Head of School
We have never wavered in our belief in the brilliance and boundless potential of young women.
As we celebrate our 150th anniversary, we honor a legacy born of boldness, shaped by vision, and sustained by generations of women who dared to dream beyond boundaries. With a curriculum that fosters curiosity and courage, with fellowships that turn passion into purpose, and with a mission that calls us to live and lead with integrity, HB has remained a place where young women are empowered to define their own futures.
I am proud that we have remained steadfast in our purpose while embracing change. That we have honored tradition while innovating fearlessly. That, in a world that often underestimates young women, we have never wavered in our belief in their brilliance and boundless potential. The need for strong, thoughtful, and visionary women who champion each other will continue to grow. I look to the future with confidence because I look at our students, our families, our educators and amazing alumnae. They are the reason I know our best days are ahead.
I am proud that we have remained steadfast in our purpose while embracing change. That we have honored tradition while innovating fearlessly. That, in a world that often underestimates young women, we have never wavered in our belief in their brilliance and boundless potential.Head of School Dr. Fran Bisselle
Her Journey to Hathaway Brown
Fran holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Boston College; an M.A. in liberal studies with a concentration in history from Wesleyan University; and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies with a concentration in curriculum, instruction, and assessment from the University of Vermont.
A graduate of the prestigious Klingenstein Head Fellowship program at Columbia Teachers College, Fran also has served on several boards of trustees in leadership roles including as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, The ERB (where she is currently president), The Ohio Association of Independent Schools (where she is currently president), The Vermont Independent School Association (past president), Cleveland Council of Independent Schools (past president), and as a trustee for the National Association of Independent Schools. She currently holds memberships with the Heads and Principals Association, The Head's Collegiate Forum, and The Headmistresses Association of the East.
Prior to joining the administrative team at Hathaway Brown, Fran served for nine years as the head of school at Maple Street School, a K-8 independent school in Manchester Center, Vermont, In addition, she has held positions as a classroom teacher, dean of students, coach, dorm parent, educational consultant, and teaching fellow. She was a member of the faculty and administration at The Taft School in Connecticut and she developed, redesigned, and taught the curriculum for the Master of Arts in Teaching degree at the University of Vermont. An avid athlete, she was a Division I college field hockey player, and she's a marathon runner who also plays ice hockey, tennis, and golf.
One of 15 siblings with 11 sisters and two daughters of her own, Fran knows and understands girls. Her daughter Lucille completed her Masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania and teaches at an independent school in Denver, CO. Fran's daughter Agnes graduated with her Masters degree from Columbia University and works at Dwight in New York as an advancement officer. Fran and her life partner, Dr. David Vincent, the lead chiropractor and acupuncturist of University Hospital's Connor Integrative Health Center, live in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood in one of Cleveland's oldest home's known as "The Potter House."
