidates will meet with the Search Committee in early September. We are excited to begin this next phase in the search process and will continue to provide updates in the coming months.
  
  

  We continue to  welcome questions from the Fay community throughout the search process. Please contact us here. Your questions or feedback will be treated with confidence and may be addressed to Lucy Hayes at PL or to the Search Committee.
  
  

  Sincerely,
  
  

  James P. Shay ’78

  Ann Laquerre P ’16

  Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee

   

  Search Committee Members:

  James P. Shay ’78

  Ann Laquerre P ’16

  Melissa DeMarco Bois P ’19, ’20, ’22, ’23

  Dr. Alex D. Curtis

  David W. Harris ’58

  Helen Lin P ’20

  Beth Whitney P ’26, ’29

  Dr. Paul Abeln

  Gilbert Zawaira P ’26, ’29

• Message from Jim Shay '78, President of the Board of Trustees 5-15-23

  Dear Members of the Fay Community,

   

  Thank you to the many members of our community who have already provided their feedback and insights regarding the search for Fay’s next Head of School, whether in meetings with Lucy Hayes, by completing the online survey, or by sending your thoughts via email. Your participation in the search process is valued.

   

  The information you provide will help the Search Committee and our search partner Perrett Laver to prepare a detailed Position Profile that describes the opportunity and the attributes and skills that we seek in our next Head of School. This Position Profile will be used to help attract a diverse and talented candidate pool. 

   

  The online survey will close on Friday, May 19. We appreciate your taking the time to complete the survey, if you haven’t already done so. Individual responses are confidential and are not shared with the Search Committee or anyone at the School. Perrett Laver will provide a summary report to the committee that identifies common themes. 

   

  We will continue to provide updates on the search process during the coming months and post information on the Head of School Search webpage.

   

  Sincerely,

  James P. Shay ‘78

  Ann Laquerre P ’16

  Co-Chairs, Head of School Search Committee

   

  Search Committee Members:

  James P. Shay ‘78

  Ann Laquerre P ’16

  Melissa DeMarco Bois P ‘19, ‘20, ‘22, ‘23

  Dr. Alex D. Curtis

  David W. Harris ‘58

  Helen Lin P ‘20

  Beth Whitney P ‘26, ‘29

  Dr. Paul Abeln

  Gilbert Zawaira P ‘26, ‘29

• Message from Rob Gustavson, Head of School 5-8-23

  Dear Members of the Fay Community,

   

  With gratitude and humility, I am writing to announce that the 2023-2024 school year will be my last year at Fay.

   

  It has been a privilege to lead such a strong, vibrant school with a clear mission, shared sense of purpose, and positive culture for the past fifteen years, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have undertaken important, challenging, and meaningful work with talented and committed colleagues, trustees, families, and students. I am also extremely proud of all we have accomplished together since I arrived in 2008. We have transformed our campus and facilities; developed essential educational programs and initiatives; grown enrollment and expanded financial aid; strengthened the quality of our faculty and staff; established fiscal discipline and stability; and burnished Fay’s regional, national, and global reputation. By every measure, Fay is thriving—and I firmly believe July 2024 will be the right time to welcome a new Head of School.

   

  Three years ago, when Board President Jim Shay and I were discussing the terms of my current Head of School contract, I told him that it would likely be my final one. Last year, I confirmed with Jim that I would not be seeking a new agreement beyond the end of my contract in June 2024, and I officially informed the Board of Trustees at its Spring Meeting last Friday. Although my decision has not been public until now, planning for the process to find my successor has been underway for the past few months. Jim, Board President-elect Ann Laquerre, and a small group of trustees have been working diligently to select a search firm, establish a timeline, and develop a position profile. The Head of School search will commence this week.

   

  In addition to the Board’s focus on the search this summer and fall, a great deal of substantive work will be undertaken next year. I am eager to continue collaborating closely with trustees, my administrative team, and members of our faculty and staff throughout the coming year to maintain our excellent progress on key strategic priorities related to strengthening the Fay community, developing our campus and facilities, and deepening our commitment to financial and environmental sustainability. All of us look forward to an exciting and productive year ahead. 

   

  I don’t yet know what my next professional endeavor will be, and I intend to take some time to consider how best to utilize the knowledge I have gained during thirty years as an educator to benefit other independent schools. I do know that as much as I have appreciated and embraced the all-encompassing responsibilities of school headship, I will be ready for a new chapter that affords time to pursue my personal interests and enables a more balanced life with my family. Carol and I look forward to moving to our house in Maine in the summer of 2024 and becoming engaged residents of that community.

   

  While I understand that this upcoming change may feel unsettling, it also provides a rare and valuable opportunity for the School to benefit from new leadership. Given Fay’s outstanding reputation, I believe there will be tremendous interest in this position. I’m also confident that the Board will ultimately hire an exceptional candidate who is dedicated to Fay’s mission, embodies our values, and is committed to sustaining a culture of excellence.

   

  Thank you again for the extraordinary privilege of serving as your Head of School.

   

  Sincerely,

  
  Rob Gustavson
  Head of School

• Message from Jim Shay '78, President of the Board of Trustees 5-8-23

  Dear Members of the Fay Community,

   

  Since joining Fay’s Board of Trustees in 2010, and becoming President of the Board in 2014, it has been my great honor and privilege to work closely with Rob Gustavson. When Rob and I began discussions regarding his current four-year contract, Rob shared with me that he believed his time at Fay would conclude in June 2024, marking the culmination of 16 years of dedicated service to the School. On Friday, May 5, Rob formally informed the Board of Trustees, and today, May 8, he announced his decision to the faculty and staff.

   

  Since its founding in 1866, Fay School has benefited from outstanding leaders who have possessed their own styles and strengths. Over the course of the last half-century, I have been honored to know three of these leaders who have served Fay so well. As we move forward, we will maintain our commitment to excellence in elementary and middle school education, and I am proud to help lead Fay’s search for its next Head of School.

   

  Rob’s commitment to Fay School’s mission and to our students’ success has been unwavering, and he has led with exceptional dedication and passion. Under his leadership, the School has grown in enrollment, expanded and improved its facilities, and increased the breadth and the quality of the academic program. 

   

  The last 16 years have seen transformative improvements to our campus with the completion of the 2008 and the 2020 Campus Master Plans, resulting in, among other achievements, the full integration of West Campus and the new athletic campus; the completion of the Primary School building; the construction of the West House dormitory; renovations to the Camp Family Dining Room Building, Harris Theater, and Webster House; the construction of Fay’s Center for Creativity & Design; upgrades to campus infrastructure, security systems, and information technology systems; and, coming this summer, renovations to Steward Dormitory. 

   

  Rob has overseen the development and implementation of two strategic plans, two AISNE re-accreditations, the expansion of the Primary School program to incorporate Kindergarten, and the launch of Fay’s Early Learning Center. Ever-focused on providing the best possible program to engage, challenge, and support students, Rob has overseen the development of the School’s Creativity and Design curriculum, expansion of the Wellness program, and the establishment of the role of Director of Equity and Inclusion to promote a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community at Fay.

   

  Under Rob’s leadership, the Fay community has continued to show its support of the School. Gifts to the Fay Fund from our generous families and friends have increased every year, and parent and trustee surveys have consistently yielded their highest marks. In addition to their day-to-day dedication, Fay’s faculty and staff have gone above and beyond to demonstrate their support of the School, with over 95% of faculty and staff participating in the Fay Fund.

   

  These milestones are just a few of the many demonstrations of Rob’s outstanding legacy–but the most important, of course, is the fact that Fay continues to provide its students with the foundation for a meaningful life, and that our graduates excel and thrive in secondary school and beyond. Rob’s strategic thinking, excellent judgment, and care for students have ensured that when he departs Fay in June 2024, the School will be in excellent shape and ready for its next leader.

   

  A number of months ago, a small group of trustees began the process of selecting a search firm to help us conduct the process of identifying candidates and then selecting Fay’s next Head of School. After interviewing a number of candidates, the trustees selected Perrett-Laver (PL) to lead a worldwide search. PL has an outstanding reputation for its work in leadership searches. PL’s international footprint, coupled with its deep understanding of junior boarding schools through extensive work globally, made the firm our top choice. 

   

  Following the selection of PL, a Search Advisory Committee was formed to provide PL with information about Fay and the Head of School role. Following today’s announcement, the public phase of this search for Fay’s new Head of School will begin, and a formal Head of School Search Committee will be established. In my role as President of Fay’s Board of Trustees, I will lead this search until my term ends on June 30, 2023. At that time, Ann Laquerre, the next President of the Board, will assume the leadership of this search, and I will remain as co-chair.

   

  Aside from providing oversight and support for the Head of School, a primary responsibility of the Board of Trustees is to hire the next Head of School. Therefore, Fay’s Search Committee will be composed primarily of trustees, along with other stakeholder leaders in our community. By gender, race, and affiliation, Fay’s Board represents a diverse cross-section of individuals in our community, including alumni, current and former parents, and a current Head of a secondary school. I assure you that the team selecting Fay’s next Head of School will reflect a breadth of experiences and perspectives.

   

  Lucy Hayes, Partner and Global Head of Practice, Schools and Educational Organizations at Perrett-Laver, will be visiting Fay later this week to tour the campus and to conduct one-on-one meetings with a number of community members. This vital component of the search process ensures that we will have input from a range of voices in our community to help shape the position description for our Head of School candidates. Lucy will not have the opportunity to meet with everyone, but we value your thoughts and opinions; you can complete a survey until May 19. We plan to launch the position profile in late May and have finalist candidates visit campus by mid-September 2023. 

   

  Rob Gustavson will continue in his role through June 2024. Rob and the Board are looking forward to a full and productive year, and we will have plenty of time to extend our best wishes to Rob and his family.

   

  In closing, this is a bittersweet moment for me. I arrived at Fay as a fifth grade student 50 years ago; my two older brothers, my children, and eight members of my extended family have attended Fay School. My affiliation with and affection for this great place will never subside, and my deep appreciation for, admiration of, and friendship with Rob Gustavson, his wife Carol, and their children Willa, Jack, and Henry, will not subside, either. It has been a great run!

   

  My thanks to you all for your continued interest in Fay School, and may you keep us close in your good thoughts as we recruit our next Head of School.

   

  Best wishes,

   

  Jim Shay ‘78, P ‘15 ‘17
  President of the Board of Trustees