The Cambridge School of Weston Names Next Head of School

The CSW board of trustees has announced that Lise Charlier will become The Cambridge School of Weston’snext head of school, effective July 1, 2019. Charlier will succeed Jane Moulding, who will have led CSW for 17 years when she retires from the school in June.

This appointment is the result of a thoughtful and inclusive search process, led by a dedicated committee with guidance from consultants School Strategies & Solutions. This nationwide search attracted a large number of impressive and highly qualified candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences. The search committee was especially mindful of the many qualities that the CSW community indicated were essential for an effective head of school, and is grateful for the heartfelt participation and deep engagement of a broad range of constituents, including administrators, faculty, staff, students, current families, alumni/ae, past families, friends, and trustees.

Sarita Gandhi Shah '86, chair of the board and co-chair of the search committee, stated that, “We are pleased to have an educator with Charlier’s talent, integrity, leadership, and commitment to progressive education join our community. She has a clear passion for learning and a lifelong dedication to young people. She will bring a wide range of qualities and credentials to the role of head, including an ability to translate vision to reality using a relationship-driven leadership style; extensive experience in daily school operations and strategic administrative function; and a strong ethos in progressive education and academic and student life programming.”

In her letter to the school community, Charlier expressed her excitement for the school and her passion for the work ahead: “When I visited CSW in September, I was blown away by the palpable love of school emanating from everyone in the community — students, faculty, trustees, parents, and alumni/ae — and the commitment to progressive education and social justice evident in every conversation. I look forward to working with all of you to build on CSW’s strong and beautiful foundation. Together we will guarantee that CSW remains an extraordinary school — a place where young people have the time and space to grow into the people that they want to be, in an environment that allows them to know and appreciate themselves and others, where they can ask questions freely and fully, engage in intellectual pursuit, and be kind and contributing members of society who seek social justice locally and globally.”

Charlier comes to CSW with over 25 years of administrative and teaching experience in the US and abroad. She currently serves as director of studies and strategic initiatives at Severn School in Severna Park, Maryland. Prior to her role at Severn, Charlier was upper school assistant principal at Friends School of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland. She has served on the board of trustees for Green Street Academy, the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS), the Cowles Charitable Trust, and most recently the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE). She holds an MS in education from Johns Hopkins University and a BS from Georgetown University. Born and raised in Haiti, Charlier was educated in the Haitian, French, and American educational systems. She currently lives with her husband in Baltimore, where they raised their two children.

The Cambridge School of Weston (CSW) is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. Our one-of-a-kind Mod System offers breadth, depth, and intensity you won’t find at any other school. At CSW, motivated students embrace challenging work and address complex questions — with curiosity and courage. Inspired by the diverse perspectives and high expectations of our vibrant community, they find and develop what is extraordinary in themselves and in the world around them.