Westridge School Head of School Position Statement Pasadena, California July 1, 2022 Westridge School Head of School Position Statement Start Date: July 1, 2022

WELCOME TO WESTRIDGE! Educang girls and young women. Inspiring “lives of meaning, contribuon, and impact.” Nurturing learners who are “intellectually adventurous thinkers.” Creang “courageous, compassionate leaders.” And always, encouraging girls and young women to meet the aspiraonal promise of the School’s moo: “Surgere Tentamus. We Strive to Rise.”

THE POSITION Westridge School is a non-sectarian, essenal body of knowledge in the campus situated on the westside of fully accredited, college preparatory, liberal arts, mathemacs, and the Pasadena. The School environment is single gender, non-profit day school natural sciences with a commitment safe, conducive to teaching and for 500 girls, grade 4 through grade to values that reflect diversity, learning, and effecvely advances 12. The School is a leading individual differences, and ongoing girls’ knowledge and experiences that instuon among the independent, awareness of our changing and promote and safeguard vital academic college preparatory schools in dynamic world. In addion, the and life skills. Pasadena, CA and the San Gabriel School offers a balance of co- Valley of Southern California. curricular and extracurricular The School is fully accredited by the acvies that promote community California Associaon of Independent Westridge offers a relevant and engagement, compeve athlecs, Schools, the Western Associaon of comprehensive program of college technology, performing and visual Schools and Colleges and is a member preparatory studies reflecng an arts, at an impressive 9.5-acre in good standing with the Naonal Associaon of Independent Schools, the Naonal Coalion of Girls’ Schools, The College Board, The Naonal Associaon for College Admissions Counseling, the Naonal Associaon of Principals of Schools for Girls, A Beer Chance, Inc., The Cum Laude Society, the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Educaon, and the Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs.

As the School enters its second century of quality educaon for young women, Westridge School invites seasoned and qualified professionals to consider this excing opportunity to become the 12th Head of School.

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“A hundred years ago, Westridge was founded by a woman who believed in girls’ empowerment. Today we are educating girls who can (and do) change the world.”

Since its beginnings in 1913, Westridge School has been home to the fundamental belief that women have a right to be fully educated in an environment that engages the heart, intellect, body, and soul. Founded by Mary Lowther Ranney, an architect and teacher, and with the support of Pasadena parents, the School demonstrated that single-sex educaon contributes to girls’ achievement, iniave, leadership, and confidence. Miss Ranny retained a unique reputaon as a gied teacher among Pasadena families and before long, she and the families started a girls’ school in a private home on the banks of the Arroyo.

As Pasadena’s populaon grew in the 1920s, so did Westridge. The campus expanded to accommodate the school’s growing enrollment. Parents and interested friends in the community raised funds for more land acquision, classroom buildings and expansions. Westridge had outgrown its small, family beginnings and was on a trajectory for growth and notable academic excellence. In 1936, when Miss Ranney rered, a group of parents purchased the School and chartered it as a nonprofit educaonal instuon with a governing Board of Trustees.

Throughout its history, Westridge has retained its founding values of a clear vision for young women, high standards, and a strong moral sense. Certainly, the School’s moo: “Surgere Tentamus. We Strive to Rise,” connues and validates every aspect of the School’s current program. For more than 100 years, Westridge has zealously maintained focus on its mission. The current mission of the School is set forth in three guiding statements: Vision, Fundamental Principles, and Commitment to Diversity and Community.

Vision: Westridge is an independent, forward-thinking girls’ school commied to educang intellectually adventurous thinkers, and courageous, compassionate leaders.

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Our engaging and challenging curriculum prepares students to connue their educaon in college and beyond as discerning, movated learners who are commied to excellence and goodness in everything they do. Essenal to this work is the commitment to be a community that reflects and values diversity, respects individual differences, and responds to a changing dynamic world.

A Westridge educaon offers both a path to self- discovery and personal fulfillment and an awareness of the essenal interdependence of all peoples, places, and cultures.

We strive to develop young women whose joy in learning, personal integrity, courage, compassion, and commitment to ethical acon and social and environment responsibility, will lead them to meaningful lives as contribung cizens of the larger world. We strive to prepare young women to live lives of meaning, contribuon, and impact.

Fundamental Principles: ! A tradion of academic excellence for girls ! A legacy of leadership and service ! A commitment of excellence and goodness in every facet of the School ! A vision that embraces inquiry, reflecon, and acon.

Commitment to Diversity and Community: Westridge draws strength from the diversity of believes will have a transformaonal impact on its cultures, voices, and values in its community. It seeks students and the academic, cultural, and social life of the to enhance student, faculty, administraon, and staff School. diversity, to educate girls with the skills to recognize, respect, and embrace diversity of all kinds, and to The Strategic Priories include: ensure that a culture of inclusion remains a commitment of the School. 1) Expand programs and resources that promote student well-being and social emoonal growth. Today, Westridge connues to thrive as it explores 2) Conduct a curriculum review across all divisions more innovave pracces and strives for new heights of the School to inform a comprehensive in educaonal achievement. Recently, the School program update focused on academic excellence, embarked on a mission to idenfy those areas of innovaon, and relevance. crical importance to the growth and development 3) Strengthen and expand the School’s of the School in the coming years, and published its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Strategic Plan 2020-2025. The School community has 4) Develop core leadership skills and personal already begun work on these priories, which it agency in all Westridge students.

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THE SCHOOL overwhelmingly kind, approachable, access to the Head of School. COMMUNITY skilled teachers, that I really value Westridge students also follow about Westridge.“ closely the School’s commitment to THE STUDENTS diversity, equity, inclusion, and an- Westridge girls and young women “What makes Westridge a racism, applauding the specificity are smart, movated, and original! phenomenal school are the and commitment the School is They have “spunk,” and they opportunies they offer students to making. demonstrate great affecon for grow as learners and people…I also their School. The girls are think the student body is something The School is fully enrolled with impressively arculate: very unique to Westridge. My over 500 girls and young women of friends all have passions—whether diverse backgrounds, with “Westridge is a thriving space for its it’s math or kpop or acng—so it’s approximately 65% students of forward-thinking spirit and really cool to be able to learn from color, including 6.2% of the student welcoming community. The faculty them as well.” body idenfying or mulracially and student body are courageous, idenfying as Black/African intelligent, and driven. The “Leading lives of impact” is second- American and 13.9% idenfying as consistent work for a beer, more nature to Westridge girls and young Lanx. The School has a inclusive environment is unique to women. They arculate clearly their transgender/gender identy policy, Westridge and proves its excellence understanding of the School’s and Westridge students who no as a school.“ commitment to student voice and longer idenfy as female are agency—and improvements to the supported and are welcome to “In virtually all other schools I've School. Examples abound in areas remain and graduate from the been at/looked into, it's been an where students have proposed school. Students hail from about 80 either/or situaon—a warm, change—everything from changing different zip codes in the area, and welcoming school community or Grade 8 uniforms to creang a the most common languages high standards of academic student-led Dream Summit to spoken in the home other than excellence, never the two organizing the Student Acon English are Mandarin Chinese and combined. It's that, along with the Council with direct and regular Spanish. The School awards $2.7M

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in financial aid each year (which School. Accolades about the faculty’s Growth mindset—not just a catch supports 24% of students) and has experse and commitment to their phrase but a way of life.” a commitment to financial students confirm their importance to assistance and increasing fulfilling the promise of Westridge: “The ability to allow students to affordability for a Westridge apply learned skills outside of the educaon. The School has “The faculty have proven ability to classroom.” endowment funds dedicated to insll confidence in young women to financial aid. feel empowered, ambious, and “Students feel known and seen for curious in all pursuits.” who they are.” College admissions at Westridge are highly compeve. Of the 63 “The faculty teaches and culvates “Dedicated to challenging young members of the class of 2020, resourcefulness and intellectual women intellectually, arscally, and graduates matriculated at 40 curiosity.“ personally.” different universies in 16 states, the District of Columbia, and “Focus on student achievement Currently, 69 full-me faculty Ireland, having garnered 450 beyond academic rigor (which is members have an average tenure of acceptances at 156 colleges and assumed); the development of the 11 years at the School. Turnover is universies. Learn more about whole person is not...sacrificed.” remarkably low at 6%. Over $200K is college admissions at Westridge dedicated to professional here: hps://www.westridge.org/ “Build a community of women and development at the School each year. academics/college-counseling. faculty based on core values such as humility, service, integrity, and Also acve in the faculty for the past THE FACULTY AND STAFF learning.” 25 years at Westridge is an The faculty and staff at Westridge, independent school-based union that respected and appreciated, are “Community first. Seeing and provides professional support for long-serving and dedicated to the understanding girls for who they are. “equity and fairness” in policies and

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iniaves. The Westridge Federaon of Teachers self-describes as “process- oriented” and supports transparency and consistency in maers of human resources and program priories. They work hand-in-hand with the School leadership to give genuine and mely feedback with the goal of supporng a posive employee culture.

The Westridge Leadership Team (“WLT”) is comprised of the Head of School, Chief Finance and Operaons Officer, Director of Upper School, Director of Lower and Middle School, Senior Director for Enrollment Management and Student Outcomes, Director of Athlecs, Director of Advancement, Director of Markeng and Communicaons, and Director of norm at Westridge, and Board young women with the adaptable Technology. The School is in the members are collegial and skills needed for their futures. process of hiring a new Director of collaborave. All report a very Discussions among Westridge Board Teaching and Learning and a Director posive rapport among the Board members are healthy, robust, and of Equity. members and with the WLT. generave.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board is deeply supporve of the The Board is commied to a The Board of Trustees at Westridge is Westridge mission and program. thorough and thoughul search for comprised of 27 members, each of They believe in the sustained the School’s next leader as they bid a whom serves three terms of three commitment to academic excellence fond farewell to Elizabeth McGregor years. An impressive number of and, at the same me, to the who will have served the School alumnae serve on the current Board. innovave educaonal programming successfully for thirteen years. Best pracces in governance are the that will provide Westridge girls and THE ALUMNAE The Westridge alumnae are an acve and vital element of Westridge today! Eighteen alumnae serve on the Alumnae Board, and eight serve on the School’s Board of Trustees. Westridge alumnae are involved and supporve.

Conscious of the fact that the School was founded before women in America could vote, alumnae are commied to the noon that Westridge has always been on the “progressive edge of women’s educaon.” They readily arculate the School’s messages to girls:

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“Strength to be themselves. Break the mold! Do right by others.”

Several alumnae comment that “individual strengths are sorted out and supported” at Westridge. They recall warmly the camaraderie of single-sex educaon, and the “joy and energy” that comes from their posive experiences at the School.

THE WESTRIDGE FAMILIES The Westridge Parents Associaon (the WPA) goes about its support for the School purposefully and enthusiascally. A range of parent and guardian supported commiees support the mulple programs at the School. The parents also describe the School with appreciaon and warmth:

“Westridge has a fantasc faculty and sense of community that encourages their students to be themselves, excel academically, and to take risks.”

“We appreciate Westridge's tradions, philosophies, and solid work to teach girls to be courageous, curious, and compassionate .”

“Excellent academics while truly caring about the whole child school experience.”

“Commitment to creave learning, supporve of the girls as they grow into their independence. “

“This is our first year here. But my feeling is that Westridge promotes a culture which is caring, and at the same me encourages girls to do and be their best. And the quality of educaon reflects very high standards.”

“Knowing each student well enough to idenfy her strengths and then guiding her to a place where she can make a difference with those strengths.”

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collaboraon, encouraging The approach is robust and risk-taking and support, and authenc, demonstrated by the hearing the voices of girls-- willingness to affirm and publish with an important emphasis the School’s commitment to on providing the social- these values and the steps it is emoonal support for each taking to address next steps in student. The School ensuring that Westridge students intenonally works on experience a deep sense of inculcang leadership skills belonging. in all students so that each girl will learn how to “live a The extracurricular program is a life of impact,” connected to panoply of offerings. Sixty-five those who have gone before percent of the girls parcipate in them: hps:// athlecs; the theater program is www.westridge.org/ world-class; abundant service empowering-girls/lives-of- learning projects are open to impact students; mulple lanes for student leadership opportunies In order to achieve these are on offer. Westridge girls and objecves, Westridge seeks young women are busy! to make certain that every girl and young woman feels valued and understood, THE PROGRAM known and supported. “As Westridge changes girls, so girls In this way, Westridge change Westridge.” This mantra lives combines the in the bespoke student-centered commitment to programs at the School and is academic excellence evident in the myriad ways that and an equally Westridge seeks to educate and important commitment empower girls and young women. to building a caring The Viewbook can be accessed here. community of compassionate, The School’s website provides an confident young extraordinary view into the program women. at Westridge, starng with the virtual tour of the school, hosted by Westridge has long a student. The program can be embraced the accessed here: hps:// importance of diversity, www.westridge.org/academics. equity, inclusion, and an-racism holiscally: The central tenets of the program hps:// are an emphasis on inquiry-based www.westridge.org/ pedagogy, a focus on the research about/diversity-equity- on how girls learn, an emphasis on inclusion

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sustainability with the installaon of water conversaon equipment and a solar array, which earned the School a Green City Award that helps to conserve its financial resources and reduce its carbon footprint.

The enre campus is not only home to a vital and engaging program for girls, but it provides opportunies to the greater community by hosng civic events, community engagement, and connecon to the larger Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley communies.

PASADENA AND THE ENVIRONS Situated 11 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena is home to approximately 140,000 THE CAMPUS residents. Pasadena is a racially Very few schools can rival the Greene in 1906, the Braun Music diverse community and is home to aesthecally pleasing and Center designed by Frederick L. numerous cultural and educaonal impressive Westridge campus which Roehrig in 1909, the Main Building, a desnaons, including the includes the restoraon of Tutor-style Revival by Marston, Van Hunngton Library and Botanical historically significant structures, Pelt and Maybury in 1923, the north Gardens, the California Instute of the construcon of new buildings to end of campus structures including the Technology, the Norton Simon accommodate School growth and Rothenberg Humanies Center, the Museum, the Pasadena Museum of enhanced program iniaves, Fran Norris Scoble Performing Arts California Art, the Rose Bowl and aenon to open space, and Center, and the impressive and award- Tournament House, the Pasadena environmentally sound and winning Mathemacs and Science Playhouse, and the Art Center economically sensive planning and Building, the first Planum LEED- College of Design. NASA’s Jet pracces. Situated on 9.5 acres in cerfied building in the City of Propulsion Laboratory is located in the heart of one of Pasadena’s Pasadena. The close by La Cañada. original neighborhoods, and in close academic buildings proximity to the city center, the and enre campus School benefits from ease of access design reflect the and is nestled in a secure, tree-lined intenonal planning enclave of single-family dwellings, and execuon that condominiums, and a park-like have occurred over environment on Orange Grove the years and it is Boulevard on the westside of the abundantly clear city. that the campus is an outstanding The School boasts a rich asset. Addionally, architectural heritage with a the School has collecon of historic and new connued its structures, including Pitcairn House commitment to designed by Charles and Henry environmental

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THE FINANCES The School’s budget is approximately $20M. Current tuion is $30,275 for grades 4-6, $33,570 for grades 7-8, and $39,260 for grades 9-12. Twenty-three percent of students receive financial aid and approximately 14% of the annual budget is commied to financial assistance. The School’s endowment stands at $37.9M.

In its most recent accreditaon report in 2018, Westridge School was commended for “its comprehensive and appropriate staffing, policies, procedures and pracces around financial and risk management.” In addion, the School’s administrave team, along with the business team and the Board, were recognized for its capacity to analyze, assess, and reflects intenon and purpose. learners. Provide the discipline, respond to changes in condions and Delight in the opportunity and joy of encouragement, tools, and training for opportunies and respond guiding talented young women to talented faculty to deliver a program appropriately to support school meet the challenges of their future. characterized as challenging and planning, priorizing and pursuing long Inspire girls to use their voice and to engaging. term financial sustainability of the find their courage to change the School. Included in the strong financial world. Build relaonships with Social-emoonal programs. Ensure management at the School has been students and create compelling implementaon of the social-emoonal the clear appraisal of programming leadership opportunies for young programming that will support all and operaons during the recent women. Westridge girls. Recognize and support pandemic, its immediate responses to the varied learning styles of high- Covid-19, and the impact on its Visionary thought leader. Bring a performing students. Ensure that each students and their families. cogent vision of the future landscape Westridge girl is understood and of educaon to Westridge. valued, able to pursue her “personal Implement research-based best.” Calibrate the balance of KEY LEADERSHIP innovaon. Support the School’s academic rigor and self-care for OPPORTUNITIES AND historical and ongoing commitment achievement-oriented young women. CHALLENGES AHEAD to connuous improvement and relevance. Be creave and bold to Diversity, equity, inclusion, an-racism The next Head of School at Westridge lead Westridge forward. advocate. Bring experience with will appreciate the strengths of the implemenng diversity, equity, School and embrace the excing Academic excellence. Sustain inclusivity, and an-racism policies, opportunies and challenges ahead. academic excellence as a top priority hiring, and programming. Ability to They are: at Westridge. Promote best pracces embed this work authencally and in teaching and learning. Support the purposefully across the School. Bring Girls educaon. Demonstrate a crical thinking, instruconal passion and sensivity to these hearelt commitment to educang strategies, and classroom iniaves to address the needs of the girls in a manner that consistently experiences that inspire life-long Westridge community.

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TO APPLY Westridge School has retained Coreen Ruiz Hester ([email protected]) and Doreen S. Oleson ([email protected]) from Resource Group 175 to lead the search. Interested and qualified candidates should apply online at hps://rg175.com/candidate/ signup no later than Friday, March 5, 2021.

The applicaon includes a:

! Cover leer expressing interest in the posion

Inspiraonal communicator. Guide Delegate authority appropriately. ! Current résumé the Westridge community through Work in partnership with the Board the power of words, wrien and of Trustees. Advocate for the needs ! Personal statement and/ spoken. Be a visible presence. Bring of both faculty and staff. Operate or wring sample gravitas, warmth, and a sense of with an “open door” that invites humor to the important work of input and robust discussion, but ! List of five references the School. Build vibrant networks also demonstrate decisiveness and with name, phone with alumnae, current and past leadership. Priorize fairness, number, and e-mail parents, students, and the larger consistency, and listening. address of each community. (references will not be Operaonal experse. Ability to contacted without prior Effecve fundraiser. Demonstrate a implement the strategic priories in consent of the robust understanding of effecve place for this aspiraonal school. candidate) fundraising strategies and connue Create and embed the systems that to promote a culture of will define and support educaonal We are grateful for your interest philanthropy at the School. Bring priories. Delineate leadership roles in Westridge School and look experience in and embrace the and responsibilies as well as how forward to hearing more about culvaon and stewardship of decisions are made and adopted. your background, experience, donors and execung and meeng Lead mely and effecve follow- and interest in this important fundraising objecves. Connect the through on iniaves. Communicate leadership opportunity. mission and values of Westridge to both priories and melines across the on-going and future needs of divisions with clarity. Westridge School welcomes and the School and the case for encourages applicaons from support. Facilies improvement. Build on diverse candidates. The School the prior work of the master does not discriminate on the Organizaonal health. Aend to facilies program and evaluate the basis of race, color, religion, the importance of posive future needs of the campus and gender, sexual orientaon, employee engagement. Build adjacent properes. Update the gender identy, disability, effecve teams and collaboraon, facilies master plan. Maintain and naonal or ethnic origin, or emphasizing a “one school” ethos. upgrade the current campus. other legally protected status.

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