Just over a year ago, I stepped onto this campus with so much curiosity and excitement, eager to immerse myself in Proctor's culture and see for myself how this place, so unique, works its magic. My first year as Head of School was deeply humbling at times, but as I have taken time to reflect on what I learned, how I experienced this community, and the remarkable people I have met, I feel nothing but gratitude to have found Proctor.
Last week, I sat around a table with Proctor's leadership team as we explored how we think about leadership and decision making at Proctor. Not necessarily what decisions we will make, but how we will make them.
At the heart of Proctor is a culture unlike any other. It is rooted in deep, intentional relationships that create the conditions for the kind of learning that only happens when a student feels both challenged and fully believed in. It is the kind of place where young people are encouraged to attempt things they never imagined possible, supported every step of the way by thoughtful, passionate educators who are here because they genuinely love Proctor and believe in the transformative power of their work.
Proctor’s culture didn't happen by accident. It has been built thoughtfully over decades by people who believed in the potential in our students and in the power of experiential learning. Our culture lives in our alumni, who carry Proctor with them long after graduation. It is modeled every day by our professional community and our Board of Trustees. It is experienced by parents who entrust us with what matters most to them. Most importantly, it is built daily through thousands of interactions that communicate to every student, You matter at Proctor.
What I have also found is that the Proctor students, alumni, parents, past parents, and professional community members feel a profound connection to this place and this culture. That connection is one of our greatest strengths, and I feel acutely that stewarding it is my greatest responsibility.
As our leadership team talked together last week, we found ourselves returning to a question that sits at the heart of Proctor’s future: How do we continue to evolve while holding onto the very culture that makes this place so extraordinary?
I think Proctor is uniquely positioned to answer that question.
We are a school that has always been willing to be curious about how to best prepare students for a life of joy and purpose. We have never been interested in following trends simply because they are popular. Instead, our history has been shaped by educators who believed that experiential learning, meaningful relationships, and trusting young people to do hard things were worth investing in long before those ideas became widely accepted.
That spirit of creativity, thoughtful risk-taking, and willingness to challenge convention continues to define us today.
As we look ahead, I hope we continue to build on the strengths that have defined Proctor while never losing our willingness to evolve thoughtfully. I hope we continue creating a school where every student feels seen, challenged, and supported. I hope we continue building a community where belonging is lived, and where our commitment to caring for one another and for the community around us shapes the decisions we make every day.
Most of all, I hope we never lose our willingness to ask good questions.
If my first year was about learning what makes Proctor so extraordinary, my second year is about working alongside this incredible community to help ensure that what makes this place special continues to thrive for generations to come.
Read More from Head of School Amy Smucker
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