Head’s Welcome
Head of School
Mark Fader
Parent 2015, 2021, 2023
B.A Hampden-Sydney College, History & French
M.A William & Mary, Secondary Education
“Williams is guided by our core values of Scholarship, Character, and Community. Students learn in an environment that is going to challenge them with a high level of academic rigor with caring faculty who provide individualize support. Beyond the classroom we aim to build strong character with life lessons and leadership opportunities in the arts and athletics. We’re seven grades all together and it creates a very warm and nurturing environment.”
A Message from the Head of School
When you arrive on The Williams School campus you can immediately feel an inclusive and positive energy among the students, faculty, and staff.
Our hallmark is our close-knit community where students are guided and mentored by their teachers, coaches, and administrators who encourage them to take meaningful risks in a safe and supportive environment.
As an Independent College Preparatory School with a rich history of educating bright students, we are committed to a strong liberal arts curriculum, which emphasizes outstanding writing, communication, problem-solving and collaboration skills. Throughout all grades, our classes focus on relevance, synthesis of ideas, and critical thinking. A purposeful emphasis on study skills, particularly in the middle school, builds a child’s foundation for success. In the Upper School, all courses are college preparatory, and we require our students to be proficient in both a modern and classical language. At the most sophisticated level of our college preparatory curricula, each department features Honors Courses and an Advanced Courses Curriculum. Our Advanced Courses go beyond the limitations of the traditional AP route, allowing our students and faculty the freedom and flexibility to explore subjects in greater depth. Students in grades 10-12 are encouraged to focus their field of study with our Interdisciplinary Certificate Programs, and Juniors and Seniors have the opportunity to take four courses at Connecticut College through the College Acceleration Program.
The Williams learning experience is appropriate for each stage of a student’s academic and social-emotional development. Extracurricular opportunities in athletics and the arts promote our students’ physical, creative, and leadership growth. Students develop the necessary skills and confidence to self assess and advocate amid the challenges of a 21st century world.
I am proud of the immediate and long-lasting impact we make on each of our students at The Williams School. I encourage you to visit our campus to learn about the exciting opportunities we afford our students to prepare for college, lifelong learning, and active participation in their future world.
Warm regards,
Mark Fader
Head of School
Hear More from MarkMeet the Assistant Heads
Assistant Heads of School
Hear from our leaders:
Sharon Gaudreau
Enrollment & Advancement
The community of people at Williams is what makes it most special.
Our students are engaged and engaging young people who are driven to thrive in our challenging academic program. At the same time, they understand the value of taking positive risks in academics, arts, athletics, or other special interests. Most importantly, our students care about maintaining our inclusive, kind, and caring community. It’s amazing to me how quickly and easily new students feel welcome and find their niche at Williams. Students are cared for in a plethora of ways, from receiving personal greeting each day to creating new and distinctive programs, to spending time during daily faculty office hours working with individual students, they are all fully vested in the success of each and every student at Williams.
B.A. Becker College, Business Administration
Close Story
Jane Hannon
Teaching & Learning
The connection between students and faculty both in and out of the classroom makes Williams a special place.
Williams is a community of intellectually curious students and faculty who are surrounded by people who share this curiosity and bring out the best in each other.
Parent 2007, 2009
B.A Northwestern University, Russian Language & Literature, and Soviet Studies
Landmark College Graduate Certificate in Learning Differences