Community School
Laurie Smilack has extensive experience in educational leadership, currently serving as Head of School at Community School since July 2025. Prior to this role, Laurie held the position of Division Head at New City School from July 2018 to June 2025. Laurie's earlier career includes significant roles at The Lovett School, where responsibilities spanned from Lower School Director of Curriculum and Instruction to Lower School Assistant Principal, in addition to teaching and leading in various grade levels from kindergarten to 4th grade. Laurie's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in English and Education from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus on Curriculum Development and Assessment from Webster University.
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Community School
Community School is an independent elementary and preschool serving families with children age 3 through sixth grade. Students excel in an environment that balances intellectual challenge and nurturing support. The 7:1 student/teacher ratio allows for personalized attention and active, experiential learning. Visual and performing arts, foreign language, and physical education programs complement the academic curriculum, creating a rich learning experience. As a testament to their preparation, Community students’ test scores are among the highest in the nation. Community School’s beautiful 18-acre campus – with its woods, trails, pond, fields, and treehouse – provides a safe setting for exploration and a deeper understanding of concepts learned in the classroom. The school’s emphasis on character development, service learning, and public speaking helps to prepare students to be tomorrow’s leaders. For more than 100 years, Community has served as a joyous place for children as they fall in love with learning.