Director Dr. Douglas Grier Retires

Dr. Grier’s first faculty position at Grier was as a History teacher teacher before succeeding his parents Mr. Thomas and Solveig Grier as Director shortly thereafter. With 50+ years as Director, Dr. Grier holds the record for second-longest tenure as Director or Head of School in the history of US Boarding Schools.

Dr. Grier’s influence on the school is great and far-reaching. Highlights of his tenure include modernizing the campus, adapting Grier’s enrollment to create a diverse and international student body, and cultivating a healthy financial position for the school. 

Under Dr. Grier’s leadership, Grier’s campus grew to include beautiful  buildings and up-to-date facilities for visual arts, dance and performing arts, music, science, horseback riding, swimming, and athletics. Plus, he oversaw renovations and construction of additional dormitories and cottages, the Health Center, the development of the ESL, Learning Skills, and Elite Scholars programs, extensive remodeling to create a modern library, fitness center, and IT Corridor. In all, this totals near $20M in new capital projects!

Dr. Grier was a true trailblazer in the arena of international admissions. Because of Dr. Grier, the school was one of the first to recruit students from the nations of Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Mexico, Japan, Korea, and China to study abroad and receive a boarding school education in the United States. 

Through his stewardship to the school, Dr. Grier has cultivated a  healthy $25M+ endowment for the Grier Foundation. He has created a legacy that will allow Grier to continue its mission to give each student the opportunity to achieve her individual potential. It is Grier’s goal  to provide a warm, residential, home-like atmosphere where students from many nations and academic backgrounds gain knowledge, creative expression, responsibility, self-esteem, and leadership skills.

Last fall, Grier’s Board of Trustees honored Dr. Grier for his years of service by planting a hillside of trees. During the Fall 2019 Board Meeting, sons Geoffrey and Andrew presented their father with a commissioned portrait and slideshow featuring memories and milestones of his lifetime with Grier. 

Dr. Grier’s Retirement Ceremony was held on campus earlier this week.  Grier’s dancers, choir, and chamber orchestra performed in tribute to Dr. Grier. Head of School Mrs. Gina Borst presented Dr. Grier with an Italian leather-bound album of letters, cards, well-wishes, and photographs collected from alumnae worldwide and his colleagues throughout the years.

Although he is retiring from the position of Director, Dr. Grier will remain connected to the school through his role as President of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Grier’s son states, “I would like to thank my father for the leadership skills he demonstrated that have shepherded the Grier School to success for the last 50 years of its existence. It is my sincerest hope to uphold the examples of hard-work, commitment, and doing what is best for Grier School, as well as for its students, faculty, and staff. Douglas devoted his entire life to Grier and I look forward to following in his footsteps.”

The Grier community joins together in sincere thanks to Dr. Douglas Grier for his years of service and devotion to Grier School and its students. The community wishes Dr. Grier the very best in his retirement. 


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