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Editor's note: This story is part of a series on local independent and private schools ahead of the start of the 2023-24 academic year.
Lynne Macziewski became head of school at the all-girls Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, succeeding former head and Baldwin alum Marisa Porges. Macziewski brings more than 20 years of experience in education, all of it at private and independent schools. Prior to Baldwin, the Minnesota native was the associate head of school at Girls Preparatory in Tennessee, where she worked a total of six years. She spent much of her career at the Blake School in Minneapolis, where she began as a teacher before moving into administration. Macziewski holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of St. Thomas, as well as a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Minnesota. A product of public schools, her passion for education was inspired by one of her own high school teachers. We sat down with Macziewski to discuss her new role, the future of Baldwin, and how education continues to adapt in the face of new technology.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Why private and independent schools?
One of the things that really drew me was smaller classes and the opportunity to interact with kids on an individualized basis. And the second thing was the opportunity to really guide my own teaching path and curriculum based on the needs of my students. Rather than following state standards, or being tied by district decisions or curriculum, in an independent school you have the opportunity to work with your colleagues to really think about the students that you’re serving, what they need, what’s changing in the world around us.
Why the Baldwin School?
This opportunity came across my desk from a friend and colleague. … And as I went through the process and meeting the search committee members and the board members and just learning more about the school, I really fell in love with it. The faculty here are brilliant and they love what they do and they love our school. I have been blown away by their intellectual ability, their care for this school, their care for each other and for the girls. When I visited this spring every single girl I spoke to, I asked her what she loves about Baldwin. There were two things that always came up. One is her teachers, and the other was her friends. It’s the people inside of it and the good work that we do to raise tomorrow’s female leaders. That is what makes the school so special.
How have you been getting to know the Baldwin community?
Starting in March, I spent some time speaking with a large number of different families that attend the school wanting to get their perspective on things. I also started meeting with all of the faculty and staff. I asked them, why Baldwin for you? Why did you choose to come here? What are some things that we should never change? And how can I help you do your best work?
Educational models have changed a lot, particularly as technology evolves. Do you think we’re at a precipice in education?
I do believe that we are on this big precipice. You think about ChatGPT and other AI that’s out there. Do I think they’re going to replace teachers? No. … How do we teach our kids how to use these tools and the technology available to us in an ethical, honest, responsible way? Education looks way different than when I was in school, in a good way. So we need to continue to think about what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and why we’re doing it. And if the answer is because that’s what we’ve always done, then that’s not a great answer. What should we be doing and what is in the best interest of our kids and preparing them for the future?
You’ve dedicated a good bit of your career to girls’ schools – what do you see as a main benefit of single-sex education?
When I was at the University of Minnesota getting my master’s there, I focused a lot on studies around women in leadership and more directly the lack of women in leadership positions. What I started focusing on was the confidence piece of it and when and how that is built. And so really focusing a lot on middle school girls. What our research shows is that is a such a pivotal time in a young girl’s development. … Confidence is a much bigger predictor of success than IQ. So how then do we build that confidence, and that is where the single-sex education comes in. … If you remove the boys from the educational environment, our girls are the only ones raising their hands, they’re the ones taking the leadership opportunities, they are building their confidence and their skills. That is what really drew me to it was this opportunity to help shape the lives of our future leaders.
Baldwin exceeded its fundraising campaign goal last year and raised $32 million. What’s next?
Because we just finished a campaign, there won’t be a capital campaign in the next year. We’re doing a lot of asking from our families about what they’re looking for and what they think the future of Baldwin holds. And for our girls, what are they looking for, as well. This is really a year of making connections, of listening, of learning and then we will use that information to really start working with a variety of community constituents in terms of our next strategic plan.
Do you have any capital projects in the pipeline?
As a school that’s 135 years old, we have a very robust archive, especially considering this used to be the Bryn Mawr Hotel. We have lots of items from that era, and then also when it transitioned into the schoolhouse under Florence Baldwin. We are really excited that we are starting a [$600,000] project this fall to build a permanent [2,150-square-foot] archive that will be a warm and welcoming place for students as well. It won’t be a place where you go in and you look and you don’t touch. We have kids that come in, they are using this as part of their research. It’s going to be a beautiful place that not only houses all of the amazing history of this building and our school, but also a place that is interactive for students and engaging where they can feel at home. It will be dedicated to the former head, Marisa Porges.
