In April 2021, Head of School Jessica Bagby announced that Tony Marro, Dean of the Class of 2022, would serve as Interim Fieldston Upper Principal for the 2021–2022 academic year. “Known for his warmth, integrity, and authenticity, Tony is a beloved member of the Fieldston community who centers his relationships with students, colleagues, and parents in his work,” Bagby wrote.
Marro has served multiple roles at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School: In his 12 years at the School, he has been a teacher, baseball coach, and dean. He’s also perfectly poised for the unique challenges of our students’ full return to campus in the fall of 2021: His background is in health education and health curriculum design, making him an ideal choice to center student wellness as they readjust.
Here, we sit down with Marro to introduce him to the wider school community before he starts his new role on July 1, 2021.
1. What are you most excited about for next year?
I am most excited to feel the “buzz” on the Quad. Students and faculty just hanging out between classes on the Quad is really special. Since we’ve been at 50% capacity, the feeling isn’t quite the same.
2. How have your experiences prepared you for this new role?
In my 12 years at Fieldston, I’ve had the great opportunity to connect to so many members of our community in a variety of ways — as a health teacher in 9th Grade, PE Teacher, Varsity Baseball Coach, Dean, Student-to-Student Co-Advisor, etc. The connections I’ve made with parents, alumni, students, faculty, and administrators have allowed me to see how much effort goes into providing our students with the best experience possible. As a dean, I’ve been in situations where I was a part of difficult decisions. Those situations, even though challenging at times, have given me insight into the complexities, challenges, and rewards of this position.
3. What song do you listen to to psych yourself up?
If anybody knows me, they know I love 90s hip-hop. If I had to pick one, I would say Public Enemy’s “Bring the Noise.”
4. What do you think your biggest challenge will be in your new role?
Something that I would like to focus on is making sure our faculty and students feel supported and cared for during the transition into being full-time on campus. I am sure there will be many logistics to work out. We’ve all been through a lot, and we all continue to experience challenges, but I hope that we can use the strength of our community to celebrate each other and be appreciative of what we may have taken for granted.
5. What’s your favorite snack in Riverdale?
Yo-Burger french fries — yum!
6. What are you reading, watching, or listening to these days?
I have a decent commute, so I listen to a lot of podcasts. I have been flying through “Scene on Radio” lately. I love documentaries! If you have a good suggestion on a podcast, please let me know!
7. What are your favorite Fieldston Upper traditions?
As Dean of the Class of 2018, I really loved the senior dress-up days. I loved dressing up and seeing the students’ faces when I did!
