letters from the interim head of school and the board president


Our Faculty Light the Way Kathy Layendecker, Interim Head of School


T


his issue of the magazine focuses on one of OES’s greatest assets: the faculty. The students are at the center of our mission, but the faculty provide the light toward which our students are moving. They challenge our children, and us, to approach every day


with inquiring minds. They are dedicated and enthusiastic, and they are experts in the art of teaching. Those who are best acquainted with the talents of our faculty are students, colleagues, parents, and alumnae/i, and the stories in this issue seek to convey those viewpoints. Peter


Langley, Art Ward, Debby Schauff ler, and Dana Mosher Lewis write about their colleagues in these pages. Alumnae/i invariably report that the teachers were the best part of their experience at OES or its


predecessor schools, St. Helen’s Hall and Bishop Dagwell Hall. For this issue’s “Hallways” feature, three alumnae volunteered to share memories about faculty members they fondly remember. These reminiscences by Virginia Euwer Wolf ’55, Toni Webb ’70, and Kathy Janssen ’71 illustrate that good teaching has always been a hallmark of the school. In the story about teachers who have been in the Peace Corps—which is celebrating its 50th anniversary


this year—it is possible to see the roots of the dedication to global awareness and to service that are so prevalent among our faculty. In the end, what children remember is not so much the words that parents and teachers tell them as it is the examples that we set. Our teachers set the excellent example that a fulfilling life is achieved through curiosity, compassion, and hard work.


Hiring of New Head T


Completes 18-Month Process Steve Grant, President, Board of Trustees


his past fall, the Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Mo Copeland as the next OES head of school. I want to thank the search committee members for their tireless work to identify and attract the right leader for our school, and I want to thank the entire


school community for actively participating in the process. It was a lengthy and thorough process, starting with the vision and strategic plan work initiated in the fall of ’09 and culminating a year later with a terrific hire.


I have gotten to know Mo quite well over the last six months. She is a thoughtful and visionary leader


with deep roots in, and appreciation for, the Northwest. Saint George’s School flourished during her tenure, completing several major capital campaigns, implementing innovative curriculum, and fostering great experiences for her students. We are fortunate to have her join OES. Mo will formally begin her role as head of school on July 1. She attended St. Nick’s Chapel before the


Winter Break and enjoyed this festive OES community tradition. She will make additional trips to Portland during the spring term and has already penciled in a visit to join us for Mt. Hood Climb Service Day. I am immensely proud of the visioning and hiring work completed over the last 18 months, and I’m


extremely optimistic with the direction of our school. In closing, I would like to thank Kathy Layendecker and her administrative team for their commitment and dedication, and for our gifted and caring faculty and staff, who are committed to giving our students the best possible educational experience.


4 OES MAGAZINE WINTER 2011 4


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