Jody Reilly Soja, standing just steps away from the Loomis Family Homestead and all that it invokes, was installed on Friday, September 20, as the eighth head of school at Loomis Chaffee, with her family, friends, students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the Board of Trustees, and two former heads of school among the participants and witnesses. 

In her address, Jody spoke about getting to know the school and community. “For me,” she said, “the way through a transition like this is to remain curious. In a new setting or situation, curiosity is my guide, my steadying force.” That curiosity has led her since early July to meet with broad swaths of people in the community, asking questions, listening, and learning. 

Senior Sara Feged, the Student Council president, said in her remarks that when leaving Jody’s office two weeks ago after meeting with her, Sara “knew the future of our community would flourish with such a strong, compassionate, and bright leader. ... She was an active listener and showed genuine interest in getting to know me as a person.”   

Associate Head of School Webb Trenchard welcomed all to the installation. Sara and Kitty Peterson ’72, the school’s senior instructor, provided greetings. Junior Shane Lischin, a student at Indian Mountain School when Jody was head of school there, addressed the crowd, as did David Rogan ’76, a Trustee and co-chair of the search committee that brought Jody to the Island. 

Duncan A.L. MacLean ’90, chair of the Board of Trustees, gave the charge, which formally outlined the task ahead while invoking the history of the school. Sheila Culbert, standing not far from the new dormitory named in her honor, presented the symbolic gavel of leadership to her successor. Sheila retired as the seventh head of school in June. “It is my honor,” Sheila said, “to pass the gavel of leadership to you, as Russ Weigel passed it to me 16 years ago. Know that you have our best wishes and support.” Russ, the sixth head of school, also was at the ceremony. 

Sheila noted that having the installation “in the light cast by the Loomis Family Homestead” was fitting since 150 years ago “the five Loomis siblings, whose children all died before reaching 21 years of age, channeled their grief into the promise of a school for the children of others.”  

Duncan quoted the school’s Founders, who stipulated that “no officer, instructor, employee, or student would be made eligible or ineligible for or by reason of his or her religious or political opinions, nor would any student be denied admission due to his or her family’s financial circumstances.”   

“Think about those words in today’s world,” he said to the crowd of more than 1,000 spectators, “and recognize the Founders were way ahead of their time when they created this school as an inclusive and diverse community where the free exchange of ideas and cultures would flourish. Today the Loomis Institute is a school of opportunity, a school of ideas, a school of rigor, and a school built on a strong and diverse community, just as the Founders envisioned.” 

Jody’s life has been shaped by those principles. She shared a story about an experience in eighth grade that became central to her life. Her mother took her to see Sarafina!, a musical about a young woman in Soweto, South Africa, which for Jody led to a deep curiosity about the country. About nine years later, as a junior at Bates College, she spent a semester in Durban, South Africa. “I was suddenly so aware that my perspective was extremely limited, that other people saw the same world in a completely different way ... and I wanted to know more about all of it.”  

As Jody was packing for the move to the Island and the Head’s House this summer, she found letters she had sent to her parents from South Africa, one of them saying, “I have realized how large and diverse the world is and how easy my life is.” 

She told those gathered Friday that “my eyes were open to all of it, but more importantly, because of the love and warmth I was embraced with while I was there, my head and heart were also open.” 

She also spoke of a book she read this summer, I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times by Mónica Guzmán. “One statement,” Jody said, “jumped off the page for me: ‘Live life in the form of a question.’” 

For Jody that means ask questions. Listen. Learn. 

“For me,” Jody said, “the closest experience to the continual growth I experienced in South Africa is being part of a boarding school community. Here at Loomis, we are at the confluence of diverse people, culture, ideas, and backgrounds. All the conditions are in place for us to deepen our compassion, our empathy, and understanding of perspectives that differ from our own. We have created a deliberate community that is designed to keep us curious. But we have to lean into our conversations with each other. We need to listen from a place of open-hearted curiosity. ‘Help me understand why you think that?’ ‘Can you say more about why that feels true to you?’ Then listen. Listen with the intention of understanding, not countering, not shutting down, not shouting down.” 

In a nod to this year’s storytelling theme at Loomis, Jody said everyone should tell their stories. “But storytelling is a duet, not an aria, not a solo,” she said. “Storytelling requires listening. Story hearing and feeling. It is always some form of call and response, heart to heart. It is that exchange between us that will serve us well in our pursuit of community-building and connection-making. We can explore not just new ways of bringing people together, but also new ways of being people together. The South African saying is ‘Umntu Ngumntu Ngabantu’ — we are people through other people.”  

The ability to connect with others was a trait that David quickly saw in Jody during the interview process. He told those gathered Friday that the search committee was drawn to Jody’s emphasis on community, belonging, understanding another’s perspective, and cultivating a sense of joy in learning. And he noted, “Jody’s interaction with the students who interviewed her truly stood out and brought her philosophy on community-building to life through her ability to connect, engage, and build trust.” 

Shane, too, remarked on Jody’s ability to connect, to care, and to build community when she was at Indian Mountain School. He said she greeted students at the door in the morning — and her door was always open, seeking students’ opinions and ideas. Shane said Jody was not simply an administrator, but also “our biggest fan, the most enthusiastic supporter of everything we did. Whether standing on the sidelines at sports games, cheering loudly for every goal, or sitting front and center at performances, her presence was felt everywhere. You could always count on her to be there.” 

True to form, Jody was on the sidelines of the Loomis boys soccer game in the Meadows on Wednesday. True to form, she has been out and about on campus since arriving. True to form, students were heavily involved in the installation ceremony, from speakers to musicians and vocalists. Wind Ensemble Director David Winer conducted, and Orchestra Director Netta Hadari played the violin in the ensemble with the students.  

“You have readily embraced this place as evidenced by your warm greetings to everyone you meet and your eagerness to get to know us all better,” said Kitty, who represents part of the proud history of the school. 

“As a graduate of The Chaffee School who returned to join the faculty of The Loomis Chaffee School, I have been witness to the fine leadership that has advanced this outstanding institution,” Kitty said, addressing Jody. “Having known Barbara Erickson and Fred Torrey while a student, then working under John Ratté, Russ Weigel, and most recently Sheila Culbert, I can attest to our school’s being blessed by excellent leadership. And now, I must say that we, the faculty and staff, are quite confident that you, without a doubt, will continue this strong tradition.” 

Before becoming head of school at Indian Mountain in 2015, Jody was the head of the middle school and director of faculty development (grades 4–12) at National Cathedral School (NCS), a private day school for girls in Washington, D.C. Before joining NCS, Jody taught at Millbrook School in New York. Her first stint at Indian Mountain started in 1999, and in the next 10 years she worked in various roles, including teacher of U.S. History, dormitory head, assistant athletic director, girls soccer and lacrosse coach, and dean of faculty. Jody and her husband, Kevin, have two sons, Russell and William. 

Now her story, which has taken her from Middlebury, Vt., where she grew up and her father worked at Middlebury College, to South Africa and beyond, continues.  

As the Loomis Chaffee Hymn — sung as part of the ceremonies — says: 

“Loomis Chaffee, honored always, 

Home to each who seeks and strives; 

Flame undimmed and shining brightly, 

Shriner for better, grander lives.”   

The Rev. Ryan Heckman gave the benediction, noting the “beauty of new beginnings all around us” — Jody, her family, and others new to the Island, including the freshman class. 

“Be filled with joy,” Ryan said, “that a whole school year lies ahead where you might learn a new story and maybe even create a deep friendship that turns into one that lasts a lifetime.” 

The Loomis Chaffee story began long ago. Jody has just begun to write a new chapter.