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Message from Board of Trustees, President, Aly Jeddy

4/16/2021
Dear Dalton Family,
 
With much appreciation for his many contributions to our School over the last 16 years, I am writing to follow up on Jim Best’s announcement that he will be leaving Dalton at the end of this academic year.
 
In every role Jim has ever played at Dalton – House Advisor, Associate Head of School and Head of School – he has brought his giant heart, his passion for innovation, and his commitment to making Dalton the best it can be for all of our students. Indeed, the themes that Jim selected for our community during each of his years as Head of School – Belonging, Serving, Reinventing & Reimagining – perfectly reflect who he is as a leader and what he has given Dalton. 
 
Jim has made our students feel seen, known, heard, and cared for on every day that he has traveled Dalton’s hallways and sat in its classrooms. Our school’s academic excellence is stronger as a result of his work reviewing our Math, Science, World & Classical Languages, Physical Education & Athletics, and STEAM programs. His careful crafting of our current Strategic Plan—including its emphasis on what it is to be a Dalton Citizen—continues to guide the work of the school. And we are better as a community because of Jim’s work: from the on-time, on-budget creation of the new floors at Big Dalton to the conclusion of our Centennial Campaign which, among other projects, allows us to better recognize our outstanding faculty and preserve the socioeconomic diversity of our very special community of families. 
 
Jim’s commitment to Dalton has perhaps never been more evident than when our school has faced times of pain. Many of our students have personal stories of how he helped support them through challenges. As we launch a new trimester and continue to hope for a better world, we thank Jim for working tirelessly and selflessly to help our school and for always being there for us. He will be deeply missed. 
 
I hope you will take some time this trimester to express your gratitude to Jim for all he has given to our students and to Dalton. We look forward to celebrating him when our community can safely gather to share a fist-bump and a toast to his leadership of our school and to wish Jim well in all his future endeavors. There are great things ahead for him. 

Jim will always be a part of our Dalton family.
 
With best regards,
Aly
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(Grades K-3) 53 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128
General: (212) 423-5200 | Admissions: (212) 423-5463
General: info@dalton.org | Admissions: fpadmissions@dalton.org

(Gr. 4 Dalton East & PE Center) 200 East 87th Street
New York, NY 10128
General: (212) 423-5200 | Admissions: (212) 423-5262
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(Grade 5-12) 108 East 89th Street
New York, NY 10128
General: (212) 423-5200 | Admissions: (212) 423-5262
General: info@dalton.org | Admissions: admissionsmshs@dalton.org