Saturday, September 26, 2020 courtesy of Derby Academy
Derby Academy and its Board of Trustees are pleased to announce the appointment of Colleen M. Ramsden as Derby Academy’s 35th Head of School, beginning July 1, 2021.
Ms. Ramsden brings to Derby Academy 28 years of experience as a teacher, division head, and associate head of school. She spent the first fourteen years of her career teaching first, fourth, and fifth grades in New York, and then at Ravenscroft, a Pre-K through 12th-grade independent school in Raleigh, NC, where she became the Assistant Head of School in 2010 and Associate Head of School in 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management as well as two Master’s degrees in Elementary Education and Administration and Supervision from Fordham University. Ms. Ramsden is in the final phase of completing her doctorate in education: an EdD in educational leadership at North Carolina State University.
Ms. Ramsden recently spent two days on the Derby Academy campus, meeting faculty, staff, administrators, parents, students, and members of the community. “I am passionate about working with students in their formative years, and during my visit to campus it was clear that Derby is a child-centered school with a nurturing environment where exceptional and experienced teachers support and guide each of their students with warmth and respect,” said Ms. Ramsden. “The School’s environment provides a foundation upon which we can build the Derby Academy of tomorrow.”
The announcement comes as the conclusion of a comprehensive, national search under the guidance of the consulting firm Educators’ Collaborative, as well as Derby Academy’s internal Advisory Committee and Search Committees.
“Throughout this process, we have been guided by our School’s mission: ‘Improve Both Mind and Heart,’” said Derby Academy Board President Lori Cashman. “Colleen’s track record of leading with vision, honesty, and integrity reassured us that she would genuinely embrace the culture of our fantastic community.”
The Derby Academy community is excited to embark on this new journey with Ms. Ramsden and looks forward to welcoming her and her family to campus next summer.
---
Founded in 1784, Derby Academy is a Pre-K through Grade 8 co-ed, independent day school located in Hingham, Massachusetts.