Our History

It should come as no surprise that National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls started in 1920 – the very same year of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. The Association of Collegiate Alumnae must have had the 19th Amendment on their mind as they formed the National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls. The empowerment of women in America was reaching a crescendo after a successful 72 year struggle to affirm women’s right to vote.
Education had long been a field that recognized and embraced the value of women as professionals in the workplace, and the NAPSG looked to continue the development and support of the leaders of Girls’ schools as a national network of heads of schools. The areas of administration, academics, as well as the larger issues of standards and ideals for school and life were especially important in schools for girls. Connecting these heads of schools with college admissions representatives also emerged as an important avenue to the continued education and success of young women, along with ongoing discussion about College Entrance Board examinations and a foreign exchange program for teachers.
The NAPSG's mission was to further the professional growth of its members by providing a forum in which issues pertinent to the education of girls and young women are presented and discussed. School heads and other representatives of member schools and colleges meet to address issues ranging from curricular and administrative policies to moral education and the role of women in a complex and changing world.
The Heads Network Today
The NAPSG Council held a retreat to vision the organization going forward in November, 2012. The results of the meeting led to a name change, a revised mission and a list of core tenets. In February 2013, NAPSG became The Heads Network.
The Heads Network speaks to its mission of advancing girls and women in leadership in independent schools in several significant ways. The Annual Meeting is a two-day event held each year just prior to the NAIS Annual Conference. Guest speakers provide the attendees differing and challenging perspectives, and the meeting is a forum for the discussion of innovations, trends and mutual challenges in schools. Of utmost value, is an opportunity to collaborate with fellow members and to talk freely in an association that features diversity and intimacy.
For more than 30 years,The Heads Network has sponsored the Women’s Leadership Seminar to inspire and equip future women leaders. Held twice each year, many Seminar participants are now school heads in the United States and internationally. Over 900 women have attended Seminars which continue to be at capacity… a testament to the leadership of the association. 2017 finds The Heads Network working strategically to further its mission and meet the needs of its members. Now is an exciting time in the history of The Heads Network, one with a rich past and a bright future.
"When women are in charge, more voices are included; the world runs better."
~ Ann Klotz
Laurel School
Shaker Heights, OH
Past Presidents
1920 Cleveland, OH – Marion Coats
1921 Atlantic City, NJ – Marion Coats
1922 Chicago, IL – Marion Coats Graves
1923 Cleveland, OH – Eloise Tremaine
1924 Chicago, IL – Eloise Tremaine
1925 Cincinnati, OH – Sarah Converse
1926 Washington, DC – Sarah Converse
1927 Dallas, TX – L. Gertrude Angell
1928 Boston, MA – L. Gertrude Angell
1929 Cleveland, OH – L. Gertrude Angell
1930 Atlantic City, NJ – L. Gertrude Angell
1931 Detroit, MI – Mary E. Wilson
1932 Washington, DC – Mary E. Wilson
1933 St. Paul, MN – Mary E. Raymond
1934 Cleveland, OH – Mary E. Raymond
1935 Atlantic City, NJ – Valentine L. Chandor
1936 Chicago, IL – Marjorie Hiscox
1937 New Orleans, LA – Alice G. Howland
1938 Atlantic City, NJ – Alice G. Howland
1939 Cleveland, OH – Sarah B. Whitaker
1940 St. Louis, MO – Sarah B. Whitaker
1941 Atlantic City, NJ – Edna Lake
1942 Boston, MA – Edna Lake
1943 New York, NY – Elizabeth Singleton
1944 No meeting – Elizabeth Singleton
1945 No meeting – Elizabeth Singleton
1946 Rye, NY – Marguerite Hearsey
1947 Atlantic City, NJ – Marguerite Hearsey
1948 Atlantic City, NJ – Elizabeth M. Castle
1949 Atlantic City, NJ – Elizabeth M. Castle
1950 Atlantic City, NJ – Marion Reed Marsh
1951 Chicago, IL – Marion Reed Marsh
1952 Atlantic City, NJ – Anne Cutter Coburn
1953 Williamsburg, VA – Anne Cutter Coburn
1954 Atlantic City, NJ – Alnah James Johnston
1955 Washington, DC – Alnah James Johnston
1956 Atlantic City, NJ – Natalie G. Galbraith
1957 New York, NY – Natalie G. Galbraith
1958 Charleston, SC – Susanna P. Turner
1959 Boston, MA – Susanna P. Turner
1960 Philadelphia, PA – Margaret Bailey Speer
1961 Washington DC – Margaret Bailey Speer
1962 Cleveland, OH – Marion Goodale
1963 Providence, RI – Marion Goodale
1964 New Orleans, LA – Marion Davis
1965 Atlantic City, NJ – Marion Davis
1966 Boston, MA – Sallie E. Lurton
1967 Washington, DC – Sallie E. Lurton
1968 Philadelphia, PA – Virginia S. Deane
1969 San Francisco, CA – Virginia S. Deane
1970 Williamsburg, VA – Anne Healy
1971 New York, NY – Anne Healy
1972 Colorado Springs, CO – Dr. Ralph D. Rutenber, Jr.
1973 Charleston, SC – Dr. Ralph D. Rutenber, Jr.
1974 Monterey, CA – Dr. Marion H. Hamilton
1975 Hot Springs, VA – Dr. Marion H. Hamilton
1976 Colorado Springs, CO – Idanelle McMurry
1977 Boston, MA – Idanelle McMurry
1978 Charleston, SC – Nancy Kussrow
1979 Williamsburg, VA – Nancy Kussrow
1980 Colorado Springs, CO – Anne S. Lenox
1981 San Francisco, CA – Anne S. Lenox
1982 Savannah, GA – Michael S. Churchman
1983 Hot Springs, VA – Michael S. Churchman
1984 San Antonio, TX – Joan S. McMenamin
1985 Point Clear, AL – Joan S. McMenamin
1986 Coronado, CA – Virginia Wing
1987 Hot Springs, VA – Virginia Wing
1988 Colorado Springs – Julia A. Williams
1989 Clearwater, FL – Julia A. Williams
1990 Tucson, AZ – Blair Stambaugh
1991 Sea Island, GA – Blair Stambaugh
1992 Santa Fe, NM – Mildred Berendsen
1993 Sea Island, GA – Mildred Berendsen
1994 Ojai, CA – Agnes C. Underwood
1995 Charleston, SC – Agnes C. Underwood
1996 San Antonio, TX – Evelyn J. Halpert
1997 San Diego, CA – Evelyn J. Halpert
1998 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Edes P. Gilbert
1999 Albuquerque, NM – Edes P. Gilbert
2000 Charleston, SC – Diana Coulton Beebe
2001 Stuart, FL – Diana Coulton Beebe
2002 Napa, CA – Elizabeth Lee
2003 Ponte Vedra, FL – Elizabeth Lee
2004 Savannah, GA – Ellanor Brizendine
2005 Rancho Bernardo, CA – Ellanor Brizendine
2006 Charleston, SC – Ellanor Brizendine
2007 Ventana Canyon, AZ – M. Burch Tracy Ford
2008 Hilton Head, SC – M. Burch Tracy Ford
2009 San Antonio, TX – M. Burch Tracy Ford
2010 Napa, CA – Ellen Stein
2011 Charleston, SC – Ellen Stein
2012 Seattle, WA – Ellen Stein
2013 Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Elizabeth Speers
2014 Orlando, FL – Elizabeth Speers
2015 New Orleans, LA – Elizabeth Speers
2016 Napa, CA – Sue Bosland
2017 Ponte Vedra, FL – Sue Bosland
2018 Savannah, GA- Sue Bosland
2019 San Diego, CA- Travis Brownley
2020 Ponte Vedra FL-Travis Brownley
2021 Virtual Conference-Travis Brownley