October 2026 - A letter from Head of School Dana Harrison to Clerk of the School Committee, Steve Bacher

October 2026

 

Steve Bacher

Clerk, The School Committee of Newtown Friends School

 

Dear Steve,

 

It is with mixed emotions that I write to share that the 2027–2028 school year will be my final year as Head of School at Newtown Friends School. At the conclusion of that school year, I will have served 18 years as Head of School at Newtown Friends, and completed 39 years as an educator. After considerable reflection over the summer, I have made the decision to bring this chapter of my professional life to a close. I look forward to adventures with my wife Stephanie, engaging in causes that are meaningful to me, and creating space to dive back into lifelong hobbies.

 

Serving as Head of School at Newtown Friends has been an extraordinary privilege and the highlight of my long career. For 16 years so far, I have had the opportunity to watch generations of children grow into capable and compassionate young people. I have had the pleasure of being able to work alongside an extraordinarily talented faculty and staff whose commitment to children are at the heart of what makes Newtown Friends special. Additionally, I offer a special thank you to our talented administrative team, who are the organizational backbone of the school.

 

Please know that I remain fully committed to Newtown Friends through the end of the 2027–2028 school year. There is important work ahead, and I intend to make the most of my remaining time as Head of School. Our community can be immensely proud of what we have accomplished. We have strengthened the school academically, financially, and programmatically while remaining faithful to our Quaker values.

 

By the time I depart, we will have completed nine significant classroom renovation and campus projects, including a renovated PreK/K wing, a soon-to-be-installed solar array, a gym refresh, a redesigned front entrance, a renovated library and Innovation Center, and improved spaces for music, art, and Lower School Science. These investments have created learning environments that better support the creativity and curiosity of our students. We can also take great pride in the financial health of the school. During my tenure, we have tripled the endowment and achieved multiple years of surplus budgets. These accomplishments reflect careful stewardship, thoughtful planning, and the generosity and commitment of our community.

 

Of particular pride for me is the way we successfully navigated the extraordinary challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping the safety, education, and well-being of our students and employees at the center of our decisions. We also deepened our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the addition of a full-time Director of Equity and Justice. This work reflects our Quaker commitment to equality, equity, and the inherent worth of every person.  Becoming an International Baccalaureate PYP World School this fall ensures that we will continue to prepare students to thrive in a globally-connected world.

 

Our school has also strengthened its accountability to the larger Friends and independent-school communities. By the end of my tenure, Newtown Friends will have completed two Friends Council on Education Membership Renewal processes and two PAIS ten-year accreditation self-study processes. Each process provides opportunities for honest reflection, growth, and reaffirmation of our mission.

 

Perhaps most importantly, throughout these years we have remained committed to being a Quaker school. We have sought to create a community in which every child is known and respected; where students listen deeply, consider multiple perspectives, act with integrity, and learn to resolve differences peacefully; and where equality, community, and stewardship are lived values.

 

The accomplishments of the past 16 years belong to all of us, and I believe Newtown Friends is well positioned for a vibrant future. A leadership transition will provide an opportunity for the community to reflect, and imagine what the next chapter of the school’s story might become. Change can bring uncertainty, but it can also bring new ideas and renewal. I have great faith in this community and its ability to embrace the future while remaining true to the values that define Newtown Friends.

 

Thank you for the confidence, trust, friendship, and support you have extended to me over these many years. It has been an extraordinary honor to serve as Head of School. I look forward to the next 20 months with a full heart and deep gratitude—for the people, the relationships, the challenges, the accomplishments, and the privilege of serving a school that continues to live its Quaker values and that believes in the extraordinary potential of every child.

 

In Peace,

Dana H. Harrison

Head of School

Newtown Friends School