During the quiet months of summer, The Storm King School is busy welcoming an important new member to the school community. After many months of collaboration with the Board Chair, the outgoing Head of School, and members of SKS’ faculty and staff, Lisa Shambaugh has assumed the role of our 18th Head of School as of July 1, 2024.

A Colorado native, Lisa is relocating from her current home near Washington, D.C., to the SKS campus in Cornwall-on-Hudson. Having spent her undergraduate years at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie and then starting her career in college admissions at Manhattan’s Barnard College, Lisa has long been enamored with New York and the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley. “I’ve lived for 15 wonderful years in the Washington D.C. area, first working at Georgetown Day School and then for nine years at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Before that, my life and career have taken me to California, Europe, New Hampshire, and Japan. I’m excited now to return to New York and to become acquainted with the Hudson Valley,” she explains.

Joining the Storm King community from her position as a key member of the senior administrative team at St. Andrew’s, Lisa says that, along with its majestic location, the School’s small size, diverse student body, and strong sense of community were among the factors that drew her to the School. “I felt like the opportunities and the challenges outlined with the position were well-aligned with my professional experiences and strengths. During my first interview with the Search Committee, I appreciated the way the committee members put me at ease. While they certainly took their roles seriously and asked me tough questions, the group was also quick to laugh and to joke with each other, and with me. I felt immediately like I could just be myself,” she continues, “and that told me a lot about the culture and community of SKS.”

One aspect that resonated in particular with Lisa was the fondness for the School expressed by everyone she met, including trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, as well as current students and parents: “As I learned more about SKS through each individual’s experiences, their high regard for the School was evident. I loved hearing about their time spent here, their interactions, and how they felt they were able to challenge themselves, explore new interests, and grow during their time at Storm King.

“When I came to campus for my finalist interview, I was warmly welcomed from the beginning. One of my first meetings was an early breakfast with day parents and faculty members. We had to keep adding chairs to the table as more people joined the conversation, and I was so impressed and moved by how many community members carved out time to be a part of the process of selecting the School’s next Head. Throughout all of my interviews and subsequent encounters with the SKS community, I’ve loved the level of engagement, good humor, and passion for the School’s mission, past and future,” she continues.

After the bustle of the search process concluded, Lisa had the time to reflect upon her time spent on campus getting to know Storm King and the school community. “I could see myself in this role at The Storm King School, and felt well prepared to lead the School. I truly hoped that the search committee and the community felt the same way. I was thrilled when I received the offer for the position. It was a wonderful and life-changing phone call,” she explains. “I am honored and humbled to have been selected as The Storm King School’s next Head of School, and I look forward to becoming a part of the community.”

Lisa’s life’s work as an administrator, educator, diversity practitioner and her extensive background in enrollment management, strategic planning, and international student programming puts her in a strong position to lead SKS well into the future. She anticipates a smooth transition thanks to consistent communication and onboarding by the Board of Trustees and the former Head of School. “Outgoing Head, Jonathan Lamb, has been very generous with his time, and we’ve met regularly throughout the school year to help prepare for the transition. The Board Chair and I have also met several times, and I’ve attended the winter and spring board meetings. I’m also honored to have been invited to address the graduating class of 2024, which has provided me with an inside look at one of the School’s most important traditions,” Lisa continues.

In describing what she wishes to accomplish first in her new role, Lisa says “Listening. I really believe the most important thing I can do in my first year at SKS is to listen and learn about the School, and what is on people’s minds. I plan to meet with as many community members as possible including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents during my opening months. I want to hear what people love about the School and would never want to change, and to hear about their hopes for the future as The Storm King School moves forward.”

One of the first projects that Lisa and the Board will take on will be the creation of a new strategic plan for Storm King. This will allow school leadership to identify more specifically the areas of focus for the years ahead, and to plan the pathway forward for the campus, community, and academic programs. “I’m really excited to continue the conversations that were started during the hiring process. Several people shared with me their ideas for how the School can continue to excel and grow in certain areas. I’m eager to dig into those topics more deeply.”

Lisa concludes, “On a more personal note, I’m looking forward to moving into The Homestead with my husband, Jay, and our dog, Perseus. We have already felt warmly welcomed by the SKS community and look forward to making this our home. I’m also eager to experience and learn more about the SKS traditions during my first year, beginning with ‘Mountain Day’ and taking in the beautiful views from the crest of Storm King Mountain together with the community.”