Waldorf to Bring Skills in Experiential, Place-Based Learning to School’s Adirondack Campus

North Country School—a junior boarding and day school for students in grades 4-9—is thrilled to announce Ashley Waldorf as its new Director of School. Waldorf will officially begin her role on July 1, 2024, on the school’s Adirondack campus located on the outskirts of Lake Placid, NY.

During the search process, Waldorf quickly rose to the top of a competitive pool of candidates both for her shared personal values with North Country School, as well as previous experience that has been deeply rooted in progressive, experiential education.

“In getting to know Ashley, her dedication and genuine approach to organizational leadership became clear,” Executive Director at North Country School & Camp Treetops Todd Ormiston said. “Her experience, varied skill set, and passion for our unique style of education make her well-equipped to lead North Country School into its next chapter, while also honoring our past.”

Waldorf’s previous experience has included leadership roles at The Island School in the Bahamas, where she was Director of School and Curriculum Director, and more recently, as a founding faculty member at the Mastery School of Hawken in Cleveland.

“I was drawn to North Country School for its values, signature programs, and place-based and experiential learning,” Waldorf said of the school’s academics and core programs centered around the arts, outdoors, farm and garden, and community life. “Experiencing the campus in person revealed how dedicated the school and community are to living its values while serving as a model for both education and conscientious living.”

During her time at the Mastery School of Hawken, Waldorf also earned her Ed.D. from Vanderbilt University’s Doctorate of Education program where she researched the application of competency-based education in public schools—an academic approach that allows students to learn and advance at their own pace.

Waldorf and her husband, both avid outdoor enthusiasts, are looking forward to relocating to the School’s 220-acre campus in the heart of the Adirondacks. Waldorf noted it was one of many factors that influenced her decision to join the North Country School and Adirondack community.

“Very few places in the world live and work in this way, and even fewer raise the bar for excellence by continuously responding to our young people’s evolving needs,” Waldorf remarked. “As a lifelong place-based and experiential educator, I am honored to join this community and dedicate the next chapter of my life to building on the legacy that precedes me.”

“I have every confidence that Ashley is an ideal match to carry on and build upon our longstanding history and legacy of providing children with a values-driven, experiential education,” Ormiston added. “Our community looks forward to welcoming her to campus and the Adirondacks this summer.”

About North Country School

North Country School is a junior boarding and day school for students in grades 4-9 dedicated to the holistic education and growth of children. For 85 years, the school has fostered resourcefulness and essential skills in its students through a balanced focus on academics alongside its signature programs focused on the arts, outdoor education, farm and garden, and community life. The institution’s core values include a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, environmental stewardship, and community. Students leave North Country School equipped with confidence, creativity, mastery, and knowledge that they carry with them for life. Learn more at northcountryschool.org.