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Welcome to The Foote School! Here, learning is an active experience for for everyone: Foote students learn by doing, from teachers who are deeply invested in their success.

From the first steps onto our beautiful forested campus, you can feel the same sense of excitement and joy that is reflected on campus — and in our classrooms — every day. Ours is a diverse, welcoming community that celebrates and honors each person as an individual. We delight in discovering what makes us different, while bonding through shared similarities. We confidently ask questions, and share our ideas.

Our size is just right: small enough to keep our community close and large enough to offer diverse social and learning opportunities.

Parents/guardians are active in the school life, and we value their participation and perspective. We encourage our families to share their vast life experiences with our students and the greater community. Our Financial Aid program is among the most robust for any school our size because we value socioeconomic equity.

Since 1916, Foote School has been a leader in progressive education and has cultivated an atmosphere of excellence and mutual respect. I invite you to explore our website to learn more about our history, mission and philosophy, and to see the joy of learning that takes place every day at Foote.

Thank you for your interest in our school.

Best,

Aléwa Cooper
Head of School

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About Aléwa Cooper

About Aléwa Cooper

Aléwa Cooper is an experienced independent school leader and teacher who brings to her role a palpable sense of joy and a genuine love of teaching young children. She was born and raised in New York City and attended The Packer Collegiate Institute, where she first came to understand the power of the connection between teacher and student, home and school. At Packer, Aléwa built a foundation based on partnership, commitment and understanding that has guided her career as an educator.

Prior to joining Foote School in 2020, Aléwa served five years as Head of Lower School at Greens Farms Academy, an independent school in Westport, Connecticut that serves 715 students in grades Pre-K to 12. At Greens Farms, Aléwa oversaw curricular initiatives in literacy, math and social-emotional learning; led diversity, equity and social justice work; and served on a school-wide marketing committee to better understand the changing school landscape and develop enrollment management strategies.

Aléwa brings to Foote first-hand experience with many of Foote's curricular initiatives, including Fundations and RULER, and she is attentive to differentiation and developmental approaches across grades K to 9.

Aléwa earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University and a Master of Science in Education from Bank Street College of Education. Prior to Greens Farms, she was a teacher and leader at two New York City independent schools: 12 years as a Grade 2 teacher and Diversity Practitioner at The Nightingale-Bamford School, followed by three years as Lower School Assistant Director at Trevor Day School. For the past six years, Aléwa has served as a core faculty member of the Interschool Leadership Institute, mentoring and coaching aspiring leaders of color.

Aléwa is Foote’s 10th Head of School and the first person of color to serve in the role.

Our location in the heart of New Haven puts us within easy walking distance of world-class art and natural history museums, parks, natural areas, houses of worship and community organizations that serve as venues for experiential learning.

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