Head of School

Independent schools have the freedom to design a curriculum tailored to their students and their community. Leaders must create a culture of collaboration, where philosophical and educational ideas can be brought to life, and where students are empowered to pursue their passions and challenged to reach heights they never thought possible. It’s the leader's role to facilitate such an atmosphere.

My first job in education was as a daycare assistant in high school. I knew then I wanted a career focusing on children. I started my professional experience in the kindergarten classroom and one of the aspects I love most about Stratford is the expanse of ages we serve. From our littlest Eagles in the preschool to our upper school students preparing for their lives beyond Stratford, I find richness in every age and stage of our children’s lives.

My junior year of high school, my parents worked overtime to send me to Mount Dora Christian Academy. Those two years changed the entire trajectory of my life. I had been raised in poverty and educated in schools that served the poorest students and families. In that private school community, I learned there was more for me – more opportunities, more expectations, and more experiences. I quickly understood that it was on me to make the most of them. 

I love that independent schools provide students opportunities to be their best selves. In a school like Stratford, there is so much that can enrich a child’s life. They can discover their own unique gifts and talents, participate and grow in activities, experience academic rigor, athletics, fine arts, leadership, service, and so much more. They can learn from mistakes and grow from them, while being mentored by a faculty who knows each child personally. They gain appreciation for the similarities and differences in others. Simply, they find that learning alongside others is fun.

It took me no time to fall in love with Stratford and this community. Coming from a public school and boarding school background, it has been so refreshing to come to a community with generational ties. The loyalty and pride alumni and families have in Stratford is unparalleled in my experience at other schools. That level of investment speaks to how much of an impression their time here means to them. With each new student who comes to Stratford, that cycle and new tie to our school begins again.