NCRC IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR NEXT HEAD OF SCHOOL:
LEAH MUSICO
Announcement from NCRC's Board of Trustees
Dear NCRC Community,
The NCRC Board of Trustees is honored and delighted to announce that Leah Musico has been appointed as NCRC's next Head of School, effective July 1, 2026.
Over the past nine months, we have partnered with Resource Group 175 and search consultant Tony Featherston to conduct an extensive nationwide search for NCRC’s next Head of School. The Search Committee — composed of trustees and members of NCRC faculty and administration — engaged in a focused and thorough process to identify a leader who embodies NCRC's mission and values and brings the vision and experience to guide our School confidently into the next 100 years.
Throughout this search process, NCRC’s Mission and our Head of School Position Statement have been our compass — grounding our work and reminding us what makes this community so special. They reflect the values that define NCRC and the qualities we have sought in our next leader: a person of integrity; deeply committed to play-based, child-centered education; with strong early childhood expertise; a proven ability to partner with families; and an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In Leah, the Search Committee has found a leader who has consistently demonstrated these necessary qualities and skills throughout her career. The Search Committee unanimously recommended Leah’s appointment to the Board of Trustees, and the Board voted unanimously to make this appointment. We are confident that Leah brings the experience, integrity, and vision to lead and champion NCRC at this important moment in our school's journey.
About Leah Musico
Leah brings remarkable professional and personal qualifications to the role of Head of School. With eight years of proven leadership as Head of School at The Harbor School in Potomac, Maryland, and a decade of experience as the Primary School Associate Head at Washington International School, Leah brings extensive expertise in leading progressive, early-childhood programs. During her tenure at Harbor, a school serving students from age 2 through 3rd grade, Leah has demonstrated the steady, values-driven leadership our community needs, guiding Harbor through significant milestones including a successful campus relocation, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the school's 50th anniversary celebration.
Leah's educational philosophy resonates deeply with NCRC's mission. As she shared with us:
"NCRC's dedication to an emergent, research-based curriculum and its unwavering focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion resonate profoundly with my professional values and passion for creating joyful, purposeful educational experiences. Learning must be joyful, inclusive, and responsive — designed to honor each child's unique path while nurturing their social, emotional, and cognitive growth. In these formative years, we plant the seeds for a more equitable and empathetic world."
We are also delighted to welcome Leah's family to the NCRC community — her husband Bill, their daughter Emily (11), and their son Jude (8).
Learn more about Leah’s background and credentials here.
We want to express our sincere and profound gratitude to the NCRC faculty, administrators, and parent community for your engagement in this search process.
We are deeply grateful to Francesca Gallozzi, our Interim Head of School, whose steady and inspiring leadership has guided NCRC with grace, wisdom, and strength throughout this time of transition. Francesca has been a source of stability for our community — her partnership and care have been instrumental in ensuring a thoughtful and seamless transition to Leah’s leadership, and we are profoundly thankful for all she has done for NCRC.
We also want to note our deep gratitude to our Faculty Advisory Group (Kayla Bott, Andrea Huerta, Jennifer McMahon, Kelsey O'Brien, Christopher Rogers, and Christine Tyler) and our Parent Advisory Group (Renée Diggs, Krystal Durham, Mira Rapp-Hooper, Matt Strangfeld, Tiana Tenet, and Ying Zhu) for their thoughtful participation and invaluable perspectives throughout the search process.
Finally, a very special thanks to the Search Committee members who dedicated countless hours over nine months to the search process:
Lisa Agogliati: Pedagogista, Pre-K Faculty
Ashley Nartey: NCRC Director of Diversity, Equity, and Community
Adam Chepenik: Trustee, Alumni Parent ('21, '24)
Nate Rawlings: Trustee, Current Parent ('23, '25, '27)
Gena Stern: Trustee, Alumni Parent ('21, '24)
Megan Ortiz: Former Board Chair, Alumni Parent ('24, '20)
Together, we will write the next exciting chapter of NCRC's story with renewed confidence, joy, and purpose.
With enthusiasm and gratitude,
Linda Oramasionwu-Leverette
Chair, Board of Trustees & Co-Chair, Head of School Search Committee
Current Parent ('24, '26)
Janet Whittaker
Trustee & Co-Chair, Head of School Search Committee
Alumni Parent ('23)
A Letter to the NCRC Community from Leah Musico
Dear NCRC Community,
It is with tremendous excitement and gratitude that I write to you having been selected to be the next Head of School at the National Child Research Center. I have long admired NCRC’s stellar reputation as a leader in early childhood education. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of visiting the campus and meeting members of your remarkable faculty and staff — experiences that deepened my respect for this extraordinary community.
From the moment I began learning more about NCRC during the search process, I felt a profound philosophical alignment with the school’s mission and values. The commitment to play-based, child-centered education and to nurturing the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively — resonates deeply with my own beliefs about education. I am equally inspired by NCRC’s unwavering dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and by the way the school builds such a strong sense of belonging for children and families.
My recent visit as a candidate affirmed my excitement about the opportunity to lead your wonderful school. Meeting with members of the community and seeing the program in action reinforced just how special NCRC is. It is clear that NCRC’s child-centered, inclusive, and developmentally-grounded approach provides the very best foundation for young learners to thrive.
I am grateful to the Board of Trustees for their trust and partnership as I prepare to join NCRC as its next leader, and I look forward to working closely with the Board to advance the school’s mission and vision as it moves into its second century. I am also eager to collaborate with Francesca, whose wisdom, leadership, and commitment to early childhood education I greatly admire. As she so beautifully expressed during one of our conversations during my visit, NCRC is poised for great things — and I am honored to help guide that journey alongside such an exceptional faculty, staff, Board, and family community.
My family looks forward to joining me as new members of the NCRC community, and I’m delighted to introduce them to you. My husband, Bill, is a civil engineer who specializes in water resources and land development, and has been a steadfast partner throughout my career and the many responsibilities of a headship. We are the proud parents of our daughter Emily, a sixth grader at The Lab School (who aspires to be a preschool teacher some day!), and our son Jude, a third grader at The Harbor School who will be graduating this year. Our family is rounded out by our chocolate lab, Sthira. We live in AU Park, and our kids enjoy participating in swim and dive teams in the summer and camping as a family throughout the year. We lead an active DC lifestyle with interests in theater, music, and the arts.
As I prepare to join you in July, I send my warmest wishes for a joyful and fulfilling school year. I am truly honored — and deeply humbled — to build upon NCRC’s rich history and enduring strengths as we shape its next century of excellence. I cannot wait to join this remarkable community and begin our work together.
Warm regards,
Leah Musico
Search Process Timeline
Below is the timeline of key milestones in our Head of School search process.
Late May – Early July 2025 | Cultivation and Development of the Candidate Pool
RG175 circulated the Position Statement and worked actively to identify and attract a diverse and highly qualified pool of candidates from across the country. During this time, RG175 collaborated closely with the Search Committee to assess potential candidates and determine those best suited to advance in the process.
July – August 2025 | Application Review and First-Round Interviews
The Search Committee reviewed application materials and conducted first-round interviews with selected candidates. This stage helped identify finalists who demonstrated the desired leadership qualities and alignment with NCRC’s mission and values.
September 2025 | Finalist Interviews and School Visits
Finalist candidates visited NCRC to engage directly with members of the school community. Each visit included opportunities for meaningful interaction and feedback. Community input played a critical role in the final decision-making process.
October 2025 | Search Committee Recommendation and Board Decision
The Search Committee presented its final recommendation to the Board of Trustees for a vote.
November 2025 – June 2026 | Transition and Onboarding
Leah Musico is announced as the new Head of School. The Board of Trustees and school leadership will partner to support a thoughtful and well-prepared transition. Our shared goal is to ensure a strong start for our new leader and sustained momentum for the NCRC community.