 |
Deborah M. Cook Appointed New Head of School
April 1, 2003
The Board of Trustees of Lake Ridge Academy is pleased
to announce that Mrs. Debbie Cook has accepted the invitation from
the Board to assume the role as Head of School at Lake Ridge Academy,
effective July 1, 2003.
Mrs. Cook’s appointment to this position concludes
an intensive national search that began in the spring of 2002. Multitudes
of constituents met with the Head of School candidates over the
last six months and provided the Search Committee with valuable
feedback. Mrs. Cook, clearly the candidate with overwhelming support,
brings with her a unique set of skills and solid experiences which
will make her an exciting and talented leader of the school community.
With a strong history of effective leadership in the
world of education, Mrs. Cook comes to Lake Ridge from her most
recent position, from 1993 to 2002, as Head of School at St. Timothy’s
School in Stevenson, Maryland. While at St. Timothy’s, she
led the school community in the development of a strategic plan
that focused on student enrollment and retention, fund-raising,
financial stability and growth, academic program, and faculty professional
development. During some of this time, Mrs. Cook also served as
Interim Academic Dean and Director of Admission.
During her fifteen years at The Pennington School,
Pennington, New Jersey, Mrs. Cook was a teacher of middle school
math, social studies, and English, Dean of the Middle School, Assistant
Admission Director, Dean of Academic Affairs, Assistant Headmaster,
and Interim Headmaster.
Mrs. Cook received her B.S. in Special Education from
the College of New Jersey, and her M.A. in Educational Administration
from Rider University. She is the recipient of the Robert L. Foose
Graduate Award in Educational Administration. In addition, Mrs.
Cook has Co-Chaired the Association of Independent Maryland Schools
Accreditation Committee. She has also served as a Board member of
the Irvine Natural Science Center Board of Trustees and the Baltimore
Educational Scholarship Trust. She was appointed to the Commission
for Jury Use and Management for the State of Maryland.
Debbie and her husband Ted, also an educator, have
three children: Peter, Scott and Kristin. Their family also includes
a daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters. Debbie is delighted to
be Lake Ridge’s next Head of School, and is eagerly anticipating
her official arrival July 1, 2003. Lake Ridge Academy is indeed
fortunate to have found such an excellent match for our school community.
Sincerely,
Kathy J. Ader
President of the Board of Trustees
April 1, 2003
Dear Members of the Lake Ridge
Academy Community,
I am delighted to be joining your
school community in July. The focus placed on academic success
and character development attracted me to Lake Ridge Academy.
As I researched to learn more about LRA, I discovered that
the school is nationally well-known for its strong academic
program, the focus on the development of thinking and problem
solving skills, the interactive curriculum, the study of French
in the Lower School, and the importance of the arts in the
curriculum. Lake Ridge Academy is firmly rooted in its belief
that a quality education requires teachers with the highest
qualifications and interest in working with young people,
in addition to recognizing the need for providing a facility
which meets the curricular needs. My educational philosophy
and the mission of the school are a very strong match!
|
|
The Search Committee of Lake Ridge
Academy deserves my thanks for their tireless effort on behalf
of the School. During our first meeting I recognized how committed
each member is to LRA. I also appreciated the many meetings
scheduled with members of the Board of Trustees, parents,
students, alumni, faculty and staff during my visits to campus.
I learned so much about the community during these meetings.
I am very impressed with the professionalism
of the faculty and staff. The lessons presented are exciting
and interactive. Each student has a voice to express his or
her ideas and to question the information presented. They
are encouraged to be responsible participants in their education.
The faculty uses creative teaching pedagogy which follows
solid educational research and each is dedicated to the students
of LRA and the school community. Their focus is on the students’
learning and development.
Most special to me is the community’s
belief that individual student’s talents are valued
and encouraged to develop while, at the same time, community
responsibility and spirit are also expected. I experienced
many examples of this in action during my visits to campus.
I enjoyed observing the relaxed and respectful interaction
between faculty and students. The students are bright, energetic,
enthusiastic, and eager to talk about their experiences at
LRA. Their openness during our discussions and respectful
responses to one another indicate this is the way they regularly
interact.
I am excited to be named the next Head of School
at Lake Ridge Academy and look forward to meeting and working
with all members of the school community. Ted and our family
join me in thanking you for providing me this exciting opportunity.
Sincerely,
Deborah M. Cook
|
Email
Webmaster | Privacy
Statement | Contact Us |
April 24, 2003
|
|
