Summit School Hires New Director

SUMMIT, NJ - The summer winds of change are coming to Kent Place School, as Kooheli Chatterji has been named the new director of the middle school, effective July 1.

Kent Place School is an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory day school for young women that has a coed preschool.

"I am genuinely honored and delighted to be joining the Kent Place School community,” said Chatterji. “During my time on campus and conversations with students, teachers, parents, and administrators, I sensed the very palpable and powerful dedication to learning and growth. I found myself drawn to Kent Place's tradition of academic excellence and its emphasis on the wellbeing of adolescents during this pivotal time in their lives. I look forward to donning green and gold this summer."

A veteran administrator and educator in middle schools, Chatterji is a champion for adolescents and an accomplished leader in building healthy and equitable communities. For the past five years, she has been the middle and upper school division head at Chatham Day School, where she is responsible for overseeing all programs, faculty, staff, and students within grades fourth through eight and managing day-to-day operations of the division. Before Chatham Day, she was the middle school dean of students, an English teacher, and a coach at the Pingry School, in Basking Ridge.

An expert in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, Chatterji also served as the director of programs and director of alumni affairs at New Jersey SEEDS. She believes that middle schoolers are capable of connecting authentically and developing a respect for the different backgrounds of all people.

In addition to her reputation as a clear and confident communicator, Chatterji brings an acute appreciation for girls’ education, for empathic listening, and the necessity for mission-based decision-making, and she is drawn enthusiastically to Kent Place’s mission and community.

“Chatterji’s experience as a curriculum leader, as well as her experience with and commitment to working closely with students, teachers, and parents, impressed our search committee tremendously,” said Dr. Jennifer Galambos, Kent Place Head of School. “Ms. Chatterji brings experience, passion, and insight to her work. It’s an exciting time to be at Kent Place, and we’re thrilled to imagine the future of our Middle School under Ms. Chatterji’s leadership.”

Chatterji, who graduated from an independent school, earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Wesleyan University. She is an avid reader, loves writing and music, and spending time with her daughter and husband.

“Kooheli understands the internal dynamics of middle schoolers as well as the complex group dynamics of which they are a part,” said David Lowry, current president of the NJAIS board of trustees and former interim head of school for Chatham Day School. “She holds the respect of her faculty and parents and is knowledgeable in curriculum development and teaching methods. As I have said on many occasions, ‘If my middle school child were under Kooheli’s care, I would sleep peacefully at night.’”

Chatterji is succeeding Karen Rezach, who led the Kent Place Middle School for 18 years. Dr. Rezach was appointed the full-time Director of the Ethics Institute at Kent Place School in July 2018.

(Photo courtesy of Kent Place.)

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