FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bay Farm Montessori Academy Board of Trustees Announces Gráinne Murray as the Incoming Head of School, Effective July 1, 2024
[Duxbury, MA], [January 2024] – The Board of Trustees is delighted to announce that Gráinne Murray has been appointed as Bay Farm Montessori Academy’s next Head of School, effective July 1, 2024. Chosen from an exceptional pool of candidates in a nationwide search, Gráinne brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to Montessori education.
Jason Trulby and Josef Wagner, co-chairs of the search committee, express their enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled with the seamless process and the enthusiastic participation we experienced from the search committee, encompassing both staff and current parents. As we progressed through the tours and parent meet-and-greets, it became increasingly evident that Grainne would be the ideal leader for guiding our fantastic community into the future. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the Head of School search committee participants, the Board of Trustees, the Bay Farm Staff, Kelley Collins, the MPA, and all the parents who played a role in this process.”
Gráinne Murray’s journey as a school leader began as a classroom teacher, evolving into a successful tenure in enrollment management. She has previously served as Assistant Head and Head of School at Richmond Montessori School in Richmond, VA. Gráinne holds an Early Childhood Teaching Certificate from the Princeton Center of Montessori Education and a Bachelor of Science degree from Trinity College Dublin. Furthermore, she earned a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Richmond.
In Gráinne’s words, “As a seasoned Montessori educator, I believe that Bay Farm stands out in the community as the best environment for children to grow, discover their academic passions, and develop the character traits that will serve them for a lifetime. The mission of the school aligns perfectly with Dr. Montessori’s vision for education as the conduit for developing complete human beings oriented to the environment and adapted to their time, place, and culture. Bay Farm does this while staying true to its mission of inspiring children to grow with joy, purpose, and compassion.”
Gráinne will succeed the current interim Head of School and Bay Farm Director of Education, Kelley Collins, who assumed the role in May of 2023. After meeting with Gráinne, Kelley shared, “Gráinne envisions an incredibly bright future for the school. Her knowledge, genuine love for what she does, and strong leadership qualities will make a tremendous impact on the Bay Farm community very quickly. It’s evident that she’s determined to create a culture that promotes growth, learning, and a sense of unity within the school community and that the well-being of the students and staff will be at the heart of everything she does.”
Having celebrated its 50th anniversary last spring, the Bay Farm Montessori Community eagerly anticipates advancing the school’s mission and embracing an inspiring future under Gráinne Murray’s leadership.
