Head of School

Leading with Purpose and Possibility

Dr. Noni Thomas López, Poly’s 12th Head of School, is grounded in a deep belief that schools are where transformation happens. She is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every student discovers their passions, develops their gifts, and learns to use their knowledge to do good in the world.

Thomas López’s educational philosophy centers on the idea that young people come to school with rich experiences and knowledge that should be the foundation for co-creating meaningful learning. She believes in the power of democratic spaces where diverse perspectives challenge and strengthen one another, and where students learn not just for academic success, but to understand what their learning is for.

Leadership is also key to fostering a thriving community and Thomas López sees it as a practice—one that emphasizes connection, relationship-building, and the understanding that leadership exists at every level of a school community. 

Thomas López brings nearly three decades of educational leadership and teaching experience to Poly Prep. She has served as Head of School at the Gordon School in East Providence, RI, Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning at Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Middle School Head at the Nightingale-Bamford School, and Middle School Director at the Calhoun School — while beginning her career as a classroom teacher in North Carolina and at Little Red Schoolhouse and Elisabeth Irwin High School (LREI) in New York’s West Village. An alumna of Greensboro Day School and a first-generation college graduate, Thomas López holds a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in Private School Leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.