Lower School
Laurie Gruhn is in her tenth year as Head of Lower School at Browning and in her fifth year as Assistant Head of School. Prior to that she taught English, drama, and Speech to Middle and Upper School students at The Chapin School. She received her B.A from Chatham College in Pittsburgh, PA and her M.A from New York University. New York born and bred, Ms. Gruhn attended the Hewitt School in New York City.
The Lower School is a student’s introduction to a lifelong love of learning, an integral part of Browning’s mission. The goals of the Lower School focus on three areas:
- Building skills, such as literacy, numeracy, social skills.
- Nurturing a sense of accomplishment and pride in one’s work, essential qualities in self-esteem.
- Creating relationships: between peers, between teachers and students, and between home and school.
We recognize the importance of giving a child time to be a child; he needs time to run and to play while actively developing his growing abilities. Through hands-on activities and small group work, the boys enjoy a busy and productive day. Through academic classes, community service projects, field trips, and the Encore Program, teachers work to challenge a boy intellectually while supporting him socially and emotionally. The Lower School faculty is group of dedicated, talented, and exceptionally qualified men and women who are focused on the growth and well being of their students. This commitment to the boys and their families is a hallmark of the Lower School.
Laurie Ann Gruhn,
Head of the Lower School
