A Reflection about the leadership of Dr. Carl Mores by Dave Manzo
The MAAPS community lost one of its giants when Dr. Carl Mores died at the age of 86 on February 15, 2024. Carl was a guiding force in the early years of our association serving as a long-time board member. His peers named him a Fellow of the Association and our Administrator of the Year.
Carl was a leader at two member schools, Riverview and Cotting. For 13 years, beginning in 1970, he was the headmaster of Riverview School. This was followed by 21 years as President and CEO of Cotting School.
When in 2004, I was named the 6th president of Cotting School, I knew I was following in the footsteps of a legend. Carl was both a transformative figure in the history of our 131-year-old school and a true gentleman.
Cotting School was at a crossroads in the 1980s. It was located on St. Botoph Street in downtown Boston, in a turn of the 20th century building. It lacked space to meet the complex needs of our students with special needs. Without proper therapeutic, recreational and medical space, a new school facility was needed.
Carl acquired the Krebs Schools and led our move from Boston to Lexington, securing a 14-acre campus and then building a 90,000 square foot state of the art school on-time and on-budget. With the exception of the founding of our school, Carl’s leadership in building a new campus was the most important event in our school’s history. During my tenure as president from 2004-2021, Carl was always available to me offering support and wise counsel. He is truly on the Mount Rushmore of Cotting School leaders.
But Carl was much more than a skilled educational leader. The term gentleman might seem a bit outdated, but by definition and action, Carl was a man who matched the definition by conducting himself to conform to high-standards in every aspect of his life. Carl treated people with kindness, courtesy and dignity and it was my blessing to know him.
My deepest sympathies to Jeanne, his wife of 64 years. I was blessed to know Carl and will forever value what he taught me about how to be a school leader and a friend to others.
To learn more about Carl’s role at Cotting, see an interview with him at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50prPdu4q6w