Head of School
Laurie Wolke, JD
Laurie Wolke is passionate about education and helping children understand that they can make a difference in this world. For more than 30 years, Mrs. Wolke has been living her passion, transforming Laurence’s innovative academic and enrichment curriculum to ensure that students not only build a solid academic foundation for life, but also develop a sense of optimism and the life skills they need to be successful and resilient.
Building upon Laurence’s long tradition of educating the “Total Child” by focusing on individual learning needs, interests, and social and emotional development, Mrs. Wolke has grown the school’s curriculum, focusing on preparing children for success in the 21st century. Mrs. Wolke has started multiple learning programs at Laurence to achieve this goal, including: edible garden; 5th Grade farmers’ market; STEAM program; expanded performing arts and music programs; service learning; and the highly acclaimed Kids’ Court, one of the only elementary school mock trial programs in the country.
Mrs. Wolke has expanded Laurence’s curriculum during her time at Laurence, and as associate Head of School and Head of School, she has transformed our campus, growing it from one acre into a five-acre, state-of-the-art learning oasis. Over the last 20 years, Laurence has added a performing arts center/gymnasium, library, technology center, upper division classrooms, updated science facilities, two outdoor athletic fields, an outdoor sport court, and dedicated music and drama/dance rooms.
These physical additions have allowed Laurence to expand enrichment programs, increase experiential learning opportunities, and grow the faculty, which currently includes multiple academic specialists and learning specialists.
And all of this dedication and hard work by Mrs. Wolke is focused on creating the best possible foundation for children in their critical primary years so that they can ultimately leave Laurence with confidence. Mrs. Wolke works personally with each of our 6th Grade students and their parents to help them find the “right” secondary school, where each student will continue to thrive. Mrs. Wolke is especially proud of her success in helping many of our 6th Grade students matriculate into their top choice schools over the years.
Mrs. Wolke is more than just a Head of School, she is also the parent of two Laurence graduates. Jonny (’04) graduated from USC with a Bachelor’s of Science from the Price School of Public Policy and a Master of Science in Marketing from the Marshall School of Business, and Becky (’05) graduated from Emory University with a degree in Psychology.
Prior to becoming an educator at Laurence, Mrs. Wolke practiced corporate litigation, earning her Juris Doctorate in 1985. During her tenure at Laurence, she also completed coursework in the educational leadership master’s program at California State University, Northridge. Mrs. Wolke travels all over the country, visiting top primary and secondary schools to discover new ideas and ensure that Laurence’s curriculum and programs remain innovative and cutting-edge.