The Board of Trustees met on Thursday afternoon and accepted—unanimously—the recommendation of the Search Committee to hire Mike Henriques as Head of School, to succeed Steve Wilkins in July. In the words of Board co-Chairs Bill and Betsy Peabody, “This selection is a testimony to the diligence and professionalism of the Search Committee. Their work over six months has resulted in the selection of a leader who is talented, experienced and wholly in tune with the mission and culture of Proctor. We welcome Mike, Betsy, Will and Olivia with great excitement and enthusiasm.”

Mike comes to Proctor from Holderness School, where he has served as a teacher of English, dorm parent, coach, Dean of Students, Dean of Faculty and director of both wilderness orientation and the March Outback program. Mike earned a BA in American literature from Middlebury College and a MA from the Breadloaf School of English. This summer, he plans to complete his MFA in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College. Mike’s wife, Betsy Paine, is an attorney serving as a domestic violence specialist for the New Hampshire District Court and as a member of the New Hampshire Governor’s Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence. They have two children, Will, who is eleven, and Olivia, who is seven years old.

Mike impressed the Proctor community during two extended campus visits early this month, and spoke to the entire school in assembly on January 18 with compassion and focus.

Search Committee member/math teacher Patty Pond shares this: “During his visits here he distinguished himself with his ability to connect with a variety of members of the community, and he clearly articulated his responses to difficult questions. His skills as a listener and thoughtful leader will serve him well, and I anticipate that he will be quickly accepted by the whole community. His integrity, commitment to education and love of the outdoors make him an excellent choice to hold the tiller for Proctor as we move forward in the coming years.” This photo of Mike coaching Holderness's cross-country ski racing team comes from Wednesday's Lakes Region meet at Proctor:

If the community liked what we saw in Mike, those feelings were genuinely reciprocated. “I have always admired Proctor for its independence and clarity of mission, but I never expected the amount of warmth and care with which I was treated throughout this process. The school has been consistently open, honest and accepting. I couldn’t be more excited, and I thank the committee and the Board for their confidence and support.” Below, Mike is pictured at The Blackwater talking with English teacher (and fellow Middlebury/Breadloaf alumn) Story Parker.

Search Committee Chair and Board member Anne Stephens contributes the following observation: “I would like to commend the greater community for its involvement in the search process. Parents, alumni, faculty, staff and students volunteered valuable time, effort and insight. The participation of hundreds both informed and energized the Search Committee. We are all delighted at this outcome.”