The Center School appoints School Administrators Amanda Richard and Lauren Obregón as Interim Co-Heads of School

GREENFIELD, Mass., Oct. 22, 2024 – The Center School Board of Directors voted on Oct. 3 to appoint Amanda Richard and Lauren Obregón as interim Co-Heads of School effective immediately. Charlie Spencer, previous Head of School for nearly 16 years, has stepped down to pursue other professional opportunities.

Amanda Richard (she/her) has been a Center School administrator for over 14 years, working as the Assistant to the Head, and also serving as a board member, parent organization coordinator, and development committee chair at different intervals over her tenure. Previously, Richard worked as a preschool teacher and as a bank teller and operations manager. Richard is also the parent to three alums of the Center School.

Lauren Obregón (she/they) joined the school as the Director of Admissions and Outreach in 2020. Obregón has worked as an educator for thirteen years. She holds an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Lesley University, an M.L.A. in Gastronomy from Boston University, and a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Northeastern University, as well as a certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University. Obregón teaches the 6-8 grade health program at the school and is also the parent to a current student.

Richard and Obregón will serve in these Co-Head positions through June 2027. During this interim period, the school will engage in a 2-year re-accreditation process with the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE). Additionally, the Center School Board of Directors will launch and direct a task force to explore long-term leadership models for the school and inform a permanent Head of School search.

“As any school community member would tell you, the staff at the Center School are just incredible,” said Will Savitri, Chair of the Board of Directors and current parent. “We are extremely lucky to have talented people within our administrative team who are willing to take on these leadership roles and steward our mission. We are excited and eager to see how the next chapter of the Center School will be written.”