►
From YouTube: Moments with Melinda: Interview with Dr. Jennifer Zaccara - Head of School for Vermont Academy
Description
From Melinda Moulton:
Dr. Jennifer L. Zaccara is Vermont Academy’s eighteenth Head of School. She came to Vermont Academy in 2017 from The Nightingale-Bamford School in New York City, where she served as Associate Head of School since 2013. Prior to that, she was Associate Dean of Faculty at The Taft School in Watertown, CT where she spent twelve years.
Since coming to Vermont Academy, Jennifer has worked with the board and the school community to launch a new strategic plan. She has led the campaign that drives the plan to significant gains, with record breaking fundraising in 2020 and a near doubling of that amount in 2021. Part of this success comes from significant initiatives to engage alumni by clarifying the school’s identity, purpose, direction, and value proposition. She has also overseen several partnerships, including with Liceo Europeo in Madrid, Spain, where students enrolled in the international education program now receive a Vermont Academy diploma, and a partnership with Mount Snow Academy to allow top-level sports-on-snow students to earn a Vermont Academy diploma.
During her tenure at Nightingale, Jennifer led new initiatives with vision, innovation, and results, including the development of the Nightingale Summer Academy; ongoing work on an eight-day rotational schedule; strategically utilizing new spaces to meld programming with design; and a campaign for global education. She managed strategic internal change, including STEM/STEAM curriculum, design thinking and coding initiatives, and innovative uses of spaces.
Jennifer taught English for many years at Taft, winning several teaching honors. She was appointed Mid Class Dean, leading 65-75 students each year, followed by being named English Department Head and then Associate Dean of Faculty.
A native of Connecticut, Jennifer graduated from Trinity College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Arts degree in English with distinction. She received her doctorate in English from the University of Connecticut, where she graduated with honors.
Jennifer enjoys welcoming students, faculty, and local residents to her home in the heart of campus, where she lives with her dogs, Copperfield and Brontë. She has two sons. Bryce Rafferty is finishing up his last year of law school at Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver. Keefe Rafferty is a Lieutenant in the Navy serving at Special Operations Command Pacific in Hawaii.
For more information: vermontacademy.org
9/22/2022
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A
B
B
I'm
really
excited
I've
known
you
now
for
quite
a
while
and
and
I've
always
been
so
intrigued
about
your
life
and
your
work
and
and
about
Vermont,
Academy
and
so
I
really
am
so
honored
to
have
you
with
me
today
on
moments
with
Melinda.
So,
let's
start,
let's
start
right
off.
I
I
would
love
to
know
a
little
bit
about
your
childhood
and
before
we
start
I
do
want
to
wish
you
a
happy
birthday.
Oh
thank
you!
So
much
because
you've
just
had
a
birthday
and
I
want
to
wish.
A
A
B
A
B
A
A
That
I
was
disappointing,
my
dad,
but
that
idea
that
you
have
to
steer
your
own
ship
and
that
circumstances
can
kind
of
push
you
in
directions
and
then
you're
not
really
you're,
not
making
choices,
and
so
I've
pulled
aside
many
students
over
the
years
who,
who
really
were
not
directing
their
lives
and
this
one
boy
actually
painted
it
on
the
ceiling
of
his
dorm
window.
Are
you
driving
the
car
and
I
as
I
said?
Oh,
no.
We're
gonna
have
to
repaint
that
after
you
leave,
but
you
know
the
story.
B
Sort
of
like
the
whole
concept
of
initiative-
yes,
you
know,
find
you
know,
find
your
path
and
and
and
and
walk
your
walk.
That's
a
that's
a
beautiful
lesson
for
your
father
to
have,
given
you
and
one
that
you
can
partake
with
your
students.
So
let's
talk
a
little
bit.
You
are
you
say
that
now
people
say
head
of
school
now
in
my
day
it
would
be
Headmaster
and
you
are
the
head
of
school,
the
Headmaster
at
Vermont
Academy,
which
is
one
of
just
a
few
private
preparatory
schools
in
Vermont.
A
Oh,
it's
a
very
special
place.
We
are
approaching
our
150th
anniversary
in
2026.,
we're
nestled
in
saxon's
river,
on
a
hill,
and
we
have
450
acres
and
our
whole
of
approach,
which
we
call
the
Vermont
Academy
way
of
teaching
and
learning
is
really
rooted
in
the
state
of
Vermont
and
our
land.
So
we
have
a
strategic
plan
with
with
four
pillars,
and
two
of
them
are
so
relevant
to
to
Vermont
and
and
they
are
community
and
land.
A
So
our
early
Founders
really
laid
down
that
track
of
learning
by
doing
of
learning
in
nature
of
the
importance
of
community
and
citizenship
and
character,
and
each
head
of
school,
who
came
along
really
carried
that
mantle
forward
I.
Think
very
often,
schools
frequently
try
to
reinvent
themselves
with
a
Headmasters
or
a
head
of
school's
Vision,
but
that
has
remained
constant
and
that
core
is
there
and
part
of
our
our
sense
of
purpose.
In
educating
students,
we
have
a
beautiful
campus.
A
It's
it's
very
historic
and
the
view
from
the
playing
fields
really
captures
everything
that
is
Vermont,
because
you
can
also
see
Sax's
River
in
the
church.
Steeples
and
it
just
looks
like
a
painting.
So
our
close
personal
attention
is
very
important
as
well.
We're
a
small
school
we're
about
200
and
we'd
hope
to
grow
a
little
bit
more
to
230
as
part
of
our
strategic
plan.
A
But
we
don't
want
to
get
very
big
as
some
of
the
other
boarding
schools
are
500
600
000
students,
because
we
really
want
to
be
continuing
that
authenticity
relationship
with
understanding
students
and
really
crafting
a
path
for
them
with
them.
That
is
distinct
and
will
help
them,
as
they
pitch
themselves
to
college
and
into
careers.
B
It's
so
interesting
because
I
just
went
to
my
high
school,
my
55th
High
School
reunion,
and
we
had
57
kids
in
my
graduating
class
and
and
a
quarter
of
our
class
of
course
is
passed
on.
But
one
of
the
one
of
the
things
that
came
out
of
the
of
the
reunion
that
we
were
saying
to
each
other
is
that
we
were
like
a
family
that
we
knew
each
other
and
we
were
all
close.
B
B
A
B
He
made
his
most
notable
friendships
who,
by
the
way,
he's
still
very
close
to
today.
So
thank
you
for
that
overview
of
Vermont
Academy.
Could
you
share
with
us
a
little
bit
about
some
of
the
notables.
You've
got
some
very
wonderful
people
who
have
who
have
graduated
from
Vermont
Academy.
Could
you
share
with
us
a
little
bit
about
those
folks?
We.
A
Do
we
do
nobody's
more
notable
than
our
current
students,
I
have
to
say,
but
are
are
really
most
important.
Alumni
award
is
given
in
honor
of
Florence,
Sabin
and
I'm,
proud
to
say
that
our
school
was
co-ed
to
begin
with,
which
was
really
rare
in
those
days
and
and
Florence
went
on
to
she
had
laboratory
science
here,
which
is
also
unusual
in
the
late
1800s
I
think
it
was
1898
was
her
class
and
she
went
on
to
study
at
Smith
and
then
to
be
the
first
female
professor
at
Johns
Hopkins.
A
A
So
now
we
are
always
focused
on
getting
kids
away
from
screens,
but
if
you
can
imagine
they
were
you
know
cozy
in
their
dorm
rooms
with
their
friends
and
he
he
thought,
trailblazing
and
really
getting
out
and
understanding
what
he
called.
The
Grand
Campus
of
Vermont
itself
meant
for
Vermont
Academy
students
would
be
a
wonderful
design
and
while
he
was
doing
this,
he
came
up
with
a
larger
idea
for
the
Long
Trail
and
then
took
it
forward
and
moved
up
to
Burlington
and
I
have
seen
some
beautiful
Lantern
slides
at
the
University
of
Vermont.
A
That
Rick
showed
me.
Rick
Moulton
showed
me
that
capture
Vermont
Academy
students
with
James
P
Taylor.
We
also
have
Paul
Harris,
the
the
founder
of
the
Rotary
Club
graduated
from
Vermont
Academy
and
again,
there's
that
Vermont
idea
of
business
and
tinkering
and
getting
out
in
the
community
so
we're
very
proud
there
as
well,
and
we
have
a
lot
of
inventors.
Russell
Porter
created
the
Palomar
telescope,
George
Chaney,
the
Hubble
telescope,
and
we
have
our
own
Observatory
here,
which
is
wonderful.
A
A
The
lead
guitarist
for
Aerosmith
and
I
could
go
on
and
on,
but
they're
I'm
very
proud
of
of
all
of
these
graduates,
and
we
have
a
wall
with
their
stories
in
our
main
hall
here
in
Fuller,
and
that
students
are
often
stopping
and
reading
the
biographies,
they're
they're,
just
so
varied
and
interesting
and
and
inspiring,
and
they
help
them
to
realize
that
these
people
were
at
the
same
place
where
they
are
now
and
they
have
possibilities
for
their
lives
that
are
similar.
So.
B
A
B
A
Was
very
rare,
I
haven't
found
another
school
I'm
sure
there
is
if
I
did
a
thorough
search,
but
I
just
had
a
gift
from
alumnus
art
Kelton.
He
sent
me
these
gorgeous
framed
pictures
of
a
production
in
1920
or
no
wait.
It
was
1911,
but
you
know
women
got
the
vote
in
1920
and
it
was
a
play
all
about
they.
They
had
protests
around
campus
with
signs
saying
women
need
the
vote
and
then
there
was
a
play
that
was
all
about
that
and
I
I
didn't
notice.
A
A
You
know
come
to
fruition
until
a
few
years
later,
so
I
credit
that
to
the
the
high-mindedness
of
these
baptist
ministers,
who
founded
the
school,
they
were
very
Progressive
and
one
of
them
was
Levi
Fuller
who
married
into
the
SD
Oregon
family
in
Brattleboro,
and
you
know,
really
gave
a
lot
to
build
the
first
buildings
at
the
school
and
they
were
open-minded
people.
We
also
were
Melinda
you'll,
be
really
interested
in
this.
We
were
very
diverse
from
the
beginning
because
they
gave
free
access
to
Vermont
Academy
to
all
missionaries
children.
A
B
B
A
We
I
think
Melinda
that
it's
it's
it's
rooted
in
the
fact
that
healthy
competition
is
so
much
a
part
of
our
lives
here.
I
think
competition
can
have
a
negative
connotation,
but
not
here
we
do
a
strength,
finder
test
when
students
arrive
and
they
they
discover
their
top
five
strengths
and
kind
of
work
from
there
to
build
out
their
program.
It's
a
Clifton
strength
test
and
we
found
out
that
our
students
all
share
competition
is
one
of
their
top
five,
and
that
also
is
very
rare.
A
So
so
they
encourage
each
other
and
it
could
be
that
you're
going
to
be
competitive
and
strive
for
your
best
in
your
painting
class.
It
doesn't
have
to
be
Athletics,
but
we
encourage
each
other
and
it's
part
of
our
Our
Heritage
Warren
Shivers
was
our
first
Olympian
that
I
know
of
and
I
wish.
I
had
met
this
man.
A
He
was
a
four
event
skier,
but
I
believe
he
was
a
jumper
and
a
Nordic
competitor
in
the
1938
Olympics,
and
he
came
here
with
Larry
Levitt,
who
was
a
Dartmouth
scholar
athlete
and
was
the
head
of
school
for
25
years
and
could
be
an
even
longer,
maybe
28,
but
more
in
really
established.
Our
whole
outdoor
program
went
back
to
the
legacy
of
James
P
Taylor
in
the
Long
Trail
and
then
built
out
a
ski
program
and
we've
had
many
many
Fantastic
skiers
graduate
from
Vermont
Academy.
B
A
A
It
is
the
case
that
many
families
don't
send
their
daughters
away
until
sophomore
junior
year,
so
that
is
I'm
working
against
that
goal.
But
at
the
same
time,
to
see
our
our
girls
really
thriving,
is
really
important
to
me
and
for
them
to
see
me
in
this
position
helps
them
to
realize
possibilities
as
well.
A
B
A
Did
you
know
like
some
sort
of
naive
moment,
but
you
know
she
just
she
she's
such
an
inspiration
for
women
and
I'd
say
the
challenges,
because
you
had
asked
me
about
that
too,
are
just
really
you
know.
We've
we've
had
a
wonderful
increase
in
diversity
on
our
board
and
you
know
getting
mindsets
to
open
up
Beyond.
Maybe
what
was
traditionally
here
when
Larry
was
heading
to
school
and
doing
such
a
great
job?
A
It
was
a
little
bit
like
the
Hemingway
analog
there
with
Hemingway
Fitzgerald
and
Gertrude
Stein,
so
I'm
really
actively
drawing
on
that
those
early
days
of
the
school
to
really
help
everyone
to
to
recall
now
that
we
are
co-ed
in
that,
even
though
there
were
those
great
sort
of
golden
years
and
a
lot
of
the
alumni,
the
imaginations
of
alumni,
who
were
here
when
it
was
all
boys.
We
have
that
Dimension
now
and
more.
B
Certainly
I
was
very
anti-female
and
then
coming
back
to
it
and
now
having
their
first
female
Headmaster
head
of
school,
which,
just
you
know,
warms
the
cockles
of
my
heart
and
I'm
sure
of
many
other
people
out
there
that
you're
in
this
role
and
that
you're
leading
this
incredible
school,
I,
wanna,
I,
wanna
I
have
a
lot
that
I
want
to
talk
to
you
about,
but
we
are
getting
close
to
the
end
of
our
show.
So
I
want
to
talk
to
you
about
how
what
do
you
envision
the
future
of
Education?
A
An
exciting
question
for
me:
I
actually
moved
from
being
a
full-time
teacher
into
Administration
Nation
because
of
that
question.
I
I,
love
tradition,
but
I
also
love
the
future
and
right
now,
it's
so
important
for
us
to
inspire
our
young
people,
because
we're
divided
as
a
country
and
we're
facing
so
many
just
negative
messages
that
come
all
the
time
on
through
the
media.
A
And
so,
if
you
imagine
or
if
you
watch
young
people
when
they're
hearing
these
conversations,
adults
are
having
their
their
heads
kind
of
start
to
go
down
and
I
want
to
bring
it
up
and
have
them
realize
that
they
have
agency
to
make
a
better
world.
So
I
see
education
in
answer
to
question
really
moving
into
even
more
of
what
we
do
best,
which
is
Hands-On
experiences.
A
So
we're
trying
to
develop
some
opportunities
for
students
to
move
into
communities
solve
Community
problems,
work
side
by
side
with
Community
organizers,
learn
how
to
take
an
idea,
a
concept
into
a
product.
They
will
I'm
very
inspired
by
northeastern's
Co-op
program.
That's
been
around
for
a
while
program
and
they
have
students
graduating
with
a
a
you
know
their
resume
as
well
as
their
transcript
and
so
they've
got
work
experience
and
we
have
many
area
businesses
that
are
interested
in
having
Vermont
Academy
students
get
some
work
experience
as
well.
A
So
we
want
to
have
that
practical,
Dimension
part
of
students
experience
and
then
they
also
really
need
to
be
nimble
and
flexible.
I
know
these
are
terms
that
are
bandied
about
a
lot
right
now,
but
you
have
to
be
able
to
invent
your
own
job
too.
You
have
to
be
able
to
manage
your
own
business
or
manage
your
life
as
you're
in
between
jobs,
because
the
world
is
so
rapidly
changing,
so
that
kind
of
social,
emotional
learning
and
wherewithal
and
confidence
is
really
important
as
well.
B
B
A
B
A
B
A
It's
so
it's
so
important
for
students
to
have
in-person
instruction
and
and
to
going
through
a
pandemic
when
there
are
so
many
restrictions.
If
they
were
further
isolated
at
home,
it
would
have
been
so
difficult,
so
I'm.
So
my
heart
goes
out
to
all
the
public
school
teachers
and
others
who
had
to
go
through
that
for
longer
than
we
did.
We
were
just
very.
We
were
Vigilant,
we
had
mask
wearing
protocols,
we
tested
regularly
and
we
put
in
air
filtration
units
in
every
classroom.
A
We
had
tents
outside
depending
the
weather,
you
know,
and
so
we
we
just
we.
We
had
one
case
the
first
year
of
covet
one
case
of
covet
the
second
year
it
was
when
the
restrictions
were
lifted.
We
had
a
few
more
coming
back
from
winter
break,
but
you
know
not
more
than
about
a
dozen,
so
those
are
really
good
numbers
actually
and
we
just
basically
had
a
coveted
planning
team
that
met
once
a
week.
B
A
Yes,
I'll
just
say
that
we
we
have
been
historically
as
a
school,
not
waving
our
Banner
in
the
state
of
Vermont
enough
and
we
are
vermonters
and
we
love
this
state
and
everything
that
is
a
part
of
our
educational
philosophy
is
really
rooted
here.
So
I,
just
we're
going
to
be
doing
more
and
more
to
reach
out
to
the
community,
make
sure
you
know
we're
here
and
that
we're
accessible
for
students.
B
Vermont
Academy
has
been
around
for
150
years
to
my
viewers
150
years.
It
is
a
extraordinary
school
on
a
beautiful
campus
and
it
has
created
so
many
wonderful
human
beings
who
have
done
so
much
to
change
our
world
and
so
I
encourage
you
to
visit
their
website
vermontacademy.org
and
to
reach
out
to
Jennifer.
If
you're
interested
in
learning
more
about
the
school
and
Jennifer
I
just
want
to
tell
you
that
I
am
going
to
paint
on
my
ceiling
to
drive.
B
My
own
car
I
think
that
message
from
your
father
that
resonates
today
with
us
to
to
to
walk
your
walk
and
make
sure
that
you
you,
you
drive
your
own
life
and
when
you
get
battered
about
by
other
things,
that
you
study
up
and
you
stay
on
your
own
path
and
stay
really
true
to
yourself.
That's
the
message
today
that
you
have
really
left
us
through
your
father
and
for
that
I
want
to.
Thank
you.
B
I
want
to
thank
you
for
your
time
and
for
your
dedication
to
the
school
and
I'm
so
proud
that
you
are
the
first
female
to
to
run
Vermont
Academy
after
150
years.
I
think!
That's!
That's
a
milestone
and
that
and
that
you
should
be
honored
for
that
and
for
that
I
do
honor
you
and
I'm
and
I'm
honored
to
call
you
my
friend
so.