LAURIE LAMBERT Questions with 10

Head of School-Elect

BY CHARLES L. GREENE II

This past February, I sat down with Lauren (Laurie) Lambert to get to know her a little better before she takes over as the next Head of School for Stoneleigh-Burnham. Unanimously selected by the SBS Board of Trustees following an international search for candidates, Laurie brings a wealth of experience and energy to the role of Head of School after a career in teaching, administration, and leadership. She is currently the Head of School at The Winchendon School in Winchendon, Massachusetts.

Rather than launch into an exhaustive list of the merits of Laurie’s candidacy, I decided to ask some relatable questions that every Owl could appreciate. I started out with a plan for 10 questions, but the conversation was so interesting, we wound up with 17. I hope you find it as engaging as I did.

Chuck: What about you would surprise most people?

Laurie: I'm pretty much an open book but perhaps the fact that I'm an Air Force brat who grew up overseas, including a three-year stint in Moscow when my father was the American Embassy doctor during the Cold War era.

That's really cool. Did you think that you were going to end up spending your life or your career outside the United States?

I love to travel, and I certainly love experiencing new cultures and languages. I will always have a lifelong passion for travel and history. And whenever I go to a place, I read all about it, and I discover whatever I can. That's always going to be a part of me. I also knew from an early age, and maybe this is not something that would surprise people, but I wanted to be in education. I've always been a reader. Oh, I know something: I have run three marathons.

Fantastic. Do you plan to run more marathons?

I would love to run some more half marathons. I ran the marathons probably ten years ago or so, but I've run half marathons since then, and that is something I like doing. Even though I would describe myself as more of an artsy person or bookworm, I really enjoy running.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

I still love real books, but I now have a virtual nightstand because I read on Kindle or listen to audiobooks, right? I enjoy reading Diana Gabaldon, the author of the “Outlander” series of books. I love her books, the history and medicine she describes. One of the other books that I'm currently reading is “The Real World of College” by Wendy Fishman and Howard Gardner. They are taking a hard look at how education is changing.

I've also picked up “How Remarkable Women Lead” by Joanna Barsh, Susie Cranston, and Jeffrey Lewis, which is great. I just recently finished a great fiction book called “Have You Seen Luis Velez?” by Katherine Ryan Hyde. I am somebody who loves nonfiction as well as fiction, so I read a little bit of everything depending on my mood. I also love science fiction, so I enjoy books by many different science fiction authors from the classics to urban sci-fi and apocalyptic fiction, which I really enjoy. One of my favorites is Cormac McCarthy's “The Road.”

What excites you most about coming to Stoneleigh-Burnham?

I am really excited to be a part of such a close-knit community and to be a part of the development of strong and vibrant students, allowing them to find their voices. We have the opportunity to help our students find their passions, to find that thing that creates a spark for them, knowing it's going to be different for every student. It's one of the reasons I love independent schools and education as a whole. I've attended conferences and workshops on women's leadership and on “growing” my own leadership, but this move is a real opportunity to help students develop those core skills and important habits of mind in a gender-inclusive environment.

The challenge is to figure out how we prepare our young people, our students, for what is in front of them, for the ever changing future. This is not just educationally, but also socially and emotionally, particularly as students think about college or work, and the inevitable challenges that will be present. We can teach them how to overcome the hurdles. How do we make sure that our students can be resilient and can accept the fact that they're not going to be good at everything?

What brought you to education as a career?

When you know, you know. I could have gone many different places, but for me, it was pretty clear. I've always loved reading and from my earliest days being a bookworm, I loved English and history, and really loved education as a whole. I struggled a little bit more in some areas than in others, but I genuinely loved school, and the art of learning. From the time I was in high school, I was helping my friends with problems that they had or trying to tutor kids. In college I was an actual tutor and a mentor, and it was very fulfilling for me. My success is created by the success of the people I'm working with, if that makes sense. So, I think I always knew.

I don't make light of the challenges but at the same time, I love working with young people, and faculty and staff who also love working with young people. There is something special about serving as an educator in a mission-based school. There's a real joy in that, and as difficult as the pandemic made it sometimes, there's been tremendous joy in rediscovering the reasons that we all do what we do.

I graduated from Denison, and I put my materials out to the placement agencies, and lo and behold, somebody wanted to hire me because I was a double major in English and history, and they needed a maternity replacement. So at 22 I went off and became a “triple threat” faculty member, and I have not looked back. I took a small stint to do some theater work, and I went to Spain with [my husband] Tony when he was getting his MA, but I ended up working at a school then as well. Education has been an ever-present passion in my life, and I'm where I should be.

That's a lovely answer. So why is girls’ education important to you?

I strongly believe that we need to give girls the tools to be successful and to thrive in a very complicated world. I think Stoneleigh-Burnham is here to help our students to be the best person that they can be and to be the best learner they can be. People come to things at different times. You don't know when something is going to click, or when a passion becomes your job, or a lifelong love. Giving girls the tools and the willingness to try something new and to take a risk in a safe environment, those are elements that I think are so important. I am also thinking of Jean Twenge and the iGen types of writings that she's done, talking about the impact of the cell phone on people today. It's not that young men haven't been impacted. They certainly have, but I think if you look at the studies and the impact of social media on young women, there's a dramatic difference and a clear impact on mental health and well-being. I want to send students out into their future with as many of the tools and the safeguards as we can so that their natural talents and their natural charisma and character can shine. And they should always know that they have a safe place to come back to.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to your 18-yearold self?

To trust myself. And I think that's something important for us to talk about in school communities, especially with girls. There's always self-doubt, but if you trust yourself, I don't think that can serve you wrong. I could have done more of that as an 18-year-old young woman growing up. I was born in 1966 and grew up overseas before coming back to the States. I think that I would have used my voice more. As an adult and an administrator, I've learned people are not always going to agree with you. People are not always going to like what you say. People are not always going to like you, and that's okay.

One more thing I would have told myself is to take more time to reflect because life moves so fast. Keep a journal. It doesn't always have to be laboriously writing in your book, although that still works for me. Seriously, though, take time to reflect. I love feedback and self-reflection and those loops. And I think that’s so important in schools and in education and in life.

What's one of your hidden talents?

Oh, my goodness … a hidden talent. I am a really good crossword puzzle person. I love them. I tend to do them online these days, but I did them in pen once upon a time. I don't think this is a hidden talent, but I still enjoy singing. I love singing with my family. I love singing with my school's a cappella group. So that's something that I really enjoy. I think I'm a really good, slow, steady runner. And I'm an amazing pet mom.

How many pets do you have currently? We have two dogs and two cats. The cats are supposedly my daughter's. They were pandemic kitties. The only problem is, they live with us. You are indeed a pet mom. If you weren't a head of school, what would you be doing?

I would be teaching English and history, something along those lines. But in my alternative life, I would be on Broadway. I'd be living the actor life in the city.

What's your favorite musical or play?

From the time that my kids were very little, except during the pandemic of course, one of our family traditions was to go to New York and see a musical.

As the kids grew, that became a musical or two or a musical and a play. But my favorite musical is probably “Les Mis.” I love “Wicked.” I love “Into the Woods”. I love Sondheim. I’m also a classic play person. I read Chekhov

Certainly my husband, Tony, and my kids, who are fabulous. My parents are terrific. My younger sister, who lives in Braintree, MA, and with whom I shared a room for many, many years growing up, and my older sister as well. I also have a great network of friends. I'm one of those people who likes to keep people — if that makes sense. As I moved from different schools, college, grad school, or wherever, I stayed in touch with people. Having that network is very important for sharing ideas and getting together when you can. I have a group of terrific women from my undergrad experience from Denison. We try to get together, we speak on Zoom or on the phone, or just text each other. We Facebook constantly. It’s been a real positive in my life to have this group of wonderfully strong, amazingly supportive women. These talented, bright women have been a part of my life since I was 18 years old.

and Ibsen, and I love dramas. I also enjoy comedies. In my early years as a teacher, I directed many school productions, including Neil Simon comedies, “Grease,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “Othello.” I love Shakespeare. I can never get enough of Shakespeare.

If you were living the New York life, what would be your dream role?

I was a first soprano and looked young earlier in my life, so ingenue parts were usually where I ended up. I'm a little beyond those roles now, but I enjoyed the opportunity at the time. My secret wish would be to play a character like Elphaba. I don't want to be Glinda anymore.

Nobody is good at everything, and we are way too tough on ourselves. We can always figure out a way around a challenge. For example, I can get lost in a cornfield, and I've come to terms with it. I can read a map, though, and I love the GPS in my car. Attitude will take you pretty far, you know.

What's something that has surprised you so far about Stoneleigh-Burnham?

I knew that the school possessed a great academic program, but I was totally surprised and impressed by the equestrian program, the number of students involved in it, and the expertise that is offered by the British Horse Society course of study. I was also thrilled to hear about the speech and debate accomplishments of some of the students and the history of going to the World Championships. I think those accomplishments are amazing.

risk you've taken that failed and what did you learn from it?

This last year has definitely been interesting. Ultimately, I ended up finding a community that matches my approach, experience, and philosophy of education, but I put myself out there not knowing what would happen. I feel so fortunate that I found the right fit with Stoneleigh-Burnham. With all challenges, it’s about figuring out that grit matters and embracing your inner Duckworth. I feel fortunate that when I failed, whether it was something professionally or personally, I could reflect on what occurred and figure out the next steps forward. I know I'm not good at everything, and that’s okay.

I was a little surprised by all of the wonderful day students and how that number has grown. I can't wait to get to know all SBS students. My goal will be to grow our boarding population even more and to maintain those day families. I was so happy to get a sense of this wonderful internal community and to learn about the energy of the alumnae body. The external community is so supportive of the school and loves Stoneleigh-Burnham. It was wonderful to hear about these successful and proud SBS women out there in this world. This has been really great. Thank you so much for your time and I’m really looking forward to working with you starting this July.