Dear Norfolk Academy Family,

I am honored and excited for the opportunity to become Norfolk Academy’s next Head of School. I have been aware of the strength of the Academy’s educational program and the warmth of its community for some time, having previously lived in Virginia and attended graduate school at UVA. However, experiencing this first-hand with members of the Norfolk Academy community over the last few weeks and months has been nothing short of extraordinary.

One of the many things that draws me to this position at Norfolk Academy is the school’s enduring commitment to a student-centered holistic education, which focuses on mind, body, and character. Reflected in the Philosophy and Objectives, the Honor Code, the Diversity, Equity, and Justice statement, and the Portrait of the Graduate, it is clear that the Academy prepares its students to become informed, principled, and engaged citizens looking to make a positive impact on the broader world, within their own communities, and perhaps most importantly, on those they know and love. A Norfolk Academy education is a transformational 12-year journey that shapes students’ lives long after they graduate, and this deeply resonates with me as an educator and as a parent.

The passion and appreciation folks have for the Academy emanate from every conversation and interaction. People care intensely for this institution, but they do not conflate pride with hubris. Great institutions (even those that are close to entering their fourth century of success) do not rest on their laurels; instead, they look carefully at how they can make a great place even better, all while staying true to their mission and ideals. This proud humility aligns with my own values and principles, and it is ever-present in how I teach, lead, parent, and live my life.

My wife, Heather, and our three children share my excitement for this opportunity, and we cannot wait to move back to Virginia. Those who know me understand that there is nothing more important to me than my immediate and extended family. For each other, we are sources of inspiration, comfort, and joy, but most importantly, we are present to one another. While I would never want to overextend the comparison between families and school communities, I do think successful institutions and leaders help to model and create cultures that honor, and perhaps even require, that all community members be fully present to one another. They create a physical and temporal environment where people can listen, reflect, and align the cognitive, the emotional, and the spiritual. This commitment to being present creates relationships through which our schools survive and thrive, and without a doubt, I sense this commitment at Norfolk Academy.

I want to thank the Board and the Search Committee, as well as all of the members of the Norfolk Academy community I met during this thoughtful process. Thanks to a talented, dedicated faculty and staff, to stable and inspired board governance, and to the steady, caring, and strategic leadership of Dennis Manning and his administrative team, Norfolk Academy is thriving and can look deep into the 21st century from a position of strength.

I look forward to meeting more of you and to listening and learning more about what makes Norfolk Academy such a unique and special place. Until then, I hope you enjoy the remainder of your summer.

Sincerely,

Travis Larrabee
Head of School

Travis J. Larrabee became Norfolk Academy’s Head of School on July 1, 2023. He is just the fourth head of school at the Academy since 1950, following J.B. Massey, John Tucker, and Dennis Manning.

Mr. Larrabee joins Norfolk Academy from William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, where he served from 2007-23. He started as Upper School Dean of Students, a Social Studies teacher, and coach of the golf team. He became Upper School Director in 2010, leading a division of 450 students and collaborating with deans and department chairs in faculty hiring, supervision, and evaluation. From 2018-21, he served as Director of Strategic Initiatives, spearheading projects designed to allow students to explore issues through an inter-disciplinary approach. His work focused on the establishment of a program that promotes full engagement with a topic, much like the Academy’s Fellows programs, and the design of global education programs to give students a broader view of the world. He was also instrumental in helping to lead the school’s response to the pandemic. In 2021, he became Assistant Head of School, overseeing the PK-12 educational experience and several divisions, including the Center for Public Purpose, Athletics, Technology, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He also worked with the chief financial officer on the school’s finances and budget, supported development initiatives, and continued to advance strategic priorities.

Before coming to Penn Charter, Mr. Larrabee served at the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia from 2003-07, as Upper School Dean of Students and as a Social Studies Teacher. He began his career at Dexter School in Massachusetts as an upper elementary teacher. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Government and Russian studies from Colby College in 1995 and a master’s degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in 2003; he has also completed numerous professional courses, and has volunteered as a university mentor and guest instructor at the University of Pennsylvania and as a board member of the Live Like Blaine Foundation.

Mr. Larrabee’s wife, Heather, shares his passion for education. She served as a middle school learning specialist at Penn Charter. The Larrabees have three children: Jack, a student at Penn State University; Owen ’24; and Anna ’27.