Meet the Administration

Bessie Speers

Head of School

(860) 408-4210

Year Appointed: 2007

Johns Hopkins University - M.L.A

Middlebury College - B.A.

BSpeers [at] ethelwalker [dot] org

Read More About Bessie

Elizabeth "Bessie" C. Speers began her role as Head of The Ethel Walker School in July, 2007.

Prior to arriving at Walker's, Bessie was Assistant Head of School and Dean of Faculty at Episcopal Academy in Merion, PA, an independent college preparatory school founded in 1785 with an enrollment of 1168 boys and girls from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Prior to Episcopal, she held administrative and faculty positions at Bryn Mawr School and Calvert School, both in Baltimore, and at The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, CT. Bessie has also been on staff at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) headquarters, a membership organization of 1,200 independent schools.

Bessie is a graduate of The Bryn Mawr School, a PK-12 girls’ school in Baltimore. She holds a BA in English from Middlebury College, an MLA from Johns Hopkins University and has participated in education programs at Harvard and Columbia Universities. Her extensive background includes teaching positions as well as expertise in the areas of administration, admissions, curriculum, strategic planning, and diversity.

Bessie currently serves on the boards of NAPSG (National Association of Principals of Schools with Girls), NCGS (National Coalition of Girls Schools), CSEE (Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education), CAIS (Connecticut Association of Independent Schools), and she was founding Board Chair for the Community Farm of Simsbury.

Bessie lives on campus with her husband, the Rev. Thomas G. Speers III, and their two young children, Nellie and Guthrie. She is a competitive tennis player and enjoys hiking and travel with her family, as well as philanthropic endeavors.

Stephen Dunn

Assistant Head of School

(860) 408-4212

Year Appointed: 2007

Texas A&M University - M.Ed

Texas A&M University - B.B.A.

sdunn [at] ethelwalker [dot] org

Clarissa Basch

Director of College Counseling

(860) 408-4215

Year Appointed: 2004

Harvard University - M.Ed

Bates College - B.A.

cbasch [at] ethelwalker [dot] org

Kathleen Battiston

Director of Riding

(860) 408-4354

Year Appointed: 2006

kbattiston [at] ethelwalker [dot] org

About Walker's

Reunion 2013

see photos

Meet Katelyn, '15

How being at Walker’s has changed me: Naturally, I'm very shy and cautious. Being at Walker's, however, has cracked my shell. I'm more open to talking to new people and I'm not afraid to try things I've never done before. Additionally, being a boarder, I learned and gained a lot of responsibility. Living without your parents and managing your own time can be shaky at first but once a routine had been set, I became more independent and responsible. - Katelyn, '15 New Jersey

“Walker’s is the place where friendships were forged, memories were made, and a lifetime of learning began.”

– Donya, ‘90