Explore Topics

Custom Class: post-landing-hero

Brittney Hansen, Rowland Hall assistant head of academics
Get to Know Assistant Head of School for Academics Brittney Hansen

In preparation for the 2025–2026 school year, Rowland Hall is pleased to share more about Brittney Hansen’s new role as assistant head of school for academics.

Read more stories about new arrivals and staffing changes for the upcoming school year:

Since joining the Rowland Hall team in 2019, alumna Brittney Hansen ’02 has shared her impressive expertise across the McCarthey Campus, first as a 4PreK teacher, then as an assistant principal in the beginning and lower schools. Starting this year, she’s excited to expand her impact to all divisions.

“I was interested in taking on a role that’s PreK–12, and that was deeply focused on curriculum,” said Brittney, who was named the school’s first assistant head of school for academics in November 2024. (She officially started on July 1.) Brittney was chosen for the role during a comprehensive international search due to her breadth of experience, ideas about future educational opportunities, community knowledge, and unique blend of creativity, innovation, and analytical thinking.

As assistant head of school for academics, Brittney’s key responsibilities include overseeing curriculum development, strategic initiatives, and data-informed decision-making about our academic program. And while Rowland Hall is already in a great position thanks to our stellar academics, Brittney is excited to collaborate with the school’s four divisional leadership teams to further develop, grow, and refine our academic offerings—especially by thinking more deeply about the student experience.

“There’s so much interesting and important work to be done around the alignment and arc of learning that a Rowland Hall student goes through during their time with us,” Brittney explained. “It really is important to have eyes on the whole experience, start to finish.”

Anytime you have school leadership that’s well-aligned, you’re going to have better outcomes for kids. Thoughtful and consistent alignment also helps parents understand what kind of school we are and what you can expect from us in regard to academics.—Brittney Hansen, assistant head of school for academics

This work will involve purposely looking into Rowland Hall’s underlying academic philosophy, making sure it’s the same across all divisions, aligns with strategic priorities, and incorporates student and family data. This will help the school continue to strategically and effectively build a program that reflects our values, quality, and approach to education, at any entry point.

“Anytime you have school leadership that’s well-aligned, you’re going to have better outcomes for kids,” said Brittney. “Thoughtful and consistent alignment also helps parents understand what kind of school we are and what you can expect from us in regard to academics.”

Another area Brittney is looking forward to is identifying and creating professional development opportunities across divisions that will deepen our educators’ knowledge and skill sets. She’s already hard at work building professional learning cohorts that division heads will use with faculty this year, allowing teachers to gather regularly to dive into educational topics that align with the school’s priorities, such as project-based and authentic learning, artificial intelligence, and differentiation and assessment in the classroom.

Of course, these projects are only the start of what promises to be an exciting new chapter at Rowland Hall, one that Brittney is thrilled to be a part of as she works to support a talented team of division heads, helps faculty continue to do their best work for students, and supports families and the larger school community.

“I’m ready and excited to take this on, and so pleased that we are prioritizing this work as a school,” she said.

Learn a little more about Brittney...

What's the most unusual or interesting item in your workspace, and what’s the story?
While not unusual, the most interesting part of my office is undoubtedly the student artwork on the walls. I’ve gathered pieces from students across all four divisions, representing a wide range of ages and perspectives. There is something uniquely beautiful about how students express themselves through art and their work brings a sense of joy, color, and energy to the space.

If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go and what would you do first?
I’d travel to Alaska to visit my dear friend and former colleague Isabelle Buhler. She’s someone who deeply shaped my thinking as an educator, and spending time with her in a place as awe-inspiring as Alaska feels like the perfect reset. The first thing I’d do, after giving her a long-overdue hug, is let her take me on the ultimate outdoor adventure, introducing me to the landscapes and natural beauty that she’s now surrounded by every day.

What's one innovation in education that excites you?
Artificial intelligence holds such promise and opportunity for education, and we’re only just beginning to understand its full potential. What excites me most is the rapid pace of discovery: educators and students are navigating this new terrain side-by-side in real time, learning, questioning, and iterating together. With thoughtful implementation, AI could radically enhance how we differentiate learning, provide rich feedback, and deepen inquiry. It will require curiosity, ethical clarity, and a commitment to attending and centering human connection, though. That challenge energizes me.

Get to Know Assistant Head of School for Academics Brittney Hansen

In preparation for the 2025–2026 school year, Rowland Hall is pleased to share more about Brittney Hansen’s new role as assistant head of school for academics.

Read more stories about new arrivals and staffing changes for the upcoming school year:

Since joining the Rowland Hall team in 2019, alumna Brittney Hansen ’02 has shared her impressive expertise across the McCarthey Campus, first as a 4PreK teacher, then as an assistant principal in the beginning and lower schools. Starting this year, she’s excited to expand her impact to all divisions.

“I was interested in taking on a role that’s PreK–12, and that was deeply focused on curriculum,” said Brittney, who was named the school’s first assistant head of school for academics in November 2024. (She officially started on July 1.) Brittney was chosen for the role during a comprehensive international search due to her breadth of experience, ideas about future educational opportunities, community knowledge, and unique blend of creativity, innovation, and analytical thinking.

As assistant head of school for academics, Brittney’s key responsibilities include overseeing curriculum development, strategic initiatives, and data-informed decision-making about our academic program. And while Rowland Hall is already in a great position thanks to our stellar academics, Brittney is excited to collaborate with the school’s four divisional leadership teams to further develop, grow, and refine our academic offerings—especially by thinking more deeply about the student experience.

“There’s so much interesting and important work to be done around the alignment and arc of learning that a Rowland Hall student goes through during their time with us,” Brittney explained. “It really is important to have eyes on the whole experience, start to finish.”

Anytime you have school leadership that’s well-aligned, you’re going to have better outcomes for kids. Thoughtful and consistent alignment also helps parents understand what kind of school we are and what you can expect from us in regard to academics.—Brittney Hansen, assistant head of school for academics

This work will involve purposely looking into Rowland Hall’s underlying academic philosophy, making sure it’s the same across all divisions, aligns with strategic priorities, and incorporates student and family data. This will help the school continue to strategically and effectively build a program that reflects our values, quality, and approach to education, at any entry point.

“Anytime you have school leadership that’s well-aligned, you’re going to have better outcomes for kids,” said Brittney. “Thoughtful and consistent alignment also helps parents understand what kind of school we are and what you can expect from us in regard to academics.”

Another area Brittney is looking forward to is identifying and creating professional development opportunities across divisions that will deepen our educators’ knowledge and skill sets. She’s already hard at work building professional learning cohorts that division heads will use with faculty this year, allowing teachers to gather regularly to dive into educational topics that align with the school’s priorities, such as project-based and authentic learning, artificial intelligence, and differentiation and assessment in the classroom.

Of course, these projects are only the start of what promises to be an exciting new chapter at Rowland Hall, one that Brittney is thrilled to be a part of as she works to support a talented team of division heads, helps faculty continue to do their best work for students, and supports families and the larger school community.

“I’m ready and excited to take this on, and so pleased that we are prioritizing this work as a school,” she said.

Learn a little more about Brittney...

What's the most unusual or interesting item in your workspace, and what’s the story?
While not unusual, the most interesting part of my office is undoubtedly the student artwork on the walls. I’ve gathered pieces from students across all four divisions, representing a wide range of ages and perspectives. There is something uniquely beautiful about how students express themselves through art and their work brings a sense of joy, color, and energy to the space.

If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go and what would you do first?
I’d travel to Alaska to visit my dear friend and former colleague Isabelle Buhler. She’s someone who deeply shaped my thinking as an educator, and spending time with her in a place as awe-inspiring as Alaska feels like the perfect reset. The first thing I’d do, after giving her a long-overdue hug, is let her take me on the ultimate outdoor adventure, introducing me to the landscapes and natural beauty that she’s now surrounded by every day.

What's one innovation in education that excites you?
Artificial intelligence holds such promise and opportunity for education, and we’re only just beginning to understand its full potential. What excites me most is the rapid pace of discovery: educators and students are navigating this new terrain side-by-side in real time, learning, questioning, and iterating together. With thoughtful implementation, AI could radically enhance how we differentiate learning, provide rich feedback, and deepen inquiry. It will require curiosity, ethical clarity, and a commitment to attending and centering human connection, though. That challenge energizes me.

You Belong at Rowland Hall