Meet Head of School Lise Charlier
Born and raised in Haiti, Head of School Lise Charlier was educated in the Haitian, French, and American educational systems. Her father, Gérard Frédérique, was a Haitian ophthalmologist and her mother, Esther Eshelman, was a Mennonite nurse from a Pennsylvania farming family.
In her time at CSW, Lise has proven herself to be a capable and accomplished educator, who leads with intellect, patience, positivity, and drive. Her 25+ years of experience as a teacher and administrator is evident in her ability to build relationships, problem-solve, and innovate with creativity and confidence.
Prior to CSW, Lise served as director of studies and strategic initiatives at Severn School in Severna Park, Maryland. Before this role at Severn, Lise was upper school assistant principal at Friends School of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland. She has served on the board of trustees for Green Street Academy, the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS), the Cowles Charitable Trust, and most recently the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE).
She holds an MS in education from Johns Hopkins University and a BS from Georgetown University.
In her time at CSW, Lise has proven herself to be a capable and accomplished educator, who leads with intellect, patience, positivity, and drive. Her 25+ years of experience as a teacher and administrator is evident in her ability to build relationships, problem-solve, and innovate with creativity and confidence.
Prior to CSW, Lise served as director of studies and strategic initiatives at Severn School in Severna Park, Maryland. Before this role at Severn, Lise was upper school assistant principal at Friends School of Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland. She has served on the board of trustees for Green Street Academy, the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS), the Cowles Charitable Trust, and most recently the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE).
She holds an MS in education from Johns Hopkins University and a BS from Georgetown University.
Follow Along with Lise's Lens
List of 20 news stories.
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Lise Lens: November 30, 2023
This week I consider Jesmyn Ward’s Let Us Descend, the Merriam-Webster word of the year, and a recent speech by Haiti’s UNESCO ambassador.Read More -
Lise's Lens: November 16, 2023
This week I lament the national drop in foreign language learners, celebrate Native American and Alaskan Heritage Month, and express my great awe at last week's production of As You Like It.Read More -
Lise's Lens: November 9, 2023
The intersection of art and science, sustainability consultant Liz Cutler, and a new Netflix miniseries are the focus of this week’s edition.Read More -
Lise's Lens: November 2, 2023
This week I am enjoying recent work by Visual Art Teacher Anne Rearick, contemplating the complicated relationship between hope and despair, and taking in an art exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum.Read More -
Lise's Lens: October 26, 2023
This week I am thinking about the power of music, the housing insecurity crisis here in the U.S., and our upcoming visitors from Japan!Read More -
Lise's Lens: October 19, 2023
This week I am getting ready for my Mod 3 class on Haiti, reading about how distribution rights work in the film industry, and listening intently to what those impacted by the Israel/Gaza crisis have to say.Read More -
Lise's Lens: October 12, 2023
Read MoreThis week I am thinking about the conflict in the Middle East, reading an article on habits for happiness, and listening to a panel discussion on the mental health crisis in the U.S. -
Lise's Lens: October 5, 2023
This week I reflect on Fall Family Weekend, listen to heartfelt stories about fellow educators, and dive into a fascinating (but also disheartening) read about mosquitos.Read More -
Lise's Lens: September 28, 2023
Read MoreThis week I am reading Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake, listening to a poem by the late Libyan writer Mustafa al-Trabelsi, and getting excited for Fall Family Weekend! -
Lise's Lens: September 21, 2023
Read MoreThis week, I consider the Jewish observance of Rosh Hashanah, a podcast about the American legal system, and how being bilingual can impact decision-making.
Editor's Note: This week's community newsletter erroneously referred to Rosh Hashanah as "upcoming." We apologize for this oversight. -
Lise's Lens: September 14, 2023
Read MoreThis week I enjoyed an article in The Atlantic about the importance of play in adult friendships, along with a new series from WBUR that helps people navigate and find community in Boston. I’ve also been thinking a lot about the role of our amazing affinity, interest, and alliance groups, and even got to take a little excursion with two of them over the weekend! -
Lise's Lens: September 7, 2023
Read MoreThis week I read up on what Jamaican rapper Sean Paul has been up to, reflect on the Fall All Boarders Weekend, and share a special moment I had down in the Fit. -
Lise's Lens: August 31, 2023
Read MoreHello — and welcome to the first installment of Lise’s Lens of the 2023-24 school year! Lise’s Lens is my weekly blog, which is released every Thursday afternoon with the community newsletter. Take a look to find out what I’ve been reading, thinking about, and watching/listening to.To start, here are a few quick facts about me:- This is my fifth year at CSW
- I was born and raised in Haiti and still maintain a residence there, though the very difficult times the country is facing have prevented me from going back for a few years now.
- I have two grown children, a son and a daughter.
- Prior to moving to Weston for my headship at CSW, I lived and worked in the Baltimore area for 23 years, and Pittsburgh, PA, for 5 years
- I love to garden, cook, read, admire and appreciate fabric and art in general…
- I spent this summer welcoming students from Taiwan on campus and to the Boston area, admiring all the facilities work happening, being with family in Canada and France and also being inspired by incredible sustainability work being done on Governor’s Island in NYC…
- My favorite thing about CSW is the people! Colleagues and students, trustees, parents and getting to know more and more alumni every year! This is a vibrant, interesting, curious and innovative caring community! And I get to teach!
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Lise's Lens: June 8, 2023
Read MoreLise immerses herself in the latest novel from Abraham Verghese, reflects on the CSW tradition of Boat Dance, and enjoys the rhythmic drum beats of Nailah’s West African dance class. -
Lise's Lens: June 1, 2023
Read MoreLise observes Pride month with the “It Gets Better” campaign, checks in on the Marine Bio Blog, and considers the importance of discovering or reclaiming one’s name. -
Lise's Lens: May 25, 2023
Lise laments the Safer oil tanker situation off the coast of Yemen, shares a reminder about school safety, and looks back on the incredible life and career of Tina Turner.Read More -
Lise's Lens: May 18, 2023
Read MoreLise attends a curated book “tasting,” reflects on the first annual CE Festival of Giving, and enjoys the creativity exhibited by our students with their original BookTok videos! -
Lise's Lens: May 11, 2023
Read MoreLise reads about Boston’s “Little Syria” neighborhood, considers the paradox of springtime in schools, and enjoys a student jazz performance at the Weston Council on Aging. -
Lise's Lens: May 4, 2023
Lise considers the importance of design on school campuses and offers reflections on Reunion Weekend and this week’s visit with Mitchell and Patsy Rembert and Pulitzer Prize-winner Erin I. Kelly.Read More -
Lise's Lens: April 27, 2023
Lise reads up on Utah's proposed social media laws and shares the recording of the Academic Office's recent information session on "Progressive Ed in the Age of AI."Read More
Office of the Head of School
45 Georgian Road
Weston, MA 02493
Tel. 781-642-8612
Lise Charlier
Head of School
Sherrill Bounnell
Assistant to the Head of School
Weston, MA 02493
Tel. 781-642-8612
Lise Charlier
Head of School
Sherrill Bounnell
Assistant to the Head of School
"Together we will guarantee that CSW remains an extraordinary school — a place where young people have the time and space to grow into the people that they want to be, in an environment that allows them to know and appreciate themselves and others, where they can ask questions freely and fully, engage in intellectual pursuit, and be kind and contributing members of society who seek social justice locally and globally."
— Head of School Lise Charlier
— Head of School Lise Charlier
The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.