Head of School Announcement

Dear Members of The Harley School Community,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and our Head of School Search Committee, it is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Larry Frye as our next Head of School. The Board was unanimous in its support of the Search Committee’s enthusiastic recommendation of Larry, based on an extensive and highly competitive national search process. His term will begin on July 1, 2018.

With nearly three decades of experience in independent schools, Larry has served as an educator, administrator, and leader. As our current Head of Upper School, Larry’s passion for Harley and for innovation is well known: in his time here, the Upper School has grown to full capacity, become more than twice as diverse, added most of the Commons programming (education for sustainability), and continually reinvented itself in the traditional academic disciplines and in the arts.

Larry has served in and led most of the essential functions of an independent school in his career, from teaching, coaching and dorm parenting to administrative work. He has been a dean, administered financial aid, led advancement efforts, and has helped lead the articulation of mission and diversity statements. He states, “At a school, everything and everyone is important, so having a hand in all aspects of a school—from helping students pick up after a bonfire to handing out diplomas—is part of the privilege of leadership.”

Larry earned his undergraduate degree at Hamilton College (B.A. in English Literature, Religion). He holds an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. A native of Syracuse, New York, our Upstate region will forever be “hometown” for Larry.

Throughout his career, Larry has demonstrated a commitment to fostering learning that promotes intellectual depth and the critical faculties, deep engagement with the arts, ethics and compassion. The Search Committee was particularly impressed by Larry’s philosophy, “Education should prepare young people for life as most of us actually encounter it—full of challenges, moving targets, complexity, and the search for happiness and meaning.” Larry brings a combination of vision, intelligence, thoughtfulness, and a deep dedication to Harley and Harley’s mission.

He believes, “The school has a core strength: clarity about who we are and what we strive to achieve, and such clarity of culture and mission is a powerful engine. It is my privilege to work with all members of the Harley family to help harness that power, as well as the genius and good will of our community, to lead Harley into its second century.”

Larry is well-prepared and eager to build on the solid base Ward Ghory has built during his tenure as Head of School. We look forward to a great future for The Harley School with Larry’s leadership.

I would like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of the Search Committee—Jack Baron, Trustee, P’18; Scott Frame, Trustee,’73, P’05, P’08; Sam Hampton, Trustee, ’77; Christina Kerr, LS Faculty Member; Milena Novy-Marx, Trustee, P’21, P’22, P’26; Dave O’Brien, US Faculty Member, P’19; Kirsten Reader, MS Faculty Member, ’90, P’20, P’26; Deb Willsea, Trustee, ’73, Former MS Faculty, P’06, P’10.

Additionally, I want to thank all of the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents who provided such thoughtful feedback during the search. Your observations were heartfelt, insightful, and of great value in our process.

Over the coming months, we will keep you informed of events to both honor Ward and introduce Larry as Head of School. Please join me in welcoming Larry and his wife, Robin Damrad Frye, as well as their children Lily ’12, Amos ’15, and Josh ’15 into their new place in our community.

Sincerely,

Scott Frame

President, Board of Trustees