Stratford Academy will open its 62^nd school year with two new division heads – Dr. Rachel Adams, Head of Middle School, and Mrs. Kathy Larsen, Head of Preschool. Both are tenured educators with hearts for guiding families through formative years.

Dr. Adams is a native of Central Florida, and previously served as the Assistant Head of Middle School at Montverde Academy, a PK-12 day and boarding school in the Orlando area. She received her Bachelor’s from King University and her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from University of Central Florida. Dr. Adams has ample experience dealing with students and their families at both the elementary and middle school level, and extensive experience as a coach in the high school and collegiate level. “One of Dr. Adam's most attractive qualities is her coaching ability - to walk alongside students, families, and faculty to ensure they are consistently striving for excellence in mind, body, and spirit,” said Head of School Logan Bowlds. Dr. Adams and her husband, Kevin, moved to Middle Georgia in July.

In April, longtime and beloved kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Kathy Larsen, accepted the role as Head of Preschool for the 2021-2022 school year. “Mrs. Larsen has more than 40 years of experience in the education of young children and has been a trusted ally of preschool teachers for decades,” said Bowlds. “She is a natural fit for our growing preschool division.”

Mrs. Larsen earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in early childhood education at the University of Georgia. She began teaching at Stratford in 1997 after having held positions for nearly two decades in schools in Middle Georgia, Decatur, Lilburn, and Vidalia. Not only has Mrs. Larsen spent the last 40 years mastering her craft as an educator, but she has also taught and coached new teachers for decades and has presented on early childhood education topics at the local, state, and national level. Her training includes curriculum, sensory integration, language arts, and math just to name a few. Mrs. Larsen began her duties as Head of the Preschool on June 1. She and husband, Bill, are residents of Macon and have three grown children, who are Stratford alumni, and one granddaughter.