Sally Mixsell

Sally Mixsell (Mike’-sul) began her career in education as a French and English teacher, eventually moving into administrative roles, including class dean (grade 9), academic dean (gr 7-12), director of curriculum and instruction (gr PK-12), and head of school at an all-girls IB boarding and day school, grades 7-12. Her work in education includes employment at two large PK-12 day schools, a co-ed pre-prep boarding and day school (gr 1-9), and two girls schools (gr 9-12 and 7-12), as well as a graduate program in education.

 

From 2001-2006 Sally helped design and run the summer intensive masters degree program in education administration, with a focus on private school leadership, at the Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. She was also a founding partner of an educational consulting firm focused on developing leadership capacity at schools. As a consultant she has mentored heads of school and high-level administrators, facilitated strategic planning, run board workshops, developed teams, and helped design programs (e.g., public-private collaboration, faculty evaluation, and faculty professional development). Sally has broad knowledge of school models, thanks to her work at Columbia and as a consultant. While she continues to support school leadership, she has also been busy with executive searches since joining Educators Collaborative in 2019.

Professional Experience

  • Educators Collaborative, Partner, 2019 – Present
  • Stoneleigh-Burnham School, MA, Head of School, 2008 – 2018
  • eduINNOVATIONS, LLC, Founding Partner, Consulting Work: 2005 – 2008;
  • Co-Director, Beginning Administrators Institute, 2005 – 2010
  • Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University, Project Director, 2003 – 2005
  • Hamden Hall Country Day School, CT, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, PK-12, 2001 – 2003; Academic Dean, 7-12, 1991 – 2000; Ninth Grade Dean, 1989 – 1992; Co-founder and Coordinator, Peer Leadership Program, 1989 – 2000; Teacher of French, English and Leadership, 1985 – 2003
  • Food for Thought, care packages for boarding school students, Co-founder and Partner, 1980 – 1983
  • Sewickley Academy, PA, Teacher of French, 1975 – 1979
  • The Gunnery (CT), part-time teacher, 1974 – 1975 and 1984 – 1985; Wykeham-Rise School (CT), part-time teacher, 1974 – 1975, and Rumsey Hall School (CT), part-time teacher, 1979 – 1985

Education

  • Wells College, B.A., Comparative French and American Literature, 1973
  • Princeton Center for Leadership Training, 1988, 1989
  • Stanley King Counseling Institute, 1994
  • Teachers College, Columbia University, M.A., Education Administration, with a focus in private school leadership, 2001  [Joseph A. Klingenstein Fellow]

Professional Affiliations

  • AISNE (Association of Independent Schools of New England), Board member, 2010 – 2017
  • Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Board member, 2009 – 2018
  • CAIS (CT Association of Independent Schools), New England New Teachers Seminar (NENTS – offered jointly with AISNE), Staff member, 2004 – 2005, and Director, 2006 – 2010; Beginning Teachers Institute, Staff member,1995 – 2005; Commission on Professional Development, member, 2001 – 2008, and Chair, 2004 – 2008
  • Klingenstein Advisory Committee, Klingenstein Center, Teachers College, Columbia University, Member, 2001 – 2005
  • S. Grant Foundation, New Haven, CT, Board member, 2002 – 2003
  • Cristo Rey New York High School, Feasibility Study Committee member, 2001-2002, and Founding Board member, 2002 – 2007
  • Stoneleigh-Burnham School, Board member, 1987 – 1991 and 2001 – 2006
  • Friends of Gunn Jr. Library, CT, , Board member, 1979 – 1985; President, 1984 – 1985
  • Headmistresses Association of the East, member, 2008 – present

Professional Experience

  • Educators’ Collaborative, Partner, 2003 – present
  • Middlesex School, MA; Head of School, 1990 – 2003
  • University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Vice Chancellor for University Relations and Development, 1983 – 1990; Assistant Chancellor, 1982 – 1983; Dean of Academic Support Services, 1981 – 1982; Dean of Admissions, 1979 – 1981; Director of Freshman Admissions, 1978 – 1979
  • State University of New York at Stony Brook; Assistant Director of Admissions, 1974 – 1978
  • Western Michigan University; Admissions Counselor, 1973 – 1974

Education

  • University of Rochester, B.A. Philosophy, cum laude, 1965
  • University of Rhode Island, M.A., English, 1968
  • Tufts University, Teaching Assistant, Ph.D. English, 1976
  • Klingenstein Visiting Fellow, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1996

Professional Affiliations

  • The Louis August Jonas Foundation, 2009 – 2014
  • Headmaster’s Association, 1993 – present
  • Head Mistresses Association of the East, 1990 – present
  • National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls, 1990 – present
  • Falmouth Academy; Board of Trustees; 2003 – 2009
  • Fay School; Board of Trustees; 2003 – 2009
  • Council for the Advancement and Support of Education; Board of Trustees; 1993 – 2003
  • Educational Records Bureau, Board of Trustees, 1996 – 2003
  • Emerson Hospital, Board of Trustees, 1996 – 2003
  • NEASC, Commission on Independent Schools, 1994 – 1995
  • AISNE, Board of Trustees, 1992 – 1995
  • The Martha’s Vineyard Museum, Board of Directors, 2007 – 2010
  • The College Board, 1983 – 1987