Montrose Announces Leadership Transition

Dr. Karen Bohlin will conclude her 18-year tenure at the end of the school year, as the Board unanimously appoints Associate Head of School Katie Elrod as her successor.
Board Chairman William Noonan announced Dr. Bohlin’s planned resignation and her successor in a November 18 community-wide email, writing, “This transition commenced three years ago, under Dr. Bohlin’s characteristically prescient insight, when she appointed Mrs. Katie Elrod as our Associate Head of School. I am thrilled to let you know that the Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to name Katie Elrod as our 8th Head of School, effective upon Karen’s departure in June 2021.”

Dr. Bohlin’s tenure was marked by several major milestones. Under her leadership, Montrose School relocated from rented space in Natick to its permanent 14-acre Medfield campus. Along the way, she helped raise $30 million for capital investments and need-based financial aid; and she solidified Montrose as a leading independent school for girls with a national and international reputation for excellence. In the last two decades Montrose has earned several distinctions including the Boston Magazine Top Ten Private School ranking, National School of Character recognition, and College Board awards for women in AP Computer Science, while Montrose students have earned honors locally, nationally and internationally in every subject and have been selected to present at university conferences and been published in international peer reviewed journals.

“To say that her commitment to the Montrose mission has shaped the future for hundreds of women is an understatement,” said Mr. Noonan. An international leader in the field of character education, Dr. Bohlin brought her unique, visionary leadership to the School, prioritizing the intellectual lives of teachers and helping young women develop the habits of mind, heart and character they need to lead and engage the world.

Dr. Bohlin shared her gratitude with the school community saying, “The spirit of our students, faculty and families has never been more vibrant. It is truly a gift to be a part of this school community. The world needs more Montrose graduates, and the school will grow and thrive under Katie Elrod’s dynamic leadership.” 

As Associate Head of School, Katie Elrod specializes in strategic visioning and leadership in every area of the independent school experience. Professionally, Mrs. Elrod has taught at every grade level, from elementary through college and has also served as an adjunct professor in the philosophy department at Boston College. She co-led the Abigail Adams Institute’s summer seminar “Divided We Stand: Pursuing the Common Good” in Cambridge, MA. Mrs. Elrod is a published author and a frequent presenter, having spoken at the University of Notre Dame, MIT and St. Joseph’s College, and the University of Navarra, Spain. A Lonergan Fellow, she received her BA and MA in philosophy from Boston College. She teaches Montrose School’s flagship Capstone course, “Embracing Big Questions and the Ethics of Human Flourishing.” 

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