I have often described Shipley as a school that is both incredibly accomplished and that possesses great potential. It’s reasonable to ask, how can a school be both rooted in its mission and values and committed to change? The simple answer is that Shipley has always been driven to do what is best for its students and to prepare them for the world.

Shipley’s decision to move to coeducation is an excellent example. The School recognized 50 years ago that diversity, equity, and inclusion matter, and that coeducation would better prepare students for college and for success in an increasingly diverse world. That move was made with an enduring commitment to what Shipley holds dear, as articulated by former Head of Lower School Diana Russell Deacon in 1972, “The fine quality of the teacher-student relationship, concern for the individual, and the development of each student to his or her greatest potential.”

The School’s strategic plan, Vision 20/26, challenges us to inspire and prepare each of our students for lives of purpose. While a Shipley education (past, present, and future) begins with educational excellence, we remain committed to developing love of learning and compassionate participation in the world.

I continue to be inspired not only by current Shipley students but the School’s alumni who are clearly shaping a better world. Their stories and accomplishments, which appear throughout the magazine, are evidence that the value of a Shipley education lasts a lifetime and I am grateful to lead a School that has been and continues to be a force for good in the world.