A Full Day of Leadership, Learning, and Cougar Pride

Mr. Kirschner now officially has backup - just in case he ever needs to go out of town!

On November 5, 2025, Carina F. '32, Evan D. '32, Lydia D. '33, Samantha P. '34, Naomi D. '35, and Andy P. '37 stepped in as Heads of School for the Day, taking on the exciting challenge of leading Canterbury and experiencing the rhythm, responsibility, and joy of running a school.

Their day began bright and early with a special trip to Smoothie King, where they fueled up before diving into their leadership duties. Back on campus, they helped deliver the handwritten birthday cards that Mr. Kirschner is known for - bringing smiles and surprise to students and faculty across campus.

Throughout the morning, our young leaders visited Lower School classrooms to read with younger friends and see learning in action. They even took on the role of designers, creating custom Cougar Cave T-shirts that reflected their creativity and school spirit. 

Next, the students visited the Science Discovery Center, where they teamed up with Ms. Stephenson to explore LEGO Robotics. Building, programming, and problem-solving, they got hands-on experience with innovation and teamwork in action.

By lunchtime, it was time for an official “leadership meeting,” complete with Chick-fil-A delicacies and plenty of discussion about what makes Canterbury such a special place. The afternoon wrapped up in true Head-of-School fashion—with each student crafting and sharing their own proclamations on Cougar Vision, inspiring the entire community with their ideas and humor.

These Heads of School didn’t just shadow the day—they owned it, filling every moment with curiosity, creativity, and Cougar pride. And, as one funny moment at Mr. Pappas’ desk showed, being Head of School is actually pretty hard work - even if you’re having fun!

Don’t miss our full photo gallery capturing their adventure from start to finish! Plus, you can watch their interviews on Cougar Vision by clicking here. 

And if your child dreams of stepping into this leadership role one day, keep an eye out for similar opportunities in this year’s Extravaganza auction!