The Elementary School Heads Association (ESHA) provides a colleague network, professional development opportunities, and relevant resources to 120 current heads of independent elementary and middle schools throughout the U.S.
ESHA is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. Our active members:
  • 120 current heads and numerous associate members
  • Many former heads
  • In 130 independent schools 
  • In 26 states
  • Serving approximately 40,000 students, preschool through grade nine​

Our Mission

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The Elementary School Heads Association (ESHA) was established to promote a sense of identity among heads of independent elementary schools, to encourage and support newly-appointed heads of such schools, and to provide opportunities for exchange of experiences, problems, and successes.

Beginnings


​The Elementary School Heads Association (ESHA) was founded in March of 1973 by ten heads who met in Washington, D.C. during the annual conference of the National Association of Independent Schools. These founders agreed that there was a need for an association of school heads whose professional concerns were devoted to the education of younger students. The first annual meeting of ESHA was convened at the Henry Chauncey Conference Center in Princeton in October of 1973, where bylaws were formally adopted.​

Leadership


The Elementary School Heads Association's Executive Director oversees the daily operations of the association and works with ESHA's governing board, the Executive Committee, in charting future direction. 

Members of the Executive Committee are nominated by committee and voted into office at the business meeting at the annual conference. 
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The Executive Committee is led by the ESHA President, who serves for a one-year term that can be renewed once. Many of our past presidents remain active or honorary members of ESHA today.  

ESHA Presidents
1973 Peter Clifton
1973-74  Lewis Kimball, Jr.
1974-75  Russell Anderson
1975-76  David L. Pratt
1976-77  Samuel Parkman
1977-78  Thomas Shaw
1978-79  David D. Hume
1979-80  Ronald L. Fay
1980-81  John F. Marder, Jr.
1981-82  Norman C. Wakely
1982-83  Walter W. Birge III
1983-84  A. Brooks Harlow
1984-85  James F. Adams
1985-86  G. David Hardman
1986-87  Kingsley Ervin
1987-88  Douglas R. Lewis
1988-89  M. Joanne Moore
1989-90  Nicholas Thacher
1990-91  Brian R. Walsh
1991-92  David Frothingham
1992-93  Betty J. Brown
1993-94  James L. Marks III
1994-95  James K. Bonney
1995-96  Randy Plummer
1996-97  Sidney I. DuPont
1997-98  E. John White III
1998-99  Sandra P. Adams
1999-00  Robin Douglass
2000-01  Jane Shipp
2001-02  Merrill Hall
2002-03  Steve Hinds
2003-04  Betty Legenhausen
2004-05  David Trower
2005-06  Joan Lutton
2006-07  Raymond Nance
2007-08  Murray Lopdell- Lawrence
2008-09  Lenesa Leana
2009-11  Greg O'Melia
2011-13  Lee Burns
2013-15  Chuck Baldecchi
2015-17  Muddy Waters
2017-      Elinor Scully