Small Friends on Nantucket Names Heidi Fee New Executive Director

Small Friends on Nantucket, the island's early childhood education center, announced Monday that Heidi Fee has been named the school’s new executive director, effective immediately.

Fee, who had been serving as Small Friends' interim executive director since last summer, has been with the organization since 2015.

"Heidi has been a valued member of the Small Friends community for many years, consistently demonstrating her dedication to the school’s mission and her passion for early childhood education," Small Friends stated in its announcement. "Heidi's journey at Small Friends has been marked by increasing responsibility and achievement. She has excelled in various roles, earning the respect and admiration of her colleagues, the children, and their families. Her deep understanding of the school’s culture, curriculum, and community makes her the ideal leader to guide Small Friends into its next chapter."

The school stated that its board of directors had conducted a "robust search process" over the past year, but it soon became clear that Fee was the right fit for the job.

“Heidi’s passion for Small Friends, combined with her experience and leadership skills, made her the clear choice to lead our school,” said Nickole Tara, interim president of the Small Friends board of directors. “We are confident that under her guidance, Small Friends will continue to thrive and provide an exceptional learning environment for our children.”

Fee, a Nantucket native and mother to three teenage children, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education and care from Fisher College, and a Master of Education degree in early childhood education from Worcester State University.

“I am honored and excited to lead Small Friends of Nantucket," Fee said. "This school and its children hold a special place in my heart. I am deeply committed to its mission, and dedicated to fostering a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment instrumental to learning. I am proud to lead a school committed to the development of the whole child, with the aspiration for all our children to become lifelong learners. I look forward to working collaboratively with our talented teachers, dedicated staff, supportive parents, and the wider Nantucket community to ensure that Small Friends continues to be a beacon of early childhood education.”

Founded 35 years ago, Small Friends on Nantucket is a non-profit organization that serves infants through preschool-aged children.