South Kent School announces new head of school

KENT — Lawrence A. Smith ’73 has been elected South Kent’s ninth head of school. Smith accepted the permanent position following a unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees during its 2019 winter meeting. His election formally completes a transition process that began last August.

This decision follows an extensive due diligence process including 40 interviews with constituents and professionals in the independent school sector and an evaluation of the Head of School talent and compensation market. Moreover, the board conducted one-on-one discussions with South Kent faculty and staff about the leadership needs of the School and their assessment of Smith’s five months as Interim.

Smith has a distinguished career in secondary education as a teacher, coach, mentor, and academic administrator. A Princeton University graduate, he taught at South Kent for nine years, followed by two years at the University of New Hampshire, during which time he earned his master’s in history and coached collegiate crew. He then spent 22 years at Phillips Exeter Academy teaching history, coaching hockey and varsity crew, and serving as History Department Chair and Associate Dean of Faculty. Smith co-founded the Exeter Humanities Institute which has become a nationally recognized conference for learner-centered teaching.

Before returning to South Kent as interim head last fall, Smith served as Dean of Teaching and Learning at St. Paul’s School for seven years. He also taught history and humanities and coached crew. At St. Paul’s, Lawrence helped co-found the Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR) program in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, a groundbreaking approach to training teachers in independent schools, which he co-directed his wife, Relinde de Greef, PhD. Relinde will be on sabbatical from St. Paul’s for the 20192020 year, moving to South Kent in early July.

While at St. Paul’s, Lawrence served on the South Kent Board of Trustees, chairing the Education and Student Life Committee and Governance Committees and serving on the Executive Committee.