Mission, History, and Leadership

Head of School, Michael J. Schafer

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Our Leadership

The Newman School celebrates over 75 years, in the heart of the Back Bay of Boston, as a welcoming, vibrant learning community.
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From grades 7-12, Newman's middle and high school years International Baccalaureate curriculum (IB) is the point of entry for curious, independent, outward-looking students.

In March 2020, The Newman School gracefully transitioned leadership with the retirement of Headmaster J. Harry Lynch, who provided exceptional leadership for 35 years, to Michael Schafer, a proven leader in independent schools in greater Boston and New England independent schools.

Mike is energized by Newman and his return to Boston, where he worked for fifteen years in school leadership roles at Belmont Hill School and Middlesex School. He excelled for fifteen years as Head of School at Kimball Union, strengthening curriculum, the student experience and increasing the school’s admissions and the endowment tenfold. “Boston has always been my home. For me, the draw to Newman is natural - a forward looking civic and global-minded school serving a wide range of learners that is open and accessible, innovative and broad thinking. Newman's motto is ‘Heart Speaks to Heart. This says it all. Newman is known for its deep relationships, committed faculty, and partnerships with education organizations across the city and the world. Newman provides students with a co-curricular program of deep inquiry, knowledge, skills and reflection to engage and contribute beyond the classroom.”

The Newman School's commitment to growth and development for all is evidenced by being fully open for “Heart Speaks to Heart” learning.

Mike
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History of Newman School

The Newman School was founded in 1945 by the late Dr. J. Harry Lynch and a group of colleagues, all alumni of Boston College. Naming their school after the greatly admired John Henry Cardinal Newman, the founders started out by educating young men returning from military service at the end of World War II, and gradually expanded to serve young men and women in their high school years.

In 1948, The Newman School accepted its first international student, a young man from Korea who was homeless. Sponsored by a group of Boston College alumni, who were friends of Newman’s founders, Thomas Song became Newman’s first international student.

The Newman School's commitment to international education began in these early years of the school’s existence, and led to the development of a successful English as a Second Language program for many years.

Since 1985, under the leadership of J. Harry Lynch Jr., the school developed its curriculum in the liberal arts tradition embraced by John Henry Newman.

Today, these commitments are carried forward by Head of School Michael J. Schafer through the International Baccalaureate program, which provides intellectual challenge and a dynamic learning environment for students of broadly diverse backgrounds.