Head of School for a Day

August Shapiro ’26 stepped into a new role on May 14, leading the Suffield community as Head of School for the Day. The unique experience was made possible through last April’s Parents’ Association Auction.

August’s day began with a behind-the-scenes look at school leadership alongside Head of School Charlie Cahn. He then met with Director of Enrollment Management Sean Atkins to learn more about how prospective Tigers discover and navigate the admissions process at Suffield. During a meeting with Dean of Academics & Faculty Sara Yeager, August gained insight into the many responsibilities involved in overseeing the academic program and supporting faculty members.

One of the day’s highlights came during a visit with Director of the Physical Plant Phil Cyr, who surprised August with a trip to the Fuller Hall cupola, offering an unforgettable bird’s-eye view of campus and a new perspective on the operations that keep Suffield running each day. Chief Financial Officer Patrick Booth welcomed August into his office to discuss the school’s operational and financial management before August continued on to meet with Dean of Students Greg Lynch. To conclude the day, he met with members of the Development team to learn more about Suffield’s fundraising efforts and alumni engagement.

While August followed a packed administrative schedule, Mr. Cahn spent the afternoon attending August’s classes—taking meticulous notes and enthusiastically participating in classroom discussions. He especially enjoyed English IV, where he contributed meaningfully to the conversation, and even picked up some new vocabulary in French IV.

August also selected the day’s lunch menu—steak frites—which proved to be a crowd favorite among students and faculty alike. Reflecting on the experience at the end of the day, August shared, “Today has been truly eye-opening for me and made me even more grateful to be a Suffield Academy Tiger.” Before concluding his time as Head of School for the Day, August made one final announcement that was met with excitement across campus: the next day would be a dress-down day!