Gunnery installs Becker as head of school

The Gunnery, a private school in Washington, recently welcomed its 11th head of school.

Peter W.E. Becker was installed Sept. 9 during a special program at the meetinghouse of the First Congregational Church in Washington.

Lance Odden, former headmaster of Taft School and a former trustee at the Gunnery, spoke at the installation.

Mr. Becker comes from the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, N.J., where he was a master of history and interdisciplinary studies.

He led the redesign of the interdisciplinary program's curriculum, seeking different ways to instruct, encourage and inspire students to learn and communicate. He also served as housemaster of Kennedy House.

In addition, Mr. Becker served in a number of critical roles at Lawrenceville, including as the director of the humanities program and as a coach of the girls' varsity squash and boys' freshman tennis teams.

He also held the Shutt faculty chairmanship for four years.

Mr. Becker is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he earned a bachelor's degree with distinction in religious studies, and Yale University, where he earned a master's degree in history.

He was awarded a Fulbright grant to study classical history, architecture and archaeology at the American Academy in Rome.