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A Letter from the Board of Trustees
December 18, 2009
The Board of Trustees is very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Larry Weiss as the nineteenth Head of School.
As
the visits by our finalists demonstrated, we had two highly qualified
candidates to consider. The Search Committee and the Board, after
careful deliberation--which took into account the school’s current
strategic plan, as well as a close examination of the more than 200
opinions submitted by members of the community--agreed whole-heartedly
that Larry is the best person for the job.
Here at the start
of the 21st century, Brooklyn Friends is poised to begin a new chapter
in the school’s long and distinguished history: now more than ever, the
values-based education we offer is a cherished commodity, a beacon of
light in uncertain times. Larry understands this. He has a genuine love
and respect for our school that took root when he began his teaching
career here in the 1970s. Brooklyn Friends is the foundation on which
Larry’s illustrious career sits—it is here that he discovered his deep
commitment to progressive education and to Quaker values.
When
we concluded the search, Larry told us, “I couldn’t be happier about
the prospect of returning to Brooklyn Friends School. This community
is a truly diverse one, and I believe that is critical to the school’s
success. Bob Smith, former Headmaster of Sidwell Friends School speaks
my mind in A Quaker Book of Wisdom when he writes, 'I think it’s
significant that a Friends School is always consciously striving to
become a better school community—a process everyone is aware of and
involved with. This is an exciting and contagious environment for
students, teachers, and parents. One key component is maintaining or
increasing diversity—racial, religious, and economic—in the student
body and faculty. Without input from people of differing life
experiences and culture, a school quickly becomes insular and
stagnant.’”
Under Larry’s leadership we know Brooklyn
Friends will thrive in its conscious practice to become a better
school. Larry brings so much to us at this critical juncture. He knows
NYC; he understands the cultural, political, and economic terrain of
downtown Brooklyn and its surrounding neighborhoods. He has handled
complex capital construction and relishes the fund raising that
accompanies an ambitious project. His intimacy with and life-long
commitment to Quaker institutions and process, especially consensus
decision making, will serve us well. As we grow, Larry will not allow
us to lose sight of our core values—he will embrace and promote them in
conjunction with the pursuit of academic excellence. Most importantly,
Larry grasps that the Head’s overriding task is to nurture and elevate
what goes on in the classroom. During his visit, Larry showed us--with
wit, erudition, warmth, and graciousness--his great respect for
teachers, for the relationship between students and teachers, and a
personal love for teaching. It is no wonder that so many members of the
community are genuinely excited and inspired by the prospect of working
with him.
Larry comes to us from Saint Ann’s School, a
neighboring progressive PK-12 school where he has served as Head since
2004. Under Larry’s leadership, the school instituted successful
initiatives in international education, expanded student services,
restructured its administrative team and began a formal program of
voluntary community service. Larry was also responsible for completion
of major capital construction, significant improvements in faculty
compensation, and substantial increases in the school’s net assets.
Prior to becoming the Head at Saint Ann’s, Larry was the Head of the
Upper Division at Horace Mann School in Riverdale, NY, and the Director
of the Chinese Studies Program at Sidwell Friends School. Before
joining the faculty at Sidwell, he spent ten years as President of
Friends World College. Larry’s affiliation with Quaker institutions
also includes service as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Washington
Quaker Work Camps from 1993-1997.
Since receiving his Ph.D.
in Political Science from Columbia University, Larry has never stopped
teaching: at Saint Ann’s he teaches Chinese language and a seminar on
contemporary China. We look forward to sharing his global perspective,
which will be an enormous asset for our students. A native New Yorker,
Larry lives with his wife, Wendy Aibel-Weiss, in Park Slope. They have
two grown children.
One of the clear findings of the search
has been the consistent desire of our community to preserve what is
unique about our culture even as we expand and move the school in new
directions. We cherish our diversity and know that our students’
educational experience is richer when the classroom brims with
different voices and perspectives. We cherish an institution that works
to instill values in those children. We recognize that both are
essential underpinnings for superior academic performance. We are lucky
to have found a leader who knows what makes us special and has a vision
for what the school can become. A parent noted, “He is personally
committed to going deeper in both the academic and spiritual aspects of
the school, and understands those as crucial to balance and sustain the
school's uniqueness.” Another said, “He [understands] that maintaining
and furthering BFS's position on diversity is essential to our
survival. His long involvement with Quakerism further supports his
commitment to diversity and social justice. “ Yet another noted, “He
will draw people to the school. He will take [us] on a new brilliant
journey.” A Lower School teacher said, “…Larry has vision and sees
growth and change but also sees us. I am excited by the possibility of
working, changing and growing with him.”
The Board and the
Search Committee extend profound thanks to the advisory councils and
the hundreds of parents, staff, faculty, students, alumni, and Friends
who gave so generously of their time these past eight months. We have
appreciated your patience, support, engagement, and candor throughout
this long process. It has reminded everyone in the community of what we
hold dear about Brooklyn Friends School and given us a wonderful
opportunity to reaffirm our values and aspirations for the school.
Larry
will succeed Michael Nill next summer. The Board is in the process of
creating a transition team to ensure that the change in leadership is
thoughtful and smooth. We look forward to celebrating Michael in the
remaining months of this academic year. Our debt to him is huge; in his
ten years as Head, Michael has accomplished an extraordinary array of
projects and brought Brooklyn Friends School to a wonderful place.
Larry will take us even further. We welcome him home.
In Friendship,
Alice Pope and Karen Robinson
Co-Chairs, Board of Trustees |