Suzanne Carlino is the new head of the Ponte Vedra Beach Campus for The Bolles School.
As the new head of the Ponte Vedra Beach Campus for The Bolles School, what will be your responsibilities?
I’m thrilled to join The Bolles School as the new head of Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus because this role brings together everything I’m passionate about in education.
My primary responsibility includes working with our faculty to create learning experiences that promote academic excellence, curiosity and discovery. I’m excited to mentor and support our talented teachers through professional development and collaborative leadership, knowing that our students will flourish when our teachers are given the support they need to thrive.
Additionally, I oversee the operational aspects of leading our Ponte Vedra Beach Campus, including managing our budget, working with our admission team in enrollment planning, partnering with our operations team to create beautiful learning spaces and collaborating with our communications department to share the fantastic learning that is happening on our campus.
Further, a key responsibility of this role is to partner with families and our community to build meaningful relationships so that I may serve as a trusted resource.
What drew you to Bolles? Was there anything that especially appealed to you that you’d like to mention?
What energizes me the most about becoming a part of the Bolles community is our greater mission of nurturing the whole child: mind, body and soul. I have been given the privilege of becoming a part of each of our Bolles students’ academic and personal growth, whether that’s celebrating reading breakthroughs, fostering confidence in hesitant learners or partnering with families to ensure every child’s success. This, along with the warm and welcoming nature of the faculty, administration and staff, are what drew me to Bolles.
What are you most looking forward to with this new position?
What I look forward to most as the new Lower School head is witnessing the magical moments when our youngest learners discover that they have the capacity to accomplish something that feels challenging or difficult. There’s something extraordinary about working with children at this age, as they approach the world with such curiosity and openness.
I'm excited to mentor, coach and support our teachers as they create an environment where our students believe in all things possible. They can become a scientist, an artist and a soccer player — all at once! They can also tackle challenging problems with the confidence that comes from knowing their ideas matter and carry an unshakeable belief in their own potential.
I look forward to working together to continue fostering an environment where children feel inspired to learn, play and dream.
Tell me about your background, such as where you went to college and your career prior to being hired for this job.
I came to Bolles with decades of experience and leadership in lower school. I began my career teaching kindergarten in New York City. I then became a district staff developer for technology integration, where I worked as a technology coach for teachers in grades K-8. My career continued in Palm Beach County, where I was introduced to Florida Independent Schools, and after wearing many hats at The Weiss School in Palm Beach Gardens, I became the dean of curriculum and head of Lower School. I served as the Lower School director at The Pine School in Hobe Sound for seven years, leading all lower school operations before becoming an independent consultant with Trey Education.
I hold an educational specialist degree in teacher leadership from Walden University, a Master of Science in elementary education from Mercy University, a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Iona University and a certificate in school leadership and management from Harvard University.
I am so excited to start this school year on the Bolles Ponte Vedra Beach Campus. It’s going to be the best one yet!
Are you from this area, or did you move here from somewhere else?
I’m originally from New York City. I grew up in a close-knit neighborhood, where I walked everywhere, and I began my teaching career in the district where I went to school.
I have always loved living and working in a community where people and families are at the heart of everything. I have always loved the warmer weather and the water, and so we moved to South Florida and then moved north to St. Augustine, where we discovered our love for being near the beach.
We are happy to be living here on the First Coast and are looking forward to exploring our new community.
What do you like most about living here on the First Coast?
I am a new resident of the First Coast, and we are loving it! This area incorporates so much of what we treasure: the weather is beautiful, and we live close to the beach, within walking distance of great shops and restaurants.
We feel so fortunate to have moved here and to not only be a part of the Bolles community, which is kind and welcoming, but also to be a part of this Jacksonville community.
Do you have any hobbies or affiliations you’d like to mention?
My husband John and I love to take walks on the beach and to explore our new neighborhood on our bicycles. As we become more familiar with our new community, we want to become more involved in local nonprofits. John and I spent the past six years being puppy raisers for Genesis Assistance Dogs and raised six golden retrievers that have gone on to become mobility-assistance dogs.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I appreciate a good book and time sitting on the beach and soaking up the sun. We are absolute foodies and love to try new restaurants and new recipes. We also enjoy going to Jacksonville Icemen hockey games and are looking forward to the season beginning soon!
