Dr. Anne Longley Appointed Head of Upper School

Kitty Gordan, acting head of school, has announced the appointment of Dr. Anne Longley as Nightingale's new head of Upper School, effective July 1, 2012. 

 

Dr. Longley is currently an Upper School grade dean, director of senior projects, and a French teacher at the Hackley School in Tarrytown, NY, where she has been since 2004. In addition to her extensive classroom work, she has advised a variety of student clubs, served as an academic advisor, and developed community service activities. For the last four years, she has overseen daily activities for Hackley’s Class of 2012, and this past year created and implemented a new program for senior projects, similar to our own independent study program.

 

As a product of all-women’s education, Dr. Longley has spent much of her career (and even her doctoral thesis, which highlights the role of women in medieval French literature) focused on the exploration and advancement of girls’ education. “Along with Nightingale’s commitment to civic engagement,” Dr. Longley said, “I am most encouraged by the school’s mission to ensure the success of every girl, with an open-ended definition of success. It is clear that the well-being and education of the whole girl takes precedence, and the joyful atmosphere that I observed during my visits feels almost too good to be true. I am thrilled and humbled to be joining this remarkable community.”

 

Dr. Longley received her MA and PhD in French literature from Washington University, and has a MEd in foreign language education from the University of Georgia. She has taught for more than 20 years, both at the secondary and collegiate levels. Echoing Nightingale’s own commitment to professional development, Dr. Longley’s study of pedagogy, leadership, and administration has been constant throughout her career. 

 

Following a nationwide search, Dr. Longley emerged as the unanimous choice of the search committee, which consisted of Acting Head of School Kitty Gordan, Director of College Counseling Heather Beveridge, Head of Upper School Paul Burke, Dean of Students Claire du Nouy, Co-head of the Mathematics Department Sally Edgar, Class IX Homeroom and Latin teacher Jeff Kearney, English teacher and Upper School Diversity Coordinator Laura Kirk ’94, and Athletic Director Deb Malmgren.