7 minute read
Homegrown Talent
HEAD OF SCHOOL JULIE ANDERSON shared some of her fondest memories from her 15 years at Cheshire Academy.
She talked about former students who persevered through personal challenges and went on to successful professional careers. She smiled when chatting about the days of being a dorm parent, and how students carried her groceries inside or cleared snow off her car. She also recalled her first year when she taught four Spanish classes inside Woodbury Hall.
“You have a broader picture of the child here,” Anderson said. “It’s absolutely the truth that in a smaller environment you get to know the kids better, and get to know them beyond the subject matter. It was more than just conjugating the verb in Spanish.”
While Anderson shared many different stories, she spoke about each one with the same genuine appreciation and passion for the school. It’s evident Cheshire Academy holds a special place in her heart.
Back in late August, less than a week before school started, Cheshire Academy was set to kick off its 225th year. Anderson was preparing for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation team to visit campus and a busy upcoming travel season which includes stops to see alumni and parents in North Carolina, Florida, Asia and other destinations. She had the feelings of anticipation and excitement like every new school year, but this time around those feelings were a little stronger.
“It’s different because I’m starting the year as Head of School,” she explained. “This summer I thought, ‘how do I want to put my mark on the school as Head of School? What do I want my legacy to be?’ For me it’s a really positive time. I feel confident with the new leadership team and I’m excited about the new faculty. We’re celebrating our 225 th anniversary. We opened our doors when George Washington was president. To think the school existed then, with the same mission it has today, is incredible. It’s going to be a busy year with a lot of exciting things happening that I think will be really affirming to all of us as a community that, wow, we do really great things here.”
The Board of Trustees voted unanimously in May to appoint Anderson as the first female Head of School in Cheshire Academy’s history. She has worn many hats here: Spanish teacher, Roxbury instructor, language department chair, middle school head, associate head of school for academic affairs, house head and student advisor.
Anderson, who lives in the O’Connor House with her fiancé Thomas Marshall, a math teacher at the school, along with daughters Jenna Denomme ’19 and Kaylee Denomme, said she always wanted to be a teacher. It was her North Haven High School Spanish teacher, Gail Leach, who inspired her to be a Spanish teacher, she said. She taught in public school for a few years and then lived in Virginia with her now ex-husband. He was stationed there as a member of the Navy but when he was deployed to the Gulf, Anderson decided to move back to Connecticut with Jenna and stay with her mother until he returned.
Meanwhile, Cheshire Academy was looking for a midyear replacement for a Spanish teacher. Chief Academic Officer Laura Longacre, then-language department chair, reached out to a network of teachers to help find someone. One of the teachers knew Anderson and mentioned the position to her. She visited for what she thought was going to be a tour of Cheshire Academy. She remembers the day vividly, including wearing black pants and a burgundy top. It turned out to be an interview. She laughs looking back, as that wasn’t expected. Anderson was offered the position, accepted it and never left. Now, 16 years, later she is Cheshire Academy’s Head of School.
“She’s what I would call a homegrown talent,” said Board of Trustees Chair Rich Cerrone ’67. “It’s terrific for us to promote from within. There’s a tremendous amount of opportunity for her to stabilize the school and grow it. She’ll do it in a very meaningful way, in a way that people will recognize. Our expectation is that she’ll be here for a long time and she’ll build a tremendous legacy for herself and for the school.”
During Anderson’s time at Cheshire Academy, she has helped develop a strong and rigorous academic program. She’s been instrumental in launching the International Baccalaureate® Programme, a global education program held in high regard by colleges and universities around the world. Anderson instituted the Center for Writing, developed a more robust hiring and mentoring process for faculty and created more opportunities at Cheshire Academy for female students.
- Alumna Danielle Landry ’15
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of Anderson’s work is the growth. It’s a word she uses often. She loves seeing the growth of a student, whether a freshman or a postgraduate, and hearing about it from a dorm parent, faculty member or coach. Also, watching the school itself flourish, and faculty grow and move on to higher positions.
The theme transitions into her role, too. Being Head of School means always working, learning, thinking – and growing, she said. The independent school world is an ever-changing one, she explains. There’s always something to be done and ways to improve. That keeps her invigorated and excited about her work. Anderson brings her passion, along with longevity to the position, and that’s a sense of reassurance for the Cheshire Academy community.
Julie Anderson with Alumna Jemimah Frempong ’18
“I’ve been through many changes and I know the history of the school,” she says. “I appreciate and value and respect that history. I also know where we want to move forward. So I’m new to this role, but I’m not new to the school. I think that’s what makes me different.”
Donna Esposito taught Anderson in fifth grade at Montowese Elementary School in North Haven. It’s been rewarding to watch her grow, Esposito said. The two have kept in touch through the years and Esposito visited Anderson at the Academy in September. She said Anderson never missed a homework assignment and always encouraged and helped her classmates.
Julie Anderson with her fifth grade teacher, Donna Esposito
Cerrone described Anderson as very genuine with tremendous authenticity. She’s someone who really believes in the values and traditions of the school. When introduced as Head of School earlier this year, Anderson became emotional when explaining how privileged and honored she is to serve the Cheshire Academy students, including some she’s known since they were sixth graders at the old middle school.
“I had her,” Thomas Cavaliere ’15 said. “My sister had her. She’s part of our memory of the Academy. To have a Head of School that represents Cheshire Academy and everything it stands for is very important.”
“I used to babysit her daughters,” Danielle Rios-Roberts ’15 said. “I felt like I had a connection with her from the start. She’s a role model. I can’t think of a better person for this role. She embodies everything Cheshire Academy is about.”
Looking ahead, Anderson is aiming to bring a Community Fine and Performing Arts Center to Cheshire Academy. The plan has been talked about for some time and is finally gaining traction. She envisions Cheshire Academy as a destination for talented musicians, artists and actors. It would serve those with a dedicated passion for the arts and also those who will experience the arts for the first time. The Community Fine and Performing Arts Center will also give Cheshire Academy the opportunity to invite other schools, alumni and the outside community to attend guest lectures, music concerts and drama productions.
Anderson said this role is the final step in her career. Offering the best student experience possible is her top priority. She wants to empower students as active, thoughtful citizens in a global community.
Longacre reflected back on Anderson’s first year at Cheshire Academy, and how she’s grown. She knew Anderson was a great fit from the beginning, Longacre said, and she’s always shown great commitment. She’s excited to see how Cheshire Academy moves forward under Anderson’s direction.
“For our community, our students and faculty, they can see how someone can grow professionally for the right reasons,” Longacre said. “That’s been heartwarming. We were a gift to her and she was a gift to us.”
