The Board of Trustees of Oldfields School announced the appointment of Stephen “Brock” Dunn* as Interim Head of School, beginning July 1, 2026.
After a comprehensive search engaging faculty, staff, students, alumnae, and parents, the board selected Dunn unanimously, expressing confidence in his leadership and ability to guide Oldfields through chapters of renewal and growth.
Dunn is currently Interim Head of School at Northwest Academy in Portland, Oregon, providing leadership in academics, operations, finance, and governance during a critical transition period. Before his time at Northwest Academy, he was president and head of school at Pulaski Academy in Arkansas, assistant head of school and head of upper school at University Liggett School in Michigan, and served in multiple senior leadership roles at The Ethel Walker School, a residential girls’ school in Connecticut.
“Brock brings steady leadership, strong governance instincts, and a collaborative approach grounded in trust and accountability,” said Megan Mardiney, chair of the Head of School Search Committee. “He has demonstrated the ability to lead schools through complexity while strengthening culture, enrollment, and long-term sustainability. We are confident in his partnership and leadership as Oldfields continues to build momentum.”
“Our time at Oldfields left a lasting impression,” said Dunn. “There is a palpable sense that the school stands at a meaningful intersection of reflection and renewal. Jenna and I felt warmly welcomed by the community, and I am honored by the board’s confidence. I look forward to partnering with faculty, students, and alumnae to celebrate what is enduring and build what comes next.”
Oldfields School is in its own period of transition, as in April 2023, the school announced it would close at the end of that school year and the property sold. They cited “unique challenges” to the school’s financial stability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, among other obstacles. Parents sued school officials and requested an injunction to keep the school open. Fundraising efforts raised $4.5 million, and the lawsuit was settled, bringing with it a new board, which took over in September 2023. Oldfields remains open as an independent boarding and day school for girls in grades 8–12.
Dunn has experience spanning girls’, boarding, co-educational school settings, and residential life oversight. His responsibilities have also included determining if programs were sustainable and in keeping with a school’s mission and fiscal long-term health.
Oldfields School was established in 1867 by Anna Austen McCulloch, who set the tone for the school’s “sense of family, mission, philosophy, and a culture of kindness,” according to the school’s website. Over the years, the school grew into a middle and high school for girls that was also a boarding school attended by students from across the United States and around the world.
*Mr. Dunn is no relation to Susan G. Dunn, founder and CEO of Baltimore Fishbowl.
