Looking Back Fondly & Marching Ahead

The Laurie Gruhn farewell interview

Head of Lower School and Assistant Head of School Laurie Gruhn has been at Browning since 1998. This July she will become the Head of School for the Gateway School, A K-8 school in New York City that specializes in language-based learning disabilities and attention deficits.

As she prepares for her new position as the Head of The Gateway School, Laurie Gruhn talks about her New York City childhood, her years at The Browning School, and her plans for the future.

When Ms. Gruhn arrived at Browning’s red doors for her first day of work over two decades ago, Titanic and Men in Black were the top films of the year, Seinfeld and E.R. were the most popular shows on television, Mo Money Mo Problems by The Notorious B.I.G. was the number one song on the radio, The Lion King was taking Broadway by storm...and not a single current Browning student had been born yet.

As one of the current Browning students who has known Ms. Gruhn the longest - we first “met” when I was a two-week-old baby at the 2005 Book Fair - even I had a lot to learn about this long-time Browning legend.

For example, unbeknownst to most, Ms. Gruhn’s relationship with Browning actually began long before she was hired as Head of Lower School. Find out why, in this illuminating interview.

You have been at Browning for a long time. But, Browning was not the first school that hired you. Can you tell us about your pre-Browning career? 

I worked at the Chapin School for 14 years as a K-8 drama teacher and 9-12 speech and debate coach. I coached Chapin’s first national champion in oral interpretation. Over the years, I was also a sixth-grade homeroom teacher, and a fourth-grade class dean. During that time, I also taught Middle School English and Middle School History.

I know that you are a lifelong New Yorker. Can you tell us what it was like growing up and going to school in the city? 

Ms. Gruhn as a Hewitt student,

right, performs alongside Browning boy Alexander Glos ’81 in a joint school production of Agatha Christie’s A Murder is Announced, 1979.

My life was pretty much focused on school and home. Most of my friends were in my class, or a grade or two above me. I also had camp friends. I am still friends  with many of these people. My life centered around classes, but also after-school activities. I was on the school paper, but mainly [most heavily] involved in drama.

What kind of interaction did you have with Browning students when you were growing up? 

I went to Hewitt. And, at that time, Hewitt and Browning were kind of brother and sister schools. So, when I say that my life was focused around school, I mean both schools. There were boys who took classes at Hewitt and, although I never did, some girls who took classes at Browning. But our Arts program was huge. The two schools put on six shows a year combined: one drama, one comedy, and one musical each. You could, in theory, be in as many as three shows a year. (They rehearsed simultaneously, so you could not do all six.)

I did a lot of drama, but I was only in one Browning production. I played Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter.

I heard a rumor that you knew Mr. Ingrisani as a teacher back when you were a student. Is that true? 

Yes, I knew Mr. Ingrisani. I think it is fair to say he is the only teacher at Browning who knew me as a teenager! A year after I graduated, he also chaperoned a Browning/Hewitt trip to China. I was on that trip, and it holds absolutely amazing memories for me. China had just opened up to the West, and we were as fascinating to the Chinese as they were to us!

I also took a Browning/Hewitt trip to Russia a year or two before that.

What did you want to be when you were a child? 

I was always trying to decide between teacher, actress, or lawyer. I think my current work combines a bit of all three!

Why did you decide to go into education?

Without question, it was based on how I felt about my high school teachers. My teachers made a huge impact on me. I still have every English and History book that I ever had in high school. And I am still in contact with many of my former teachers, even if only on Facebook.

How long have you been at Browning? And what roles have you had while you have been at the school? 

This is my 22nd year. I entered as Head of Lower School, and five years in I was asked to add the role of Assistant Head of School.

What has changed the most since you walked through those red doors for the first time? What has changed the least? Does any of it surprise you?  

What has not changed is the faculty’s commitment to the boys, and the sense of community in the building. I surely hope that will always be the number one thing people focus on when they think of our school. 

The building has certainly changed a great deal; also, how we look at and approach the curriculum. Our community has also grown bigger!

And, Bram, nothing surprises me!

What have you enjoyed the most about your time at Browning? What do you think that you will miss most? 

What I have enjoyed the most is working to facilitate the relationships between teachers, students, and parents. Seeing the whole picture, and how the program supports the boys is very gratifying. I will miss regularly seeing the many colleagues and families I have come to know and love over the years.

One thing is also true; until June I am totally focused on doing everything I can to make this a great year for Lower School and leave everything ready for the next Lower School Head. I also plan to help the new Lower School Head, Mr. Ogden, transition into Browning, much the same way that I am being helped with my transition into Gateway.

What educational philosophies do you feel are most important? Have your views about the education of boys changed a lot since you arrived at Browning? Does John Browning’s original School Mission still resonate with you?

There has been so much research in the past few years centered around the importance of developing strong connections between teachers and students. It plays a huge role in student success. When I think about the Browning teachers I have known over the years, the ones who are focused on teaching boys, as opposed to just teaching their subject, are the ones I have admired and learned from the most. The content is critical, of course, but it is not as important as the person who is teaching the content. 

As far as my views regarding the education of boys, when I first came to Browning, I spent several years really thinking about what elementary school children need most to be able to be successful in school. I had come from working primarily with middle and upper school girls, and it took awhile to appreciate the fact that it was not only the age group, but also the gender that was quite different! Initially, I knew girls much better than I knew boys. And I had a blast getting to know - and love - the humor, the energy, and the sheer joy of working with young boys!

And, yes, the mission which was first created in 1988 resonates a great deal with me; as does our current one.

Can you tell us a little bit about your new role as the Head of Gateway? Obviously, your decades of experience as both the Head of Lower School and the Assistant to the Headmaster of Browning have prepared you for your new leadership role. However, Gateway is not a single-sex K-12 school. What are you most excited about? What challenges are you anticipating? 

I am most excited about working with a school I know and love, with people I have come to admire deeply. I look forward to calling these people my colleagues. I have been blessed to  work with several great Heads of School over the years as an educator, administrator, parent, and a trustee. Additionally, I have also been involved with quite a few different boards of trustees, and I have seen how they approach their mission. I am grateful to have learned from all of these various individuals and groups. So, while I have a great deal to learn as I start this new chapter, I absolutely feel ready for this exciting challenge. 

I have enjoyed being the leader of the Lower School for 22 years, but the division will benefit so much from fresh eyes and a fresh voice. And, professionally, I look forward to a whole new perspective as well!  

As far as challenges, over the years I have come to understand that it is never the things that you anticipate that prove difficult or challenging but, rather, the unexpected. I have spent the past few months reviewing and learning a great deal about Gateway from materials I have had over the years as both a Board member, and as a parent. I have created monthly assignments for myself to help prepare, and I am filling a notebook with many questions and thoughts. You know me pretty well, so it will not surprise you that I have broken those questions into different categories and subheadings! 

Additionally, I have regular conversations with Gateway’s Head of School. These conversations are enormously helpful. Finally, I am about to begin working with a group of Gateway folks who will also help me prepare for the transition.

Ms. Gruhn catches up with brothers Oliver B. '27 and Julian B. '24 along their father, Nazmi, in her office. (Rossa Cole)

Speed Round 

Childhood Hero? 

As a young girl, Mary Poppins!  

I loved her attitude and her big heart, as well as her ability to create magic wherever she went.  Plus, nobody knew how to clean up a mess like that woman! (Literally or figuratively!)

As a teenager I admired two people:

1) Abigail Adams: because I loved the letters she wrote to her husband, John (I read them all!). She lived an extraordinary life that was also overwhelmingly normal.

2) Annie Sullivan: Helen Keller’s teacher.

If you could have one Superpower, what would it be? 

I think invisibility could be mighty useful sometimes!

What are you reading right now? 

Never Caught: The Washington’s Relentless Pursuit of their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge.

Favorite book of all time? 

Charlotte’s Web.

All-time favorite Broadway show? 

It is not possible to choose! This past summer I saw what I consider to be one of the most important plays I have ever seen, What the Constitution Means to Me. But, I also loved Come From Away, and Hamilton, as well as old classic musicals. I can sing most scores by heart. Seriously! If it is live theater, I will most likely get something out of it! I won’t rank one experience over any other.

Mountains or Beach? 

Beach.

Cats or Dogs? 

Dogs.

Chocolate or Vanilla? 

Yes, absolutely!

Appetizer or Dessert? 

Appetizer.

What’s your secret talent? 

See that comment above about scores of Broadway Musicals!

If you had to move out of NYC, where would you go? Why? 

Exactly! Why?

Thank you, Ms. Gruhn. You will be missed, but The Gateway School is lucky to have you.