Our New Head of School

On February 25, the Foote School Board of Directors announced the appointment of Aléwa Cooper as The Foote School's next Head of School, effective July 1, 2020.

Aléwa is an experienced independent school leader and teacher who is currently 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 has overseen curricular initiatives in literacy, math and social-emotional learning; led diversity, equity and social justice work; and served on a schoolwide marketing committee to better understand the changing school landscape and develop enrollment management strategies.

Aléwa will succeed Head of School Carol Maoz, who is departing in June following an 11-year tenure marked by continuous improvement to Foote's academic program, its campus, finances and the sense of community among students, teachers and families.

Aléwa's colleagues describe her as dependable, calm, caring, loyal and authentic. She brings 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–9.

Spending time on campus with students, parents and faculty convinced me that Foote is a place where everyone teaches and everyone learns; I am eager to do both. I look forward to joining this special community and writing Foote's next chapter together.

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 excited to join with faculty and parents who share her commitment to promoting the development of character and academic success in the next generation. "I am honored to be the next Head of The Foote School," she says. "Spending time on campus with students, parents and faculty convinced me that Foote is a place where everyone teaches and everyone learns; I am eager to do both. I look forward to joining this special community and writing Foote's next chapter together."

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