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A Timely and Transformative Leader: Ed Curran (1933-2022)
Edward “Ed” Arthur Curran, NCS head of school from 1968 to 1980, passed away on May 15, 2022, at the age of 88. He led NCS through a period of broad transformation for both the school and the nation. He arrived in Washington in the summer of 1968, a time of significant political, social, and racial unrest throughout the country, arising from the war in Vietnam and, in April of that year, the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which occurred just four days after Dr. King offered the Sunday sermon at Washington National Cathedral. At the time of his appointment, Curran was 35 years old, having recently married his wife, Nina, with two school-aged stepchildren. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in classics from Yale, a master’s in English from Duke, and a passion for education, he quickly demonstrated that he was right for the job. NCS need to experience transformation, and under Curran’s leadership, the school changed and grew.
Curran was recommended to the head of school search committee by soon-to-be NCS trustee—and eventual President—George H.W. Bush. Both were Yale graduates and had spent time in Houston, where Curran taught at St. Johns School for 10 years. In 1963, he took a leave of absence from St. Johns to work for the Tennessee Gas Transmission Company in Argentina in a business capacity and was later asked to establish a school in Tierra del Fuego and in other parts of South America.
At NCS, Curran quickly made his mark. He focused on long-term sustainability and professional practices throughout the administration, enhancing student programming, creating and building strong connections with St. Albans, raising pay and providing learning opportunities for faculty and staff, and broadening the school’s outreach and fundraising efforts.
Not only did Curran invest financially in NCS teachers, but he was also a strong proponent of professional development. Genevieve “Janie” Stirling '47 was teaching 6th grade part time when Curran in her words, “plucked me up to be Director of Admissions.” She continues, “He gave people autonomy—once he gave you a job, he let you do it.”
Curran, who grew up in Vermont, was known for his kind pragmatism. As Sterling says, “He was very firm in his principles and leadership—his great sense of humor and low-key approach belied that.” Betty Dietel, former assistant director of admissions and English teacher, says, “He was warm, kind, and empathetic which made for a wonderful atmosphere for faculty and for the students.” According to Rick Dirksen, who served for more than 40 years as director of the NCS Whitechapel Guild and as business manager, “Ed managed the school very graciously, kept spirits up, kept outlook up, and was as positive as could be.”
In addition to launching the careers of teachers and administrators, another of Curran’s lasting legacies was updating the educational approach of the school. With his counterpart at St. Albans, Rev. Charles Martin (headmaster from 1949 to 1977), Curran oversaw development of coordinate classes and coordinate glee and drama clubs, which later become the combined orchestra. He initiated making the Voyageur Program co-ed and started the advisory and counseling programs, hiring several psychologists to work with students and faculty.
In the realm of school admissions and development, Curran introduced testing into the admission process, hired a director for college counseling, and expanded financial aid, alumnae outreach, and fundraising efforts. He, along with Nina, traveled the country to meet with alumnae and raise funds for a transformative capital campaign. During his tenure, the Whitby Hall arts studio was created, funded in part by that campaign.
After leaving NCS in 1980, Curran served in the Reagan Administration as the associate director of presidential personnel and as head of the National Institute of Education. He also was deputy director of the Peace Corps. He belonged to a range of educational organizations and served on the boards of several regional independent schools.
The courtyard in the heart of the NCS’s campus was dedicated to Ed Curran in 1980 and named Curran Courtyard in recognition of his leadership and contributions to NCS. The new pollinator garden in the center of Curran Courtyard, made possible by Curran’s stepdaughter, Peyton Bruns ’74, is a fitting tribute to a head of school who worked every day with a dry-witted sense of humor to promote a healthy, diverse, and sustainable National Cathedral School.
Curran’s approach and abilities, grounded in his principles and deep respect for the students, faculty, and staff, were an excellent match for NCS from his first days as head of school in 1968. “Ed was a great mentor,” says Dietel, “and a very strong advocate for women.”
Ed Curran was dedicated to preparing students to be ethical, confident, and courageous contributors to the common good and sought to make a school where women would go out and become leaders in the world. His was perfect timing.
This story, written by Lynn Horowitch, originally appeared in the Winter 2022 issue of NCS Magazine. Many thanks to Julia Bui ’25 for her research and to Caroline Thompson ’74 for serving as editor for this article.
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Curran was recommended to the head of school search committee by soon-to-be NCS trustee—and eventual President—George H.W. Bush. Both were Yale graduates and had spent time in Houston, where Curran taught at St. Johns School for 10 years. In 1963, he took a leave of absence from St. Johns to work for the Tennessee Gas Transmission Company in Argentina in a business capacity and was later asked to establish a school in Tierra del Fuego and in other parts of South America.
At NCS, Curran quickly made his mark. He focused on long-term sustainability and professional practices throughout the administration, enhancing student programming, creating and building strong connections with St. Albans, raising pay and providing learning opportunities for faculty and staff, and broadening the school’s outreach and fundraising efforts.
Not only did Curran invest financially in NCS teachers, but he was also a strong proponent of professional development. Genevieve “Janie” Stirling '47 was teaching 6th grade part time when Curran in her words, “plucked me up to be Director of Admissions.” She continues, “He gave people autonomy—once he gave you a job, he let you do it.”
Curran, who grew up in Vermont, was known for his kind pragmatism. As Sterling says, “He was very firm in his principles and leadership—his great sense of humor and low-key approach belied that.” Betty Dietel, former assistant director of admissions and English teacher, says, “He was warm, kind, and empathetic which made for a wonderful atmosphere for faculty and for the students.” According to Rick Dirksen, who served for more than 40 years as director of the NCS Whitechapel Guild and as business manager, “Ed managed the school very graciously, kept spirits up, kept outlook up, and was as positive as could be.”
In addition to launching the careers of teachers and administrators, another of Curran’s lasting legacies was updating the educational approach of the school. With his counterpart at St. Albans, Rev. Charles Martin (headmaster from 1949 to 1977), Curran oversaw development of coordinate classes and coordinate glee and drama clubs, which later become the combined orchestra. He initiated making the Voyageur Program co-ed and started the advisory and counseling programs, hiring several psychologists to work with students and faculty.
In the realm of school admissions and development, Curran introduced testing into the admission process, hired a director for college counseling, and expanded financial aid, alumnae outreach, and fundraising efforts. He, along with Nina, traveled the country to meet with alumnae and raise funds for a transformative capital campaign. During his tenure, the Whitby Hall arts studio was created, funded in part by that campaign.
After leaving NCS in 1980, Curran served in the Reagan Administration as the associate director of presidential personnel and as head of the National Institute of Education. He also was deputy director of the Peace Corps. He belonged to a range of educational organizations and served on the boards of several regional independent schools.
The courtyard in the heart of the NCS’s campus was dedicated to Ed Curran in 1980 and named Curran Courtyard in recognition of his leadership and contributions to NCS. The new pollinator garden in the center of Curran Courtyard, made possible by Curran’s stepdaughter, Peyton Bruns ’74, is a fitting tribute to a head of school who worked every day with a dry-witted sense of humor to promote a healthy, diverse, and sustainable National Cathedral School.
Curran’s approach and abilities, grounded in his principles and deep respect for the students, faculty, and staff, were an excellent match for NCS from his first days as head of school in 1968. “Ed was a great mentor,” says Dietel, “and a very strong advocate for women.”
Ed Curran was dedicated to preparing students to be ethical, confident, and courageous contributors to the common good and sought to make a school where women would go out and become leaders in the world. His was perfect timing.
This story, written by Lynn Horowitch, originally appeared in the Winter 2022 issue of NCS Magazine. Many thanks to Julia Bui ’25 for her research and to Caroline Thompson ’74 for serving as editor for this article.
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Ed Curran
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Ed and Nina Curran in the head of school's office
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