Lisa Shambaugh, Head of School
We are excited to open our 158th school year with 180 students, representing 23 countries and 11 US states. In a time when rhetoric and policies in the wider world can often feel divisive, our school continues to be a place of welcome and belonging, creating an environment where students from across the globe can learn from each other and feel supported in who they are. Our community is thriving, kind, and welcoming, upholding our core values of truth, respect, and responsibility.
This year promises to be especially exciting as the School commences work on our new Strategic Plan, led by our Board of Trustees and guided by our vision for a future of limitless possibilities. We are fully engaged in the vital process of re-accreditation through NYSAIS (New York State Association of Independent Schools), a process we complete every 10 years which ensures our programs remain strong, relevant, and forward-looking. Following this summer's approval of the project, we are deep into the planning for construction of the much-anticipated new Academic Center which will soon become the heart of our campus, bringing students and faculty together in a modern, well-equipped space for learning, collaboration, and community. We anticipate beginning construction on the new building in Spring 2026, and it should be completed within the next school year.
Over the summer, our faculty and staff read from a selection of books that challenged us to think more deeply about the ways we connect with one another and with our work. These readings included The Anxious Generation, which examines the impact of technology and cell phones on adolescents; UDL Now, which explores flexible and inclusive approaches to curriculum design; and Find Your Why, which calls us to reflect on the purpose behind what we do. These books have formed the foundation for this year's school-wide theme of connection, which resonates across our teaching, our learning, and our relationships as a community. I encourage all members of our community to explore them as well.
The theme of connection also extends beyond the classroom. It will come alive in our daily interactions, in the diverse perspectives our international student body brings, and in the design of our new Academic Center, which is envisioned as a true gathering point of campus—connecting people, ideas, and opportunities in a contemporary, shared space, and in the vision for the future of The Storm King School as laid out in our new Strategic Plan. We are eager to welcome our students back to campus and begin this exciting new school year together. With a thriving community, a shared vision for the future, and exciting projects on the horizon, there is no doubt that this will be a remarkable year at The Storm King School.
