The History of Laurel School
In 1896, Jennie Prentiss established a school for young girls in her Cleveland home. After several years of increasing enrollment and changes in location to accommodate that growth, the school acquired its name - first Laurel Institute, then later Laurel School - because of the ancient Greek symbol of a wreath of laurel leaves, which signified intellectual achievement.
The arrival of Sarah E. Lyman as Headmistress, just after the turn of the 20th century, initiated a new phase in the development of Laurel School. The student body continued to expand under the leadership of Sarah Lyman, and she oversaw the construction of a large brick building on Euclid Avenue.
In the late 1920s as her students' families moved to the eastern suburbs, she secured property in Shaker Heights and built the impressive Tudor-style building that is Laurel’s current Lyman Campus.
During her leadership the “Alma Mater” and “Grace” were written, and the alumnae Christmas Luncheon was born, a tradition that still stands today. She left as her legacy a secure, established, thriving and academically rigorous school for girls that possessed a national reputation for excellence.
Taking the helm in 1931, Miss Edna F. Lake instituted the community service requirement and guided Laurel during the Great Depression and World War II. The Carol Service, Senior Speech and Senior Play were established under her leadership, becoming beloved traditions.
Daniel O. S. Jennings became Laurel’s first and only Headmaster and served for 15 years, during a period of tremendous social upheaval. He encouraged racial diversity, saw the end of the school’s boarding program and oversaw the construction of the Margaret A. Ireland Primary Building and the first science wing. Also during his headship, the Laurel School Parents Association (LSPA) was born.
Under his tenure, and that of his successor, Barbara Barnes, the school contemplated coeducation but after much thoughtful discussion, the Board of Trustees reaffirmed Laurel’s dedication to educating girls and young women. It was during Barbara Barnes' tenure that Laurel became the first girls’ day school in the country to establish a faculty chair for teaching excellence.
Leah Rhys became Headmistress in 1984, joining an institution that was thriving. She brought national attention to the school with a five-year joint research study conducted by Carol Gilligan and other Harvard University researchers. The Laurel/Harvard Study of girls’ learning styles resulted in the 1992 publication of Meeting at the Crossroads.
Peter Hutton was named Acting Head of School for a two-year term (1990-1992), during which he tackled a variety of projects. Hutton oversaw the construction of a new Primary wing, supervised discussions surrounding the Middle School renovation and reorganized administration.
Helen Rowland Marter, became the ninth Head of School in 1992 and immediately oversaw the installation of the school’s computer network and technology labs. During her tenure, the school celebrated its Centennial with a year-long schedule of activities and published Educating the Independent Mind, a history of the school.
Marter was instrumental in expanding the school - both in enrollment and in physical size. Under her leadership, Laurel grew with three additions to the Lyman Campus as well as a purchase of 140 acres of land spanning Russell and Chester townships in Geauga County. This “Fairmount Campus” (now known as the Butler Campus in honor of a transformational gift from John and Alice Lehmann Butler '49 of Dubuque, Iowa) is located 20 minutes east of the Lyman Campus.
In July 2004, Laurel welcomed its tenth Head of School, Ann V. Klotz, who joined Laurel from The Chapin School in New York City. Committed to balance among academics, arts and athletics, she has focused increased attention on the social and emotional lives of girls. Initiatives include development of the Laurel School mission -- “to inspire each girl to fulfill her promise and to better the world” -- which fuels all Laurel does; establishment of Laurel School’s Center for Research on Girls, and participation as a founding member of the Online School for Girls. Under her energetic leadership, several new buildings have been added to the Butler Campus: the Conway Pavilion, the Magic Tree House, the 16,000-square-foot Butler Center for Fitness & Wellness and the yurt.