Stewarding the Canterbury Promise: A Message from Head of School Caroline Blatti

Dear Canterbury Community,

Two weeks ago, as I stepped into the role of Head of School, I found myself reflecting on the poignancy of transitions: how they invite us to pause, to honor what has come before, and to consider what lies ahead. In these early days—in the quiet corners of my mind and heart and in my conversations across campus—my thoughts kept turning to the beauty, the poetry, and the possibilities of the journey we are undertaking together as a community.

Brendan Kennelly, a beloved Irish poet and personal favorite, once wrote, “Every beginning is a promise.” As many of you know, I am the proud daughter of Irish immigrants, so Irish poetry has always offered navigational guidance, especially in moments of change. Kennelly’s words resonate deeply now not only because of my own roots, but because of what it means to draw from our roots as a school, and the remarkable history that shapes and defines the Canterbury promise.

That promise is not abstract. It is alive and visible in all we have already achieved, and it affirms our certainty that this new beginning holds profound possibilities still to come. 

Sitting at Nelson Hume’s desk over these past two weeks, I felt the weight and power of the Canterbury promise, shaped by generations of graduates who have gone on to lead lives of purpose and by the dedicated faculty and staff who have challenged and supported students across time. That promise lives not only in people but in place, in the strength and permanence of the stone that characterizes our buildings. I will never tire of seeing the Chapel shimmer in the sunlight, a quiet reminder that the footfalls of the past are beside us still, steady and present, as we move forward together.

While the past continues to inspire, I am focused—keenly and joyfully—on the promise of Canterbury’s present and future. As a runner, I often find clarity while moving through unfamiliar roads or wooded trails, each bend reminding me that there is always more to discover. That same mindset guided our work last week as the senior administrative team came together to chart our priorities for the year ahead. We focused on the areas of school life that shape experience and ensure lasting strategic and operational strength: academics, student life, school culture, signature programs, enrollment management, financial sustainability, physical plant, and philanthropy.

From that work emerged a shared commitment that will guide us this year: a reaffirmation that excellence should define every aspect of life at Canterbury. We will offer students dynamic and meaningful pathways, providing experiences today that will prepare them for leadership and service in the larger world. We will renew our dedication to our Five Values—Honesty, Respect, Compassion, Spirituality, and Self-Reliance. And we will work tirelessly to fulfill our mission, ensuring each student is known, supported, and challenged in ways that prepare them to lead lives of purpose and moral courage.

This is the Canterbury promise—to you, to your family, and to every student who walks this campus.

As the newest steward of that promise, I recognize that such a commitment is not one-sided. A promise lives in relationship, rooted in mutual trust and belief in what we can achieve together. And so, I offer my promise in return. I come to Canterbury as a servant leader, committed to honoring all that this community has built across generations, and ready to bring my perspective as we shape what comes next. I will lead with humility, creativity, and conviction. I will advance the legacy of this remarkable school while remaining closely attuned to the evolving needs of our students and the world they will inherit. Each day, I will work to ensure that the Canterbury promise remains not only a reflection of who we have been, but a force that guides who we are becoming. In every decision, every relationship, and every moment of school life, that promise will be both my compass and my charge.

I look forward to sharing more with you as the school year approaches—and to formally marking this new chapter at my installation this fall. 

With gratitude and great anticipation,

Caroline Blatti
Head of School