An Open Letter on Behalf of Independent Schools of New England
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An Open Letter on Behalf of Independent Schools of New England, We, the heads of independent schools, comprising 176 schools in the New England region, stand in solidarity with our students and with the families of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The heart of our nation has been broken yet again by another mass shooting at an American school. We offer our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died and are grieving for the loss of life that occurred. We join with our colleagues in public, private, charter, independent, and faith-based schools demanding meaningful action to keep our students safe from gun violence on campuses and beyond. Many of our students, graduates, and families have joined the effort to ensure that this issue stays at the forefront of the national dialogue. We are all inspired by the students who have raised their voices to demand change. As school leaders we give our voices to this call for action. We come together out of compassion, responsibility, and our commitment to educate our children free of fear and violence. As school leaders, we pledge to do all in our power to keep our students safe. We call upon all elected representatives - each member of Congress, the President, and all others in positions of power at the governmental and private-sector level – to take action in making schools less vulnerable to violence, including sensible regulation of fi rearms. We are adding our voices to this dialogue as a demonstration to our students of our own commitment to doing better, to making their world safer. Our children’s safety is more important than partisan politics and we pledge to work with any and all who share our commitment. We stand together for our children and our children’s children to ensure that our country comes together for their right to learn and grow in safe communities nationwide. We know that action is needed now. Respectfully, Dr. Brian D. Bloomfield Tom Trigg David Stettler Thomas J. Doherty III Diana Owen Martha Torrence Head of School Head of School Head of School Headmaster Head of School Head of School The Academy at Charlemont Cape Cod Academy The Fessenden School Malden Catholic Pine Point School Summit Montessori School Molly Martins Maura Spignesi Fanning M. Hearon III Christopher D. Day Dr. Timothy M. Johnson John H. Quirk President Head of School Head of School Head of School Head of School Head of School The Academy at Penguin Hall Cardigan Mountain School Fontbonne Academy Maple Street School Pingree School Tabor Academy Melissa P. Earls Stephen Wilkins Ben Kennedy Arvind S. Grover Margaret Bagge Christian B. Elliot Head of School Head of School Head of School Head of School Head of School Academy Hill School The Carroll School Friends Academy Meadowbrook School of Weston Pioneer Valley Montessori School Head of School Tenacre Country Day Courtney Dickinson Dr. Peter F. Folan Rabbi Marc Baker Joshua Abrams J. Timothy Richards Founder & Head of School Head of School President Head of School Head of School Don Grace The Acera School Gann Academy Meridian Academy Catholic Memorial School Pomfret School Head of School Nicole A. DuFauchard Dr. Jochen Schnack OSR John Kaufman Isabel “Charlie” Spencer Vince Watchhorn Thacher Montessori School Head of School Head of School Head of School Head of School Head of School Ted Koskores The Advent School The Center School German International School Boston Middlebridge School Providence Country Day School Headmaster Susanna H. Thompson Lance Conrad, Ed.D. David Liebmann Kathy Giles Emily Jones Thayer Academy Interim Head of School Head of School Head of School Head of School Head of School Amherst Montessori School Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School Glen Urquhart School Middlesex School Dr. Mary Halpin Carter The Putney School Martina B. Albright, Ph.D. Gretchen Larkin Ralph Wales Todd B. Bland Head of School Michael Barclay Director Head of School Head of School Head of School The Derryfield School Head of School Apple Orchard School Charles River School The Gordon School Milton Academy Quest Montessori School Walter Hubley Chris Williamson Tamara Schurdak Peter H. Quimby Julia Heaton Head of School Interim Head Head of School Mallory Rome Head of School Head of School The Woodward School Applewild School The Chestnut Hill School The Governor’s Academy Miss Hall’s School Head of School The Rashi School Peter Saliba Amy Gold Jeffrey Clark Michael Junkins Karen E. Bohlin, EdD Head of School Faculty Administrator Head of School Head of School Head of School Ned Parsons Arthur J. Epstein Hillel School Great Barrington Rudolph Tilton School Clark School Montrose School Head of School Steiner School Marshall W. Carter The Rivers School Christine Lindeman Matt Glendinning Susan Diller Head of School Temba Maqubela Head of School Head of School James Tracy Head of School Atrium School Headmaster The Common School Moses Brown School Head of School Touchstone Community School Groton School James Hickey, Ph.D Rocky Hill School William Wharton Ed Hudner Timothy Delehaunty Headmaster Paul Horovitz Headmaster Head of School Kerry P. Brennan Austin Preparatory School Head of School Head of School The Commonwealth School Mother Caroline Academy Headmaster Harborlight Montessori Tower School Trey Cassidy and Education Center The Roxbury Latin School Dan Corley Head of School Frances Cameron Linda Echt Head of School Eileen McLaughlin Marie P. Leary Bancroft School Administrative Chair Interim Head of School Head of School Head of School Community Preparatory School The Hartsbrook School Ian Bickford Mount Alvernia High School The Sage School Tremont School Rick Hardy Provost and Vice President Geraldine Kline Danielle Heard Head of School Alex Zequeira Rosann Whiting Bard Academy at Simon’s Rock Head of School Head of School Concord Academy Headmaster President High Mowing School Nashoba Brooks School Conrad Wildsmith Ursuline Academy David Manzo Saint John’s High School Head of School Ed Chase Harry Lynch President Tom Nunan, Jr. Bay Farm Montessori Academy Head of School Headmaster Mara D. White Cotting School Hillside School Head of School Director of School Cindy Laba and Marsha Feinberg The Newman School Margaret H. Lee and Saint Joseph Prep Waldorf High School of Founders Phil Peck Barbara Rogers R.S.C.J Catherine E. Pollock Massachusetts Bay Beacon Academy Head of School Headmistress Jennifer Borman Co-Heads of School Holderness School Head of School Beaver Country Day School Newton Country Day School of the Robert Schiappacasse Cushing Academy School One Laura Gauld Sacred Heart School Director Brendan W. Largay Katherine L. Bradley Head of School and President Beth Black Mark Stanek The Waldorf School of Lexington Head of School Head of School Hyde School Head of School Head of School Belmont Day School Dana Hall School Antonio Viva Donna Milani Luther Newton Montessori School Shady Hill School Rick Melvoin Allison D. Webster Head of School Head of School Catherine Hall Clair Ward Head of School Head of School Walnut Hill School for the Arts INLY School Head of School Head of School Belmont Hill School Dedham Country Day School Richard Ulffers Noble and Greenough School Shore Country Day School Timothy Bakland Christopher H. Wilson Margarita Curtis Head of School Head of School Head of School Peter Fayroian Frank Schwartz, Ph.D. Head of School International School of Boston The Bement School Head of School President Waring School Deerfield Academy Northfield Mount Hermon Jackson Walnut Park Schools Showa Boston Institute Teri Schrader Bonnie J. Ricci Corrine Perkins Head of School Susie Tanchel Elizabeth Pasciucco Rebecca Lurie Head of School Headmistress Birches School Head of School President Head of School Delphi Academy of Boston Watkinson School Jewish Community Day School Notre Dame Academy Solomon Schechter Day School Grace Cotter Regan Joseph Perry Geoffrey Wagg President Andrea Katzman Bill Perrine of Greater Boston Head of School Head of School Boston College High School Head of School Head of School Derby Academy Gigi DiBello Waynflete School Jewish Community Day School of RI Oak Meadow School Dr. Ari M. Betof Head of School Brad Bates Head of School Christopher S. Cheney Margaret Douglas Sophia Academy Allison Gaines Pell Head of School Boston University Academy Head of School Head of School Head of School Dublin School David Tinagero Kents Hill School Odyssey Day School The Wheeler School Judith Guild Headmaster Dr. Peter J. (PJ) McDonald Head of School Mike Schafer Sarah Herman St. Andrew’s School Timothy Breen Headmaster Head of School Brimmer and May School Head of School Alixe Callen Head of School Eagle Hill School Kimball Union Academy Our Sisters’ School Darren Nicholas Head of School The White Mountain School Principal Andrew Chase Renee DuChainey-Farkes Cynthia A. Harmon St. George’s School Brian P. Easler British International School of Boston Headmaster Head of School Head of School Edward P. Hardiman, Ph. D. Eaglebrook School Kingsley Montessori School The Park School Head of School John Packard Headmaster The Rev. John H. Finley IV Wilbraham & Monson Academy Head of School Robert J. Broudo Tracy Bradley St. John’s Prep Brooks School Head of School President and Headmaster Head of Schools Robert W. Hill, III John Warren Epiphany School Landmark School Park Street School/Park Street Kids Head of School Laura Caron Head of School Annmarie Quezada The Williston Northampton School Head of School Amy Carroll Rob Kelley St. Mark’s School Interim Head of School Head of School Brookwood School Head of School Sarah Pelmas Esperanza Academy Laurel School The Pennfield School Mike Hirschfeld Rebecca T. Upham Head of School Head of School Moira Kelly John G. Palfrey Head of School Dan Scheibe St. Paul’s School The Winsor School Buckingham Browne and Executive Director and President Head of School Head of School Nichols School Explo School Lawrence Academy Phillips Academy Scot Landry Edward A.