The Laboratory Schools have hired a new interim director of schools to help guide the institution during a period of transition while the search for a permanent director is underway. Sue Groesbeck officially started her role on Sept. 2.
Dr. Groesbeck brings many decades of broad and varied experience in leadership and education, having already served as interim director at many schools across the country and internationally prior to joining U-High.
Dr. Groesbeck will guide U-High through the 2025-26 academic year, and possibly continue in that role through the 2026-27 school year if necessary.
Most recently, Dr. Groesbeck was the head of school at Sandy Spring Friends School in Maryland. She has also served as interim head of school at seven other schools in the United States and abroad, and has experience working with students since the 1970s and within academic administrations since the ’90s.
In an interview with the Midway, Dr. Groesbeck highlighted her excitement to join the Lab community and her commitment toward maintaining academic excellence and traditions. Her first day was spent greeting students from all schools throughout the University of Chicago campus, an experience she described as energizing and inspiring.
“As they came in, that reminded me why I’m here at the school,” Dr. Groesbeck said.
She also met middle school and Class of 2026 parents during their first-day-of-school coffee gatherings, taking time to listen to their hopes and concerns for the upcoming year.
In her first few weeks on campus, Dr. Groesbeck aims to familiarize herself with students and faculty through conversations, classroom visits, and attending school events, as doing so connects her to the students, which she finds very fulfilling — and although her time at Lab is temporary, Dr. Groesbeck hopes to leave a lasting impact by strengthening topics that need to be addressed such as the ongoing accreditation process and the University of Chicago review.
“There’s a university review that will be my responsibility to disseminate and interpret for my staff here, but I have a direct reporting relationship to the university. So that makes my job a little different,” Dr. Groesbeck said.
Dr. Groesbeck is yet to have a meeting with the university to assess her goals for this academic year, but she said she will be prioritizing ongoing projects instead of implementing sweeping changes.
As Lab looks to hire a permanent director, Dr. Groesbeck intends to be an active member of the committee that assesses potential candidates so that the committee can select the best possible leader for U-High’s future. She said her priority is to present the school in a positive way toward the pool of potential candidates.
All-school vice president Ty Quiles, a senior, said he appreciates Dr. Groesbeck’s warmth and is excited for her to get to know the community.
“She was willing to shout me out in front of the whole school after a five-minute conversation,” Ty said, “so she is really a nice addition to the Lab environment.”
Dr. Groesbeck looks forward to that as well.
“I come to school every day happy to be here,” Dr. Groesbeck said, “otherwise I would be long, long retired.”
