New Head of Upper School to join Greenhills next year

Greenhills School is pleased to announce the appointment of Julia de la Torre as the new Greenhills Head of Upper School, effective July 1, 2015.

De la Torre emerged from a strong, national field of candidates and was one of three finalists to visit Greenhills to interview earlier this fall.

“The search process that led us to Julia was exhaustive, involving parents, faculty, students, and staff,” said Greenhills Head of School Carl Pelofsky. “Many who participated had an opportunity to meet Julia and learn, as I did, of her dedication to students, teacher training, and program development. I extend my thanks to all who participated as we welcome Julia to Greenhills.”

De la Torre comes to Greenhills from Watertown, Mass., where she is the executive director of Primary Source, a Boston-based non-profit that advances global education by providing professional development opportunities to K-12 teachers.

She earned an undergraduate degree in French at Haverford College and a master’s in education at Harvard University. She began her career as a French teacher at Kent Denver School in Colorado, where she quickly rose to foreign language chair. She then joined the Peace Corps as an English teacher and teacher trainer. Her career has been diverse and exciting, and she has worked in locales in the U.S., Europe, and North Africa, in independent and public schools.

“The reality is we are preparing students for jobs and a life that we can’t even imagine yet,” de la Torre says. And that’s why, she adds, her goal is to mold students who are lifelong learners, curious about the world, and motivated to give back to advance the greater good.

De la Torre and her family will come to Ann Arbor this summer. Until then, Dean of Students Luke Jansen will continue his service as interim head of upper school.