About

Bachelor of Arts, Williams College
Master of Arts, University of Delaware

Andy Vadnais serves as Head of School at Darrow School in New Lebanon, New York. His career spans a wide range of educational environments—from teaching in Pre-K through ninth-grade classrooms to serving as an adjunct professor of history at Berkshire Community College and as Head Curator and Associate Director at Hancock Shaker Village. Before joining Darrow, he led South Kent School as Head of School.

A graduate of Williams College with a B.A. in American Studies, Andy earned his M.A. in History from the University of Delaware, where he was a Hagley Fellow. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to engaging students who are bright but learn differently—much as he did himself in high school. His work has focused on revitalizing small, mission-driven boarding schools and ensuring they remain vibrant, relevant, and deeply connected to their founding purpose.

Andy and his wife, Nancy Lyon, have been married since 1982. When not on campus, they make their home in the Vermont mountains with their grandson, Michael, two Dalmatian companions, and a pair of ducks—Anna White and Frederick Evans—who reign over Tannery Pond. An avid skier and lifelong fitness enthusiast, Andy brings the same drive and curiosity to his work that he does to the slopes.