Dear Families, Faculty and Staff,

This has been a busy two days for all of us who love the Gordon School. I am grateful to all of you who have reached out to me with questions, concerns and support, and I know you are also turning to one another. Gordon has invested a great deal in growing a strong community, and that investment pays off at times like these.

Wednesday's email from Noni was a farewell, but it was the beginning of a conversation, not the end. I received an email last night that helped distill what I am hearing as the most crucial questions people are asking. I'd like to try to answer them:

Why now? 

I understand that the news of Noni’s departure was unexpected and, understandably, confusing for many. As outlined in Noni’s letter on Wednesday, the timeline of Noni’s departure was not what we anticipated, but it was mutually arrived at as the right decision for Noni and Gordon.

We understand the desire for more details, which we are balancing with the fact that this was a personal decision that the Board and Noni made together.

At the core, what we are asking for is your trust in this decision, and your acceptance will help give the current leadership, faculty and staff what they need to continue to center the needs of our students, families and the community through the weeks and months ahead as we look forward to Meredith's arrival.



Who is leading the school right now? 

Our assistant heads of school, Alethea Dunham-Carson, Veronica Jutras, and Tom Cicatiello will collectively serve as Acting Heads through the end of the school year. Between the three of them, they have over forty-five years of experience at Gordon, and they have the full trust of the Board. They have final decision-making authority in the areas of philanthropy, community engagement, admissions, financial strategy, and teaching and learning. For decisions that go beyond those areas, they will work with me and the Board of Trustees. This is typical, given that the Head of School role is the sole employee of the Board and would be partnering on conversations that are strategic and long-term in nature. 

You can feel free to reach out to Alethea, Tom and Veronica with questions, concerns or needs that you would have typically sought Noni’s support on, but here is a quick rundown of which issues land in which assistant head's responsibilities:

Tom’s work is centered on the finances of the school, the stewardship of Gordon’s campus and maintenance of the building and the human relations work of the school. Reach him at tcicatiello@gordonschool.org

Veronica oversees relationships with parents and alumni, leading philanthropy, admissions and volunteerism but also helping ensure that the daily experience of being a Gordon parent is satisfying and easy to navigate. Reach her at vjutras@gordonschool.org

Alethea is responsible for teaching and learning, working with division directors and program leaders to make sure our classroom practice is excellent, innovative, and mission-aligned. She is at adunhamcarson@gordonschool.org

And, of course, you should continue to connect with classroom teachers, division directors and program leaders as you always have.

How is the school supporting students, faculty, and families during this transition? 

This decision would not have happened if Noni and the Board did not have complete confidence in Gordon's ability to continue providing students and families with an inspiring, joyful winter and spring filled with learning and authentic connection with one another. 

Last night's parent workshop was followed this morning with a generative conversation in the Commons about raising resilient children in challenging times. Spring camp sign ups went online, seventh graders are helping Kindergarten buddies make Valentine's crafts, and the third and fourth grade is busy preparing for next week's play. As we shared in last night's email, the Assistant Heads of School are available and eager to connect with families. Their office doors are open, they are attending parent events and lingering afterwards, their emails were shared above, and they are ready to engage.

What does this mean for the transition to the next Head of School? 

This does not impact plans for Meredith's arrival in July. Meredith has been staying briefed on school business since she accepted our offer to come to Gordon, and she continues to be in touch with the school's leadership. This has happened through visits to Providence and interaction with the Head's Transition Committee, but also through regularly scheduled Zooms with Noni as well as with the Assistant Heads. She has stayed abreast of the news of recent days and offered her complete support, to faculty, staff, administrators and the Board. While she is not yet leading the school, she has written a letter to faculty and staff full of her excitement for the work that lies ahead, and her next visit to campus is lined up for April.

I was a lucky kid running around the halls of Gordon School in the 1980s. The same caring and supportive community that existed then remains intact forty years later and will continue for generations to come. Thank you for your part in this process including your questions and outreach. I hope this letter advances the conversation.

Thank you for your commitment to Gordon.