MESSAGE FROM BOARD CHAIR
Monday, November 7, 2011
Dear Blue Oak School Community,
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am delighted to announce that Jennifer de Forest, Ed.D, has accepted the position of Head of Blue Oak School, effective July 1, 2012.
The Board enthusiastically voted to accept the unanimous recommendation of the Head Search Committee (HSC), successfully concluding the search which began last May.
The Board agreed with the HSC's conclusion that Jen is thoroughly aligned with the Blue Oak School mission and its strategic agenda; is an excellent fit with our school's progressive culture; and is well prepared to address the school's critical challenges in the near and long term. We are confident that, as a highly effective leader, she will approach her role as head in the way she described in her letter to the HSC -- through "collaboration, respect, careful listening, hard work and high expectations."
We are extremely grateful to everyone who participated in meeting and sharing feedback on a stellar group of visiting finalists. In addition to conducting thorough reference checks on all finalists, the HSC carefully considered all comments and ratings from faculty, staff, board, students and parents. Jen's references included former and current colleagues, faculty, administrators and several heads of prominent, independent schools around the country, all of whom described her as an exceptionally intelligent visionary who is collaborative and highly effective. Each resoundingly supported her as our next Head of School.
In her acceptance of the Board's invitation to serve as our Head of School, Jen said, "I have admired Blue Oak School from afar since the school's founding. During the thoughtful interview process I was happy to meet an energetic board, a skilled faculty and staff, invested parents, and happy, engaged children. I am thrilled to have the privilege to serve as Blue Oak's next Head of School."
A transition committee will be established to pave the way for Jen's smooth entry into the Blue Oak School community. There will be an opportunity soon to offer Jen our congratulations in person, when she visits campus to spend time planning the leadership transition with David Drinkwater, staff and faculty, and meets with students and parents. Next summer, the transition committee will also organize a warm and celebratory welcome for Jen and her husband Stephen Sossaman when they move to Napa.
I invite all members of our community to attend an informal Q&A with the HSC at the next Parent Association meeting, Tuesday, December 6, at 8:30am in the Lower School library. In the meantime, you are welcome to contact me with any questions or comments at wendimoore@aol.com.
Though we have faced and addressed challenges over the past few years, our children are thriving and engaged in their learning; our exceptional faculty are inspired and committed; David Drinkwater has provided unwavering leadership and stability; our community has joined us in unprecedented fundraising support and enthusiastic endorsement of our program. As I look forward to Jen's leadership, I see our mission affirmed and embodied in her values, expertise, passion for education and commitment to children.
Last spring during our strategic planning process, we articulated our vision as a community:
Blue Oak School will be nationally recognized as a beacon of progressive educational excellence, inspiring a community of lifelong learners.
Bold? Yes. Exciting? Definitely. A lot of work? No question. Over the next several months I look forward to forging ahead with all of you to ensure our readiness to work with Jen to lead us there.
Please join me in welcoming Jen de Forest as our new Head of Blue Oak School.
Sincerely,
Wendi Moore
Chair, Blue Oak School Board of Trustees
BIOGRAPHY
Jennifer de Forest, Ed.D.
Jennifer de Forest, Ed.D., is currently the upper school director at New York City's Calhoun School, a national leader in progressive education, where she has worked with the faculty to shape an innovative experiential curriculum that has drawn visitors from across the country. Former history department chair at Marin Academy, Jen was a Klingenstein fellow in educational administration at Teachers College Columbia University. Jen went on to earn a doctorate in the history of American education at Harvard's Graduate School of Education and was selected as chair of the editorial board of the Harvard Education Review.
Jen was an instructor at Harvard University and professor at the University of Virginia, where she worked with young teachers and educational researchers. In collaboration with three independent heads of school Jen originated the Progressive Education Laboratory, funded with an EE Ford Leadership grant, a school based teacher-training program. http://www.progressiveeducationlab.org/home/
Jen has published widely on education, and advocates for small schools that provide meaningful, challenging, and joyful learning for children. A native of San Luis Obispo, Jen grew up playing tennis and basketball, and she took animals to the fair as a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA). She attended the Thacher School in Ojai, where she chopped her own wood and learned to pack a horse. She is married to Stephen Sossaman, Professor Emeritus at Westfield State University, Massachusetts.
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