Head of School Search

Dear Albany Academy Community,

We are delighted to announce that Michael G. Turner has been selected as Albany Academy's next Head of School. He will begin his tenure on July 1, 2026.

Mr. Turner is an accomplished and visionary leader with more than  three decades of experience in education, as well as in the private and government sectors. He has spent the majority of his career serving and leading independent schools, including ten years as Head of School at The Shipley School outside Philadelphia and St. Michael’s Episcopal School in Richmond, Virginia. Michael’s other experience spans senior administration, admissions, teaching, coaching, and consulting, with each role enforcing his dedication to helping students reach their highest potential.

This appointment follows a comprehensive national search process. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Head of School Search Committee for their thoughtful and diligent work throughout this process. Their careful consideration, deep engagement with candidates, and unwavering focus to finding the right leader for our school has been exemplary. Their countless hours of service have been invaluable to our community.

We also wish to thank our students, families, alumnae/i, faculty, and staff for your meaningful participation during the finalist visits. Your engagement with the candidates, thoughtful questions, and feedback were instrumental in helping us make this important decision. The enthusiasm and care you demonstrated throughout the process truly reflects the strength and spirit that make Albany Academy exceptional beyond measure.

Mr. Turner is eager to join our community and looks forward to connecting with students, families, alumnae/i, faculty, and staff in the coming months. 

Please click here for a letter from Mr. Turner.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Mr. Turner to Albany Academy. We are confident that under his leadership, our school will continue to thrive and provide exceptional educational experiences for our students.

Thank you for your continued support of Albany Academy.

Best Regards,

Eric Lewis ‘83, P’17
President, Board of Trustees

Please click the document link below for an update on the progress of the Head of School search. 

 AUGUST 2025 STATUS REPORT

Please click the document link below for a joint Head of School search update from Albany Academy and Isaacon, Miller. 

MAY 2025 STATUS REPORT

Albany Academy has retained Isaacson, Miller to assist in the search for our next Head of School.  

For those interested in learning more and applying for the Head of School position, please review the position profile below and apply on the Isaacson, Miller site.

POSITION POSTING

The following members of the Albany Academy community will serve on the Search Committee: 

• Adam Collett, Middle School Director
• Andy Safranko '91, Trustee
• Caitlin Kelly, Lower School Faculty
• Carl Becker '04, Trustee
• Christine Vaughan, Upper School Director
• Debora Mitchell, Middle School Faculty
• Elissa Smith, Trustee
• Emer Taylor, Upper School Faculty
• Emily Casale, AAPA President
• Eric Lewis '83, Trustee (President)
• Jenna Bongermino, Staff
• Kirk Harbinger '85, AA Alumni Association representative
• Michael Murray, Member at Large
• Nancy Wekselbaum '69, Trustee
• Neerav Patel '96, Trustee
• Robert Higgins '77, Trustee
• Sara Strope '96, Trustee
• Suzanne Gardner-Clarkson, Lower School Director
• Kayla Germain, Support Staff
• Shelly Reid, Support Staff

As we embark on the important journey of selecting the next Head of School, we are pleased to introduce Issacson Miller, the executive search firm that will be assisting us in this process. Issacson, Miller has placed leaders into the country’s leading independent schools, and has recently conducted Head of School searches for Holton-Arms School, Indian Mountain School, The Loomis Chaffee School, The Peddie School, Ransom Everglades School, and The Roxbury Latin School, among others.

ALBANY ACADEMY TO BEGIN SEARCH FOR NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL AS CURRENT HEAD SET TO LEAVE IN SPRING 2026

Albany, N.Y. – The Board of Trustees of Albany Academy has announced that it will begin a national search for a new head of school, as the current head of school, Chris Lauricella, in collaboration with the trustees, has decided to conclude his tenure at the end of his current contract. Joining the Albany Academy community in July 2018, Lauricella will step down after the 2025-2026 academic year, giving the school and the board ample time to plan for the future, identify and onboard his successor, and create the best possible transition for the school.

“Serving this exceptional community has been an extraordinary honor, and this decision was not made lightly,” said Lauricella. “It was driven by a desire to create more balance between my work and personal life, which involves getting closer to family members living out of state. Although I have made no definite plans for after I leave this wonderful institution, I am considering various opportunities.”

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank Chris Lauricella for his unwavering commitment to Albany Academy,” said Eric Lewis, Board of Trustees president. “Under his leadership, the school has navigated a pandemic, a significant restructuring, and embraced a new brand positioning Academy for a strong future. Chris’ vision and dedication have left an indelible mark on our community, and we are deeply thankful for his contributions.”

“As we move forward, Albany Academy is in a position of strength, with an exceptional senior leadership team and an engaged board of trustees, and I am confident that we will be able to recruit a new head of school to help us capitalize on our new organizational structure and lead us into a long and successful future,” said Lewis.

A search committee, led by Trustee Neerav Patel ’96, P’31, is being formed and will be assisted by a professional search firm that will guide recruitment and the planning of the transition to a new head of school.

Lauricella will continue to lead work on the school’s strategic priorities, particularly increasing enrollment and capital fundraising. During his time at Albany Academy, he oversaw the completion of several capital improvements, including the Poole Multisport Practice Facility, the Robison Locker Rooms, and the Class of 1970 Pavilion. In addition, several capital projects are currently underway, such as the STEAM Innovation Center in the Upper School and renovations to the Lower and Middle School lobby and the school archives.

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Dear Friends, 

It is with mixed emotions that I write to share my decision to step down as Head of School at Albany Academy following the 2025-2026 academic year. Serving this exceptional community has been an extraordinary honor, and this decision was not made lightly. 

Over the past seven years, I have been continually inspired by our students' energy and talents and our professional community's unwavering commitment to our mission. Working alongside such dedicated educators, exceptional students, engaged administrators, trustees, parents, alumni, alumnae, and friends of the School has been a deeply rewarding experience. 

Together, we have achieved remarkable progress in strengthening and advancing Albany Academy. From navigating a global pandemic to reimagining our campus, enhancing security, and rebranding the school to better serve future generations, your dedication and resilience have been the foundation of these significant accomplishments. 

I am especially proud of the capital improvements completed during this time, including the Poole Multisport Practice Facility, the Robison Locker Rooms, and the Class of 1970 Pavilion, along with addressing critical deferred maintenance projects. Looking ahead, I am excited about the upcoming renovations to the Lower and Middle School lobby, the school archives, and the creation of the STEAM Innovation Center in the Upper School. These initiatives will further enrich the student experience and ensure our campus continues to inspire curiosity and innovation. 

Our campus is currently energized by tremendous positive momentum fueled by the exceptional efforts of our students, faculty, staff, and administrators. We are also fortunate to benefit from the visionary guidance of our Board of Trustees. I am deeply grateful to Board Presidents Nancy Carey Cassidy P’13, ’15, and Eric Lewis ’83, P’17 for their outstanding leadership and invaluable partnership. 

Our collective dedication and foresight enable Albany Academy to harness this momentum and effectively address the opportunities ahead. The Board has already begun forming a search committee to identify the next Head of School. This process will include your invaluable input to ensure a smooth transition and the selection of a leader who embodies our shared mission and values and can propel the school to even greater success.

Over the next year and a half, I look forward to continuing our important
work together, including increasing enrollment, fundraising, and unifying
our community. I also hope to celebrate our shared achievements while preparing Albany Academy for its next chapter. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me to lead this extraordinary institution. It has truly been an honor and a privilege. 

With heartfelt appreciation, 

Christopher J. Lauricella 
Head of School

Dear Albany Academy Community, 

In close consultation with the Board of Trustees, and after carefully weighing his own personal and professional aspirations, Albany Academy Head of School Chris Lauricella has determined that the 2025-2026 academic year will be his last in this leadership role. 

During his time as Head of School, Chris has led us through the challenges of a global health crisis, a creative and complex reimagining of the use of our vast physical resources, many improvements and additions to our physical plant, and, most recently, a branding initiative that has given the School its first comprehensive brand identity in the more than 200-year history of the institution and its predecessors. The Trustees are very grateful to Chris for his thoughtful and impactful leadership of the institution we collectively support and cherish. 

I wish to express my personal gratitude to Chris for his partnership, wise counsel, and collaboration in our shared governance. Chris’s knowledge of education policy, intellectual depth, and abiding and unrelenting dedication to our community have made it a great pleasure to work with our Head of School throughout his tenure at Albany Academy. I have no doubt that our final year of collaborative service will be consistent with this history. 

The generous timeline provided by Chris’s notice to the Board will give the Albany Academy an excellent opportunity to identify his successor in the Head of School role. The Board will immediately initiate a national search for a visionary leader with a search committee chaired by Trustee and Board Vice President Neerav Patel ’96, P’31. Mr. Patel will assemble this committee with representation from a broad swath of our Albany Academy constituencies. With the School’s storied history and bright future, the Board members and I are confident we will identify a leader of significant stature who possesses the requisite skills to lead our prestigious institution in the next exciting chapter of its third century. 

Eric Lewis ‘83 President, Board of Trustees Albany Academy