Chief Operating Officer & Director of Grades 3 - 6

Gary Stern

Gary Stern, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Grades 3 - 6, has more than 25 years of experience in education. He was the Head of School at High Point Academy in Pasadena for six years and Laurence School’s Associate Head and Principal for 17 years. Prior to holding administrative roles, Mr. Stern was also an elementary school classroom teacher.

Mr. Stern returned to Laurence in 2021. As Chief Operating Officer, he oversees much of the day-to-day, non-academic operations of our campus and auxiliary programs such as facilities operations, summer camp, and after-school programs. With a collaborative spirit and deep gratitude, Mr. Stern is honored to serve as Laurence's Director of 3rd-6th Grade. In this capacity, he embraces the opportunity to work together with Laurence's exceptional teachers, devoted administration, and dedicated families to advance Laurence's mission to develop the unique abilities and potential of each student.

Mr. Stern was a co-creator of the Global Garden Parent DEI Committee and Laurence’s Global Faire and Sister School program. As a longstanding administrator, Mr. Stern holds a unique perspective on Laurence’s mission, curriculum, and operations. He is thrilled to be back at Laurence, a close-knit community which he cherishes. 

Mr. Stern holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology, a Doctor of Law from Vanderbilt University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. 

He is also the parent of two Laurence graduates (Class of 2014), and has this to say about their Laurence experience: “Laurence provided our children with the perfect beginning and core foundation essential to optimizing their character, discovering their passions, and contributing immensely to their future fulfillment and success in middle school, high school, and college.”

In his free time, Mr. Stern is an avid sports fan with a particular love of football, baseball, and basketball, a history buff and aficionado, and enjoys spending time with his wife Michelle and two children.