It has been my honor to serve as the Tisbury School's Principal since 2011. As many know, I attended the Tisbury School as a student Kindergarten through 8th grade, graduating in 1984. After teaching for several years at the West Tisbury School, I came to the Tisbury School in 2004 to teach 5th and 6th grade Social Studies. I then served as the Assistant Principal for 3 years prior to being named Principal. I feel fortunate to work in such a supportive school community.
The Tisbury School is a single-school district, one of six schools in the Martha's Vineyard Public School System. It serves children in grades pre-Kindergarten through 8. Following a comprehensive renovation and addition construction project, we first occupied this amazing building in September 2024. The professional team (construction manager W.T. Rich Company, architect Tappe Associates, and owner's project manager CHA Solutions), along with the School Committee, School Building Committee, and Town of Tisbury, worked together to ensure that the facility and campus were designed and built to best support the needs of students. We remain incredibly grateful to the residents and voters in the Town of Tisbury for their support which made this project possible. We know how fortunate we are to have such a wonderful school.
The Tisbury School recognizes that each student is a unique individual whose development is the collective responsibility of the staff, the parents, the community as a whole, and the child themself. It is the school's purpose, privilege, and obligation to create an educational environment that supports all students. The Tisbury School core values are found in its pillars: Respect, Community, Responsibility, and Compassion. Academic, social, and extracurricular opportunities for Tisbury School students promote that individual excellence is recognized, while simultaneously encouraging collaboration and strengthening relationships.
The success of Tisbury School students is the result of a collaborative effort among school staff, students, and parents. In addition to its traditional focus on building and strengthening students' academic skills, the Tisbury School also maintains an emphasis on educating the whole child. Accordingly, the arts are a valuable and integral part of the school's education program. Students participate in vocal and instrumental music, art, health, physical education, foreign language, and computer technology.
A talented and dedicated staff shares a common commitment to the students, parents, community, as well as to each other. It is my privilege to work here. The Tisbury School is very much a part of me, and I am fortunate and proud to be part of this school community.
Sincerely,
John
