“Am I in trouble?”

That was the question an LAS student asked nearly twenty times a day, worrying constantly that he had done something wrong. LaToya Downing-Peltier remembers it clearly—they were on a fall break trip in the Mediterranean during his birthday week.

“So, on his birthday cake I wrote: ‘No, you’re not in trouble.’ And to this day when he texts me, I send him a picture of that birthday cake. He thinks it’s the funniest thing,” Ms. Downing-Peltier said. “He’s doing so well now and it is because of the lessons he learned here at LAS about being gentle with yourself.”

For Ms. Downing-Peltier, those small gestures are at the center of her work.

LaToya, Associate Dean of Students for the Savoy Campus, is also the LAS Child Protection Officer and SAFE Coordinator. “My goal is to know students on a deeper level. If I know them, I can help them reach their full potential,” she said.

She grew up in Boston and met her husband (Mr. Leo Peltier, Esplanade Dorm Head) in high school. “We were high school sweethearts.” She went to university in Georgia and was accepted into an early medical school program at Boston University School of Medicine. “A moment came when I decided I didn't want to be a doctor anymore—I would almost faint every time I came near blood. I decided I wanted to teach Biology instead.”

LaToya's LAS journey began with the summer program, where she brought her warm presence and energy to the summer campers. She loved the rhythm of it, the mix of hard work and constant discovery.

When the opportunity came to move to Leysin full time, her family had to navigate a complicated transition. Her husband and younger daughter (Phoenyx '22) moved to Switzerland first, while she stayed behind in Boston with her older daughter (Jurnee) so she could finish her last year in high school. The next year, LaToya joined them in Leysin, where the Peltiers have become part of the fabric of campus life.

What makes the work worthwhile, Ms. Downing-Peltier says, is her daily connection with students. “Even the kids who found themselves in a bit of trouble from time to time still have fond memories of LAS—it was a place where they grew and were accepted,” she said. Her philosophy is simple: “I don’t look at the individual as the problem—it’s more their actions. I separate the individual from their actions and the kids appreciate that.”

Her hygge-inspired office is designed to be a welcoming and peaceful haven for connection. “I met with a student last week and she said: ‘I hope I never see you again.’ I asked her why she felt that way and she told me: ‘Because this is the Dean of Students' office!’” LaToya laughs while telling the story. “Although discipline is an essential part of the job, my work is about so much more than that. Most of my job is about cultivating genuine relationships and helping students reach their full potential.”

Ms. Downing-Peltier hosts informal “cookie chats” where students come to her office once a week to talk about anything they like while having a snack. “Some kids come in just to talk, without the cookie! My goal is to break down barriers and create relationships as organically as possible.”

LaToya was recently honored by The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) with the Burch Ford Kaleidoscope Award. She was completely surprised when the honor was bestowed. “I had no idea I was nominated. I honestly thought it was my husband they were talking about.”

For those considering boarding school, she has this advice: “Choose a school where you can be vulnerable and be your true authentic self. There are so many caring people in our community—no matter what you like to do, there are faculty who can support you and who love the things that you love.”

From birthday cakes to cookie chats, LaToya’s impact is clear: “My goal is to support all students in reaching their full potential. I genuinely care for each and every student—I want them to be happy and successful, just as any parent would want for their own child.”