February Break was an opportunity for me to hit pause on my regular routine and take some time to think. In moments like this, I like to retrace the path I’ve taken and the decisions I’ve made since I took over as head of The École in 2020. It helps, as I prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, ensure that the steps I take now are a logical continuation of what has gone before and are taking us in the right direction. Retracing that path, telling that story, is also a reminder that everything we hope to put in place ultimately takes shape through our colleagues.
When I first arrived at The École, I knew I wanted someone from the academic leadership team based at the Maternelle Building. I came to depend very quickly on Ben, and I am happy— and very proud for him—that he is now its director. Well aware of the high expectations of our Elementary colleagues and the pedagogical expertise necessary to lead that team, I first identified Benoît to head Elementary and then, following his departure, entrusted a similar— though expanded—role to Sophie.
All of this has allowed me, for the past three years, to focus on our Middle School—my true area of expertise. We now welcome 70 middle schoolers, and it is in 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade that we expect the most growth in our student numbers over the months ahead. Our team of 16 teachers has redesigned the Middle School schedules, extended our competitive athletic offerings through the Falcons, and implemented a rich and ambitious program of clubs and electives that emphasizes culture, general knowledge, and know-how. We also revived our educational travel program, with first Costa Rica, then China, and soon Spain, and also expanded it to include an annual bonding trip for our 6th graders to kick start Middle School on the right foot and a graduation trip for our 8th graders to make sure their last days at The École are unforgettable.
Thanks to Melissa Millan, and going beyond our partnership with Léman, we developed a high school placement program to guide our 8th graders into the city’s best high schools (I cannot wait to share this year’s results with you—very likely next week). On a personal note, I am very proud of what we have accomplished, and our Middle School assemblies, led by the students to close out the week each Friday, are among my most memorable and meaningful moments at The École.
It’s not in our nature to stop while the going is good. You might remember that I mentioned an opportunity that had presented itself to create a new position that doesn’t exist today (even though when I talked about it at the Middle School assembly, the students were confident that Javier was already the boss of Middle School!) I am delighted to announce that Emily O’Hanlon will join us as Middle School Principal in September. She currently holds a similar position at the Lycée International de Los Angeles, where she oversees a middle school of approximately 180 students with two pathways (a bilingual one, like our own, and an IB track). Emily is Irish (a plus, of course), French-speaking, trained in the United States, and is an expert in bilingual education. She made a strong impression on all of us when she spent two days at The École in January. It was clear that she not only has all the qualities needed to support the development of our Middle School, but that she shares our vision of what school should be.
In a few years’ time, during another break, as I once again retrace the story of our school, I‘m certain that I will look back on this letter—and the arrival of a new colleague—as a key moment in the life of The École.