The Turning Point School Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. Laura Konigsberg has been appointed the next Head of School beginning July 1, 2016. She will succeed Deborah Richman who, in the beginning of 2015, shared her plan to retire at the end of the 2015-16 school year after 28 years of service.
“Unanimously chosen by the Board of Trustees, Laura Konigsberg was a standout among an impressive field of candidates. She is the ideal leader to build on the remarkable legacy that Deborah Richman has built over the past 28 years at our exceptional school.” offered Steve Plum, Board President.
Dr. Konigsberg currently serves in the role of Associate Head of Bentley School, a dual campus K-12 day school in Oakland, CA (360 students; 70 Faculty and Staff), where she oversees the entire K-8 campus. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Konigsberg has energized Bentley’s program, modernized its curriculum, and consolidated the K-8 faculty into one body. She has implemented numerous innovative programs involving mathematics, science, diversity, and professional development and has been integral in enriching the overall academic program. She has also been instrumental in strengthening Bentley’s community outreach, and the school’s enrollment has increased under her guidance.
She now brings that breadth of experience and passion for progress and advancement to Turning Point School.
“In my conversations with the Turning Point community I have encountered a deep, abiding 
love for the school, a shared vision of the school’s purpose, and a rich atmosphere of collegiality and respect. Turning Point is a school that celebrates the myriad transitions in growth from childhood to adolescence; that the school’s name embodies these passages, together with the commitment of the entire community to students’ authentic growth, is both moving and inspiring.” – Dr. Laura Konigsberg
Originally from New York, Dr. Konigsberg earned her undergraduate degree in English from Trinity College, and her Masters and Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Davis; in addition, she holds a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley.
Over two decades, Dr. Konigsberg has worked as an English teacher, English Department Chair, Freshman and Sophomore Class Dean, Director of Counseling and Student Support, Dean of Teaching and Learning, Assistant Head of Upper School, and Head of Lower School.
She also shares in the global leadership perspective that Turning Point champions. She lived in Tokyo during high school and graduated from the American School in Japan. She later spent her junior year of college in London.
Dr. Konigsberg will be relocating to Los Angeles with her husband, Ted Courant, who is a mathematician with a Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley, and her two children, Jack and Miles.
“I am excited to build on the legacy of Deborah Richman, who has imbued the school with its character of excellent academics alongside the education of the whole child. We are looking forward to having our children, Jack (age 10 / Level 5) and Miles (age 6 / Level 1), join Turning Point School and are especially excited to have Jack start middle school at Turning Point.” – Dr. Laura Konigsberg
The Head of School search is the Board’s highest responsibility. The nine-month journey was led by a Board-appointed Search Committee that, with guidance from a national consultancy firm, vetted dozens of outstanding candidates from across the country and abroad. More than 72 hours of interviews were conducted by the Search Committee, including open “question and answer” sessions for the parent community, administrators, and faculty.
“Laura is an outstanding leader whose intelligence, character, values, warmth, and vision will resonate deeply with the Turning Point community. I am delighted that the Board has appointed her your next Head of School, and could not be more proud to welcome her to our vibrant, diverse community.” – Deborah Richman
Current Head of School Deborah Richman will remain in her position through the end of June, 2016. Plans to celebrate her service to Turning Point School will be shared with the community as they are confirmed.
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