The role of Upper School Principal has been defined in recent years by turnovers and transitions. But, after an extended four-year search process, Nigel Furlonge, previously the Assistant Head of School at Holderness School is taking on the position.
Furlonge is replacing Bob Cairo, who acted as interim principal from the spring of 2015 to the spring of 2018. Cairo provided a steady hand, in the eyes of many students, through a difficult time for the school, and many are grateful that he agreed to return to his role of Assistant Principal.
Although this year will inevitably be an adjustment for the administration and school as a whole, Furlonge is excited to work with students and learn how he can best support the community.
“Being new to any community requires spending a significant amount of time in the first year getting to know the community,” Furlonge wrote in an email response. “As daunting as it is to get to know a community as large as Fieldston is, it is also what I’m looking forward to.”
Furlonge hopes to achieve this by working with form deans, department chairs, and advisors as well as meeting with student leaders and attending club meetings and sports games.
Along with connecting with students, Furlonge hopes to create transparency between the administration and student body which was a priority many students shared during the search process. Head of School Jessica Bagby believes that Furlonge is the perfect person to help achieve this goal.
“He is a kind and passionate person, who clearly cares deeply about his job, family and all of the students at Fieldston, even though he hasn’t met them yet,” Bagby said in a letter to the school. “In regards to FSG I am sure that Mr. Furlonge will be enthusiastic to develop and support many of our initiatives from improving school spirit to decreasing excessive academic stress, all topics we discussed with him. After seeing his genuine interest in our ideas I am certain that he will make an amazing addition to our community.”
FSG co-president Willa Ferrer echoed this message.
“Nigel‘s unique experiences in a number of our nation’s most distinguished schools, coupled with his passion for providing educational access across the socioeconomic spectrum and racial-ethnic divide in our society, resonate with Fieldston’s identity and mission,” she said. “Nigel’s authenticity, candor, warmth, and intellect resonated with each constituency who encountered him over the two-day gauntlet of his visit.”
Furlonge is looking forward to working with students on their own initiatives and bringing a new perspective to some of the issues he learned about when visiting campus. Two concerns that stood out to Furlonge were redesigning the daily schedule and supporting health and wellness efforts for both students and faculty.
Aware that each Fieldston student has a different academic experience, Furlonge hopes to establish a common understanding by building a stronger community and creating community norms
“Ethical learning suggests that we are in a deep, meaningful relationship with one another,” he said. “These relationships, framed ethically, thrive when we are listening to, engaging with and honoring ideas that may be different from one’s own. This is what grace means to me. The way that Fieldston achieves grace is by living up to its mission. This is our collective work––from the Head of School to each Principal to the first year faculty member to every student. So my plan to help Fieldston achieve its aspirational mission is to support, cultivate and promote efforts in support of ethical learning.”
