Leadership
Board of Trustees
The Derryfield School is governed by a Board of Trustees. Board members are the fiduciaries who steer the School towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as by making sure The Derryfield School has adequate resources to advance its mission.
2023-2024 Derryfield Board of Trustees
Front Row (L-R): Lauren Hines, Andy Chappell, Susan Rand-King, and Sally Green
Middle Row (L-R): Dr. Sheila DeWitt, Steve Carter, Neal Winneg, Bill Kelsey, Dr. Karen Wu,
Dr. Sal Malik, and Harold Losey
Back Row (L-R): Lisa Drake, Dr. Cecilia Clemans, Dr. Saurabh Ullal, Richard Critz, James Lamp,
Bob Grunbeck, Brent Powell, Joel Rozen, and Dr. Steve Johnson
Head of School
Andy Chappell, P’24
Mr. Chappell was appointed as The Derryfield School’s ninth Head of School in 2022, after enjoying a quarter-century career at The Roxbury Latin School in Boston, Massachusetts. Over his tenure, he served as a teacher of Latin and Greek, coach of baseball, football, and soccer, student advisor, Department Chair, Class Dean, Director of Admission, Director of Studies, Director of the Penn Fellows Program, and Assistant Head for Program.
Chappell was drawn to Derryfield because of the School’s commitment to strong core values, including making a broader impact on the community. “Derryfield is a place that’s committed to making sure that kids not only grow up to be smart and talented but even more importantly to be good citizens of this world,” he says. “It’s a place where people care about how you develop as a human being and how you treat other people.”
Mr. Chappell holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College. He is married to Kate Hurlbut Chappell, a proud alumna of Derryfield’s Class of 1993. They have a son in college and a daughter who is a member of Derryfield’s Class of 2024. Mr. Chappell and his family love to be outdoors, hiking, fishing, golfing, cycling, playing racquet sports, boating, and swimming. He also enjoys reading, listening to music, playing and watching sports, traveling, and exploring museums and other cultural institutions wherever he goes.
Assistant Heads
Kathleen Rutty-Fey ’87
- Job Title:
- Assistant Head of External Affairs
- Education:
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges - B.A.
College of William and Mary - M.A.
- Email:
- krutty@derryfield.org
A Derryfield alumna of the class of 1987, Kathleen received a B.A. in English from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. She happily rejoined her alma mater in 1996, and since that time has been involved in the Philanthropy & Engagement and Admission efforts in a variety of capacities, acted as a student advisor, and coached middle school girls lacrosse.
In the summer of 2021, Kathleen became the Director of Enrollment and External Affairs, a role that blends 25 years of experience at Derryfield in admission, fundraising, alumni, and marketing. She claims that the best thing about her position is “sitting in the crow’s nest” and witnessing the full scope of a Derryfield student’s life unfold–from prospective student to student to alumni–and being involved at every stage.
Mother to Miles ’17 and Parker ’21, Kathleen spends her spare time living the life of a domestic diva: cooking, baking, gardening, and obsessing over the bluebirds in the backyard. Bucket list accomplishments include three marathons, the Mount Washington Road Race, a trip to China to recruit international students, and skydiving. What’s next?
Pete Brandt, P’20, P’21
Pete Brandt, P’20, P’21
- Job Title:
- Assistant Head for Academic Affairs
- Education:
- Bates College - B.A., Lesley College - M.Ed.
Pete Brandt serves as the Assistant Head for Academic Affairs. A parent of two graduates, Sophie ’20 and Frankie ’21, Mr. Brandt arrived at Derryfield in 2008 and has served Derryfield as an excellent teacher, coach, advisor, Dean of Faculty, and Assistant Head for Faculty and Innovation. - Email:
- pbrandt@derryfield.org
Division Heads
Reina Stimpson, P’13, P’15
Reina Stimpson, Head of Upper School
Education: Keene State College – B.A., Plymouth State University – M.Ed., Southern New Hampshire University – Ph.D.
Reina Stimpson grew up in Merrimack, NH, and is the Head of the Upper School. Reina started teaching Spanish in 2001 and came to Derryfield in 2006. She has served in various capacities at Derryfield before assuming her present role including the Dean of Students, a World Language Department Chair, and Head Class Adviser to the 9th grade for several years. Prior to arriving at DS, Reina was a community organizer in Hartford, CT in a Spanish neighborhood, and has been involved in community education in Nashua, NH. Reina holds a Masters in Education in Human Relations from Plymouth State University, in the Department of Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. She is the proud mother of three amazing children who attended Derryfield and two stepchildren. Over her tenure, Reina has been a huge supporter of Breakthrough Manchester and served as the Interim Director for a summer. Her interests include spending time with her husband, Mick, their five children, and her grandchildren.
Mark Blaisdell, P’12, P’16
Mark Blaisdell, Head of Middle School
Education: Boston College – B.A., Northeastern University – M.Ed.
Mark Blaisdell has spent the past 22 years of his career as a history teacher and then Head of the Middle School at Derryfield. A lifelong learner and educational leader, he previously served in several roles at the Purnell School in Pottersville, NJ, including Director of Studies and Humanities Department Chair. He earned a Master’s degree in Teaching and Learning at Northeastern University’s College of Advanced Studies—an online learning program—as a way to give focus to his lifelong commitment to professional development, and because he is intrigued by the revolution taking place in higher education. Outside of his duties at school, his hobbies include playing competitive tennis in the USTA, as well as playing in a local classic rock band, and exploring the outdoors.
