Maria-Anna Zimmermann

Maria-Anna Zimmermann is Head of the Lower School at The Brearley School in New York City. She has worked in independent schools for over 30 years and has served Brearley in several capacities for much of that time.

Holding degrees in music theory and history, violin performance, and education, Ms. Zimmermann started her career at Brearley in the Music Department, which she chaired for over a dozen years.  She served as acting head of the Middle School and was appointed Head of the Lower School in 2008. In 2016, she was appointed Assistant Head of School for Student Life, a position that no longer exists but was established to help carry out the goals of the School’s current strategic plan. In that additional role, she propelled initiatives in social-emotional learning, gender diversity, and sexual health education.  

Ms. Zimmermann attended Juilliard precollege, graduated from Barnard College, has master's degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and Bank Street School of Education, and has engaged in graduate study at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.