Retirement Tribute to Mr. Cissel

John has been working in independent schools since graduating from college -- first in Connecticut at Fairfield Country Day School where he taught, coached and became the Upper School Director of Admission. He then moved to Greens Farms Academy in Westport, CT as the Director of Admissions before leading its Middle School as its Division Head. Most recently, John was the Head of Dutchess Day School, a small, rural Prek through 8th Grade school in Millbrook, NY. John loves all sports, family, biking, carpentry, reading and especially the St. Louis Cardinals.

After moving out of the Head’s cottage, John will permanently reside in his Connecticut home with his wife Peggy.  Collectively the couple has six children and 11 grandchildren living from Colorado to Connecticut and New York. John has three wonderful daughters: Ellie, married with four children; Katherine, married with three children, and Margaret, married with one and working for an independent school search firm, Educators Ally. 

While John will greatly miss Harbor’s students and community, he looks forward to the free time retirement will afford him.  John still has ‘a lot of gas left in the tank’ and plans to spend some of that time working part-time as a teacher and coach, continuing to contribute to the world in meaningful ways, but, after commuting via ferry back and forth these last 11 years, is most of all looking forward to living full time with his wife, Peggy!

Never one to sit still, John also has plans to spend considerable time on bike trips, playing sports, adopting a new Labrador puppy and, most importantly, spending his time with Peggy, his family, and friends.

Twelve years ago, I had the privilege of meeting John Cissel on his interview visit for the position of Dean of Academics here at Harbor. During his tour of the school, John visited the second grade while we were studying about the metamorphosis of butterflies. My first impression of John, which remains true today, was John’s kind and gentle manner, his  interest in what each child knew about caterpillars and butterflies and his easy rapport with individual students. Fortunately, John accepted the position and these past eleven years, as they say, are history.

As Dean of Academics, John made sure that the faculty had a voice in any curriculum decisions and offered many professional development opportunities for personal growth. He formed working committees, always listened, respected and supported the faculty’s suggestions and opinions. Under John’s leadership, the faculty had a stake in the growth and direction of Harbor’s curriculum. 

John became Head of School at a time when Harbor needed someone like him, a compassionate, understanding and steadfast leader. As Head of School and teacher at heart, John made those important connections with all of the students, from the handshake greeting in the morning, coaching sports, teaching classes to chaperoning overnight field trips, just to name a few.  He took time to make those important connections with the students and faculty alike. John regularly checked in with individual faculty members, consistently supportive and understanding.  He always seemed to know something about each student, their special interest or something that made them laugh to brighten their day. John solidified that sense of warmth and community that Harbor was always known for but began to wane prior to his tenure. We were more than fortunate to have John as Head of School. It seemed like there was nothing John wouldn’t do for the growth and benefit of the school - who else would do a Polar Plunge in December? Because of John’s dedication and guiding hand, there are major plans for Harbor’s physical expansion and financial future. Harbor is in its best place in its history. Thanks to John’s vision, tenacity and dedication, Harbor is on the precipice of even greater things to come with a bright future ahead. Thank you, John, for being Harbor’s True North.

Prior to joining Harbor’s faculty, first as a history teacher and Head of Academic Affairs, and then in 2014 as Head of School, John Cissel has worked in independent schools his entire career. Always a teacher at his core, he has taught, coached and led as an administrator and head of school in Connecticut and upstate New York before coming to Harbor in 2011. Under his leadership, the financial position of the school has been significantly strengthened with a strong annual fund program and a $10 million capital campaign for building modernization as well as for faculty, tuition assistance and general endowments. Plans for campus expansion that will include a state-of-the-art STEAM center, art and technology facilities, two science labs, new math and history classrooms, and a dining room will be completed during his tenure, with the hope that construction can begin in the fall of 2022.

Always a great champion for his faculty, John’s greatest wish is to see the fulfillment of the school’s faculty endowment so that Harbor can continue to attract and retain the best and brightest talent for generations of students to come.  

In commemoration of his retirement this June, Harbor’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted this past May to name the faculty endowment to honor John and memorialize the role he played in launching Harbor’s Capital Campaign.