Incoming Head of School

Dear New Roads School Community,

 

We are excited to announce that Sam Houser has been appointed the next Head of School at New Roads School. After an extensive process with the New Roads community, the Search Committee shared their unanimous recommendation with the Board of Trustees, which approved the recommendation unanimously. “Sam is uniquely prepared to lead New Roads with strategic intention as it enters its fourth decade. He embraces our founding commitments to authentic and holistic diversity, and to delivering a transformative educational experience that inspires not only our students, but our entire community, to think critically and deeply, to learn joyfully, and to live with purpose,” shares Board Chair Alan Hoffman.

 

 

Most recently, for eight years, Sam served as Head of School at George School, a day and boarding school that enrolls 540 students from 47 countries. There, Sam was responsible for instituting a new curricular model that allowed more students from diverse backgrounds and with diverse levels of preparation greater access to the upper levels of the curriculum. He led the community in sharpening the school’s work and image as an inclusive, innovative, progressive school in a crowded market, oversaw increased fundraising, worked with the Board and senior leadership to stabilize the school’s financial picture, and led the school successfully through the COVID pandemic.

 

During his thirty-year career in education, Sam also held leadership roles at Franklin & Marshall College, a private nationally ranked liberal arts college, where he served concurrently as Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff for the President of the College, and as Secretary of the College. At F&M, Sam’s work included institutional strategic planning and community outreach, including creating a college advising initiative in regional public schools that matched first generation to college students with institutions of higher learning and helped them secure appropriate financial aid. He has also held appointments as Senior Adjunct Professor of Classics at Franklin & Marshall, Instructor of Classics at the University of Rhode Island, and as a Middle School Instructor in Latin and Greek. Sam has been a Trustee with the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, and the Friends Council on Education.  He is currently a Trustee of Wilson College and serves as Board Vice Chair and Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. Sam holds a Ph.D. from Brown University, a BA in Latin magna cum laude from Franklin & Marshall, and attended the University College of London. 

 

Sharing his impressions about the school, Sam said, “When I first learned about New Roads, I wondered whether such a school can be possible—one that values the gifts of each individual student and works in community to cultivate them to their fullest; one that fosters intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of learning that feeds the soul while it makes the world more just and better; one that reflects the diversity of Los Angeles and its many rich cultures, harnessing their educational and formational power for students across all grades. Not only is such a school possible, it pulses with energy and thrives at New Roads. From the moment I met members of the search committee in August through my campus visit in September, this commitment to mission and optimism for young people were palpable at every turn, along with unmistakable warmth, caring and respect for students and those who teach and love them. I am honored to join and lead this distinctive and powerful school community. We have great work to do for our students, for our community and for the world. I can’t wait to get started.”

 

 

Since early 2025, the Head of School Search Committee has worked closely with our consultants at Carney, Sandoe & Associates and is thankful for their partnership throughout this process. Interest in this position was very robust, bringing close to two hundred applications. From this pool, the Search Committee met with 10 candidates for face-to-face interviews prior to selecting the three finalists. To engage our community in an open and transparent search, we invited these three finalists to multi-day visits to campus to meet with students, families, faculty and staff, the administrative team, and the Board. We extend our sincere thanks to all members of the community who participated in this thorough, thoughtful and inclusive search process. Our community’s feedback was extremely valuable and important to the Search Committee as we considered the next leader of New Roads School.

 

We would also like to share our great appreciation to Interim Head of School Dan Vorenberg for his exceptional leadership of New Roads. Over the past 15 months, Dan has thoughtfully implemented a sound strategic vision and enhanced structures that have positioned New Roads to thrive for decades to come. Dan has often said that he strives to leave New Roads in the strongest possible position when the permanent Head of School begins. He has accomplished this, and has done so with kindness, warmth and an abundance of good humor. As he looks ahead to retirement next year, he does so knowing that he will forever be a Jag.

 

Sam and Dan have already been in conversation and will continue to collaborate closely to ensure a seamless and successful transition. Sam will begin making visits to campus, and we’ll provide updates about upcoming opportunities to engage with our next Head of School. Sam will take the helm of New Roads School on July 1, 2026.

 

With gratitude,

Evelyn Hou and Bryan Biniak

Search Committee Chairs

 

 

Breck Eisner, Board Member (Noah ‘27)

Jody Gerson, Board Member (Luke ‘21, Daisy ‘23)

Alan Hoffman, Board Chair (Jackson ‘33)

Jarred Phillips, Upper School Science Teacher

Daniela Pennise, Upper School Director and Assistant Head of School for Program