After a decade of serving as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Virginia Blake is retiring at the end of the school year. Taking effect July 1, 2023, East House Associate Principal Leslie Patterson will succeed Ms. Blake after being selected for the position in early March of this year.

When describing her role, Blake expressed, “The Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment is responsible for overseeing all curriculum development and operations in the main office. Our job is to make the school run smoothly for all. It also entails managing student data and test scores.” Blake was a math major at Cornell University and received her Master’s degree in Teaching at Simmons College. She started at L-S in 1993 as a math and computer science teacher. Blake began as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in 2013. She explained, “much of my job requires working with computer systems so my experience with computers earlier in my career made it a full circle moment for me.”

Patterson majored in math and music at Williams College. In 1995, she received a Master’s in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard Graduate School of Education and was a math teacher at Newton North High School for 6 years. In 2001, Patterson acquired her principal certification and was hired at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School as an Associate Principal, where she worked for 21 years. When asked about her administrative and teaching philosophy, she stated, “I plan to continue making personal connections and nurturing positive relationships with colleagues, students, and families. Collaboration and teamwork are essential along with keeping perspective and a healthy dose of humor. Always remember to keep students at the center of all decisions we make.”

 Patterson and Blake have had a professional relationship for over 20 years, which has also resulted in a strong friendship. “If I had one piece of advice for Dr. Patterson, it would be to trust your instincts about what you already know and you will learn new things. You already have the experience you need to be great,” Blake recommended. Patterson is excited to be mentored by Blake and feels grateful for her guidance. 

“My time at LS has been amazing. 30 years of learning so much, meeting new people and lifelong friends. I’m really going to miss LS, it’s a great school,” Ms. Blake reflected on her time at LS. When asked what her message to L-S students would be, she confidently expressed, “Think of yourself as a lifelong learner. There are lots of opportunities in life to learn lots of things and to learn about areas you may not even know about yet, take advantage of those opportunities and don’t assume learning only takes place in High School or College.” In her retirement, Blake plans on learning how to sail and consulting for local schools in her retirement.