About

Head of School Search

A Message From Amber Bock, Head Elect



December 8, 2023

Dear Shore Country Day School Community,

I am delighted to share the exciting news that after an extensive search process, Amber Bock has been unanimously appointed as the ninth Head of School at Shore Country Day School, succeeding our current Interim Head of School, Amy Vorenberg. Amber will officially assume her role on July 1, 2024. 
 
Amber brings a wealth of experience and a dynamic vision to Shore. Currently serving as the Superintendent of Schools in Westborough, MA, for the past nine years she has overseen the education of over 4,000 students and managed a diverse team of 23 administrators. Her journey in education includes six years as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in the Weston Public Schools, and eleven years as the principal of Bates Elementary School in Wellesley, MA.

In her application, Amber expressed a genuine love for her work, a strong affinity for Shore’s history and core values, and an understanding of our current challenges. She had envisioned the next phase of her professional journey in a smaller, more relational, independent school setting, and sees this role as the perfect opportunity to blend her passion for, and experience in, leading a 400-student elementary school with the organizational skills she has developed over the past 15 years leading high-performing K-12 school districts.
 
Amber is not just a seasoned administrator, she is an inspirational leader known for her community-building skills. Her ability to collaborate, build consensus, and make connections within diverse communities is exceptional. Colleagues describe her as the most influential, motivating, and inspirational leader they have known over more than 40 years in education. 
 
“Amber was the overwhelming choice because of her unique blend of talents in relationship building and strategic thinking, as well as her commitment to growth,” shared Rayna Lesser Hannaway and Alexa Squitieri, co-chairs of the Search Committee. “Not only was Amber the front-runner based on feedback data from all constituent groups, the inspirational feeling throughout her visit to Shore’s campus in November was palpable. Amber genuinely connected with the community at every turn and articulated an incredibly insightful understanding of Shore and its potential.”
 
Amber holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Wittenberg University and a M.Ed. in School Administration from Boston College. Her professional journey began as a seventh and eighth grade English teacher, followed by six years teaching Grades 4, 5, and 6 in the Newton Public Schools. This deep experience in the classroom, coupled with her administrative roles, uniquely positions Amber to understand the intricacies of education at its core.
 
Amber's fresh perspective and hands-on, transparent leadership style align seamlessly with the values that define Shore Country Day School. Her expertise in instructional leadership, passion for talent development and retention, financial acumen, and capacity for innovation and community building will be instrumental in shaping the future of Shore now and for generations to come. 
 
See below for a letter from Amber to the Shore community.
 
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend my sincere gratitude to all members of the Shore community for their commitment to the search process. I am particularly grateful to the Search Committee for their dedicated service.
 

Please join me in welcoming Amber Bock, her husband Neil, and children Kevin and Sarah, to the Shore community. We look forward to the positive impact she will undoubtedly make on our school as we embark on a new chapter under her visionary leadership.
 
Best regards,
Amanda Jackson P’24, ’29
President, Board of Trustees
 

A Letter From Amber Bock
 

Dear Shore Country Day School Families and Colleagues,

Shore Country Day School is a special place, and it is an honor to have been selected as your next Head of School. Over these past several weeks, each interaction with students, faculty and staff, families, and board members has shown me without a doubt that this is a community where I will feel at home and make a meaningful difference.

It is a pleasure to share with you my commitment to the essential work of educating children. Being immersed with students, faculty, and families is continually motivating and inspiring, and these connections are a guiding hallmark of my work. It is my core mission that in school, every child feels seen, known, loved, and inspired.

I have been exceptionally fortunate to lead schools where academic excellence and high achievement ground the expectations and commitment of the work. I was drawn to Shore for its same commitment to excellence and its focus on innovative instruction. One of the amazing qualities of Shore is in its caring and authentic relationships, grounded by the Community Code. I have been invited to join your community as Head of School because I can sustain Shore’s many strengths while also providing leadership and collaboration to lift performance, innovate programming, and further the strategic priorities developed by the Board and the Shore community.   
 
With the start of the new year I look forward to working with the Interim Head of School, Amy Vorenberg, and the Board of Trustees to develop opportunities for me to connect with families, students, and colleagues. I can’t wait to see all of you when I return to campus.
 
We have exciting things in our future and I’ll see you soon!
 
Take care,
Amber Bock
Head Elect



Frequently Asked Questions

List of 8 frequently asked questions.

  • What search consultant is supporting the search process?

    RG175 is a leading independent school head search firm. Comprised of successful and long-serving former heads of school, the firm possesses a unique blend of skills and expertise required to identify exceptional school leaders. Our consultants, Jerry Katz and Tony Featherston, bring extensive experience to the Shore Country Day School search. They are excited to work closely with the Search Committee, advising us throughout the search process and identifying candidates with the requisite experience, skills, and vision to lead our school. Additional information about RG175, including bios for Jerry and Tony, is available on their website at www.RG175.com.

  • How is the community involved in the Search Process?

    Recognizing the importance of community input in defining the qualities we seek in our new Head, we initiated forums where teachers, staff, students, parents, and caregivers could engage with our consultants. Moreover, we extended the opportunity to current and past community members to share their thoughts through an online survey. This collaborative endeavor aided our consultant, RG175, in comprehending our school's unique attributes and the qualities we seek in our future Head of School.

  • What is the timeline for the search?

    Our current plan is to announce the appointment of a new Head of School by the end of the year, with the individual assuming their responsibilities on July 1, 2024.

  • What is the role of the Board of Trustees in the search?

    Selecting the Head of School is a vital responsibility of the Board, one of the most significant roles it fulfills for Shore. The detailed task of conducting the search is entrusted to a designated Search Committee within the Board. The Search Committee is responsible for making a recommendation to the entire Board of Trustees who in turn, vote for the appointment of the next Head of School.

  • How were Search Committee members selected?

    The Search Committee is composed of trustees, former trustees, and faculty members, all sharing a profound dedication to Shore Country Day School. Their collective understanding of the school's history, mission, and values, along with their diverse backgrounds and essential attributes like sound judgment, collaborative skills, and a commitment to confidentiality, ensure the committee's effectiveness.

  • What is the role of the Search Committee?

    The Search Committee's initial duty is to establish the necessary qualities for the upcoming head of school. As the process unfolds, they will evaluate candidate applications, conduct interviews with promising candidates, gather input from various references, and ultimately present a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

  • How will the Search Committee keep the community updated?

    The Search Committee will provide regular updates as the process unfolds. Given the confidential nature of most of the search process, communication will be guided accordingly.

  • How can I help during the search?

    While the Board's ultimate decision follows the Search Committee's recommendation, input from faculty, parents, students, and alumni will significantly contribute to assessing the finalist candidates later this fall. If you have any information or concerns, kindly share them with the Search Committee. We stress the importance of maintaining confidentiality throughout the process, except during the finalist phase. For any inquiries or concerns, please feel free to contact us at:
    searchcommittee@shoreschool.org.



POSITION STATEMENT

  • View Position Statement
    Head of School Search
    Shore Country Day School
    Beverly, Massachusetts
    Start Date: July 1, 2024

COMMUNICATIONS


Head of School Search Committee

List of 11 items.

  • Rayna Lesser Hannaway P'25, '27

    Co-Chair, Trustee Emeritus, Former Board President
    Biography

  • Alexa Squitieri P'27

    Co-Chair, Trustee
    Biography

  • Amanda Berg P'27, '30

    Faculty
    Biography

  • Jennifer Borggaard '84, P'17, ‘17, '19

    Former Trustee, Former Board President
    Biography

  • Dino DiPalma P'25

    Trustee
    Biography

  • John Fawcett P’25, ‘28

    Trustee
    Biography

  • Blake Liggio P'29, '29

    Trustee
    Biography

  • David Lund P'03, '05

    Faculty
    Biography

  • John McVeigh P'21, '23

    Trustee
    Biography

  • Meg Wallace P'23, '25

    Trustee
    Biography

  • Alex Zaldastani P'20, '21

    Trustee
    Biography
Questions related to the Head of School Search? 
Contact the Search Committee at SearchCommittee@shoreschool.org.


Shore Country Day School

545 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 927-1700
Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
The School admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its admissions, scholarships, and loans, and its educational, athletic, and other programs.