We are very pleased to report that Annette Bauer will be our next Lower School Head. Annette Bauer is an experienced American educator and school leader who has been Head of Lower Primary/Head of Early Years since 2017 at the International School-Hannover Region in Hannover, Germany. Annette previously was a founding Head of School for AltSchool in San Francisco and Head of School for Berlin Bilingual School in Berlin, Germany.

A born teacher, leader, and entrepreneur, Annette earlier in her career was a lead teacher in a multiage 4-5-6 kindergarten classroom in Beirut, Lebanon as well as a teacher in a K-2 multiage classroom in Milan, Italy. Annette also founded an art school for children in Uzbekistan and owner-designer for Hot Chili Partnerships, a free-trade non-profit organization helping women in need find work in Thailand. Annette has worked in Germany, Italy, California, and locally at the Maret School in Washington, DC, where she first became aware of Burgundy many years ago.

In addition to being an expert in the highly respected IB PYP (Primary Years Programme), which shares underpinnings with Burgundy’s own mission and philosophy, Annette has substantial training in Reggio Emilia and mindfulness. In her letter of interest and first conversations with us, Annette fondly recalled visiting Burgundy many years ago and being struck with the student-centered and nature-focused approach she witnessed.

Annette is a big believer in place-based and experiential learning, the integration of the arts and nature in learning, and nourishing and following children’s curiosity. She is a seasoned educator, curriculum leader, and coach of teachers who understands the context that we and other schools are in as we move out of a pandemic and strive to restore and grow our strongest and most inclusive community.

Having reviewed candidates literally from around the world, we were very fortunate to find a candidate in Annette who is not only so experienced and worldly but who also is familiar with Burgundy! Annette’s many strengths include experience in building teams, a creative and opportunistic view of learning and teaching spaces, a steadfast commitment to progressive tenets and teaching in ways that are best for children, and an appreciation for the outdoors.  In Annette, we are getting for Burgundy a veteran administrator who not only understands but has a deep respect and enthusiasm for who we are as a school.

Annette is very excited about coming aboard as our next Lower School Head. She is looking forward to returning to the States and nearer family (her youngest child enters college in the U.S. this fall, and her mom is living in New York), and she is eager to resettle in the greater DC Metro region. Annette will be a great colleague and thoughtful, caring leader.

Thank you to all who participated in our search process!