Laura Davis Danforth Named Head of School AFTER A YEAR-LONG GLOBAL SEARCH PROCESS, LAURA DAVIS DANFORTH WAS APPOINTED, BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AS OUR NEXT HEAD OF SCHOOL. Laura will bring extensive experience as an educator, administrator and leader to The Masters School when she joins our community on July 1, 2015. She has been a teacher, a counselor, a dean, a coach, and a dorm parent over the course of her 30-year career in independent schools. Laura is currently Principal of the Upper School at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in Riverdale, NY, a position she has held since 2012. She received her B.A. from ColbySawyer College in New Hampshire, where she was a three-season athlete for four years and also served as student body president. Her first role in education was in Admissions at Tabor Academy. After earning a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University, she became Director of Counseling at St. Paul’s School. She moved on to more senior roles in counseling and a series of other higher-level positions, including Dean of Students at the Ethel Walker School; Dean of Faculty at Suffield Academy; and Associate
Head of School at Miss Porter’s School, a position she held for nine years. Laura’s values align remarkably well with those of Masters and her experience at both boarding and day schools has given her a strong appreciation of the importance of community. Moreover, she holds strong beliefs about the power of an education to transform students’ lives. “It’s not just about learning facts and figures, obviously, but about learning to learn,” she says. “Learning to listen. Learning to put one’s thoughts, questions, and principles into words and action.” Laura, her spouse, Paula, and their family are excited about joining the Masters community. For more insights about Laura, her thoughts on education and her priorities as our new Head of School, look to future issues of The Bulletin.
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