 | Announcement to the Fryeburg Academy Community
Dear Fryeburg Academy Family,
It is with great pleasure that I announce Ms. Erin Mayo of Dallas, Texas has
been selected to become our new head of school, effective July 1, 2013.
It was a long search process as the search committee was determined to find
the best possible match for our academy following Dan Lee's announcement he
will be retiring next year. During Dan's 20 years at Fryeburg Academy, he
has virtually transformed our campus and markedly improved the educational
experience we provide to our students. We are confident Erin is the best
individual to carry on the legacy Dan has set into motion.
With more than 20 years of experience in education, Erin comes to us from
the Episcopal School of Dallas, widely recognized as one of the best
coeducational college prep schools in the U.S. She began there as head of
the Upper School and was then promoted to assistant head of school for
Academics.
Erin was first brought to our search committee's attention in July 2012 by
Gregory Floyd & Associates, a nationally-renowned, Maine-based search firm
retained by the Academy to conduct a nationwide search for candidates. After
considering more than 30 applicants, conducting extensive campus visits and
interviews with finalists, and reviewing in-depth papers finalists prepared
on their thoughts for the future of the Academy, the committee voted
unanimously to recommend Erin Mayo as our next head of school.
Three years ago, Erin weathered a crisis at Episcopal involving an
inappropriate relationship between a teacher and student that greatly tested
her leadership skills and endurance. Her experience at Episcopal and the
manner in which she led her school through the storm made us all the more
impressed with her abilities as a leader, administrator and role model.
Through her visits to campus and the extensive interviews conducted with her
peers and past supervisors, all agreed we could not have found a better fit
for the position.
Prior to her time in Texas, Erin spent fifteen years at St. Johnsbury
Academy in Vermont, a town academy very similar to Fryeburg Academy serving
both local students and boarders from around the world. Erin grew up on the
St. Johnsbury campus, where her father served as Headmaster for many years.
She served as a teacher, Chair of the English Department, and eventually
Assistant Headmaster.
In getting to know the facts about Erin and her capabilities, we came to
admire and respect her strong character, perseverance and intellect. Members
of the board and search committee were equally impressed with her passion
for education and enthusiasm for our campus. Having worked at all levels of
the independent school system, we are confident she will help us continue
the Academy's tradition of educational excellence for all.
I hope you will find time to get to know Erin and welcome her to our campus
when she and her family arrive in Fryeburg this summer. She and her husband
Peter already have a great love of New England. With family ties in Vermont
and Maine, Erin and Peter are very much looking forward to moving back to
New England and raising their two children here.
Sincerely,
AO Pike '57
President of the Board of Trustees
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