SAAS: Note from Rob on Transitions & New Leadership
Dear SAAS Families,
The arrival of spring and the turn of the calendar to May sparks excitement for end of the school year events and traditions. It’s also the time when lots of planning is being done for the 2022-23 school year. In many ways, next year feels closer than ever as we set into motion the exciting new faces, new goals, and new projects already underway, including the Home of the Upper School project that you read about earlier this week. The same excitement for that project is present in how we feel about the faculty and staff who will be joining our community over the summer.
We’ve previously shared the news regarding Giselle Furlonge’s role as Associate Head of School and Shavette McGhee joining us as Assistant Head of School for Student Experience. Joining Giselle and Shavette on the senior leadership team is someone who is familiar to most of you at SAAS: Lori Metcalf, who is assuming the title of Chief Outreach and Enrollment Officer. Lori started at SAAS over 11 years ago and has been overseeing admissions and enrollment management since 2017. In her new role, she’ll continue to work with the Admissions team on enrollment management, as well as oversee the Marketing and Communications team on all things, including events.
We’re equally thrilled to welcome two experienced, capable and innovative leaders to the SAAS community: James Lemmon, our new Head of Middle School, and Sandra Midkiff, our Development Director.
New Role, Same Greatness
Lori Metcalf is joining the senior leadership team as Chief Outreach and Enrollment Officer (COEO). Lori has been with SAAS for over 11 years, including as a SAAS parent to a now alumna. Lori’s skills as a listener, a collaborator, team builder and mentor are skills that all who have worked for and with her have admired and appreciated, and we’re excited about all that she brings to the table as our first COEO. Since joining SAAS, Lori has served in numerous leadership positions including leading the Admissions, Enrollment and Financial Aid departments since 2017.
In her new role, she’ll oversee the Admissions team as well as Marketing and Communications. She has already stepped into this role since the departure of Mari Anderson, former COO, and is exceeding our hope for what this COEO will bring to SAAS and to our community.
Welcome New Leadership
We are very excited to welcome James Lemmon as our new Head of Middle School starting the 2022/23 school year. James has a background in education coming to us from the Tsawalk Learning Center in Nanaimo, BC, where he was principal of the school, and Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, where he served as the executive director of the community non-profit founded to support the Indigenous youth community in that region. Before moving to Nanaimo, James served in leadership roles in both middle and upper schools in Switzerland and New York City.
As an educator, he draws from his own experience of having dropped out of high school for over a year and a half; coming back due to the faith and persistence of a teacher who he trusted and respected, and who wouldn't give up on him. When I asked him how he navigated coming into a First Nations community as a white educator, he said, "You've got two eyes and two ears, but only one mouth, so it's better to focus on listening and observing, not talking. That's how you learn before doing, and that's how you build trust." James will be moving with his family to Seattle this summer, and they're excited to be a part of the SAAS community.
A Note from James
My family and I are excited to be making this transition to Seattle and to be joining the SAAS community. During my time on campus, it was clear that the school community is an incredibly dynamic one, rooted in a caring, student-centered approach to learning. In the two days of interviews, this rang true again and again, in my classroom visits, during community time, in my conversations with faculty, and most of all in my interview time with students. The level of engagement from the 6th, 7th and 8th graders I met with was incredible. They asked some of the best questions throughout my two days on campus. One in particular stuck out: "Why shouldn't we hire you?" I've been on, and conducted, many interviews and not once has that question been asked of me or by me. It forced me to pause and take stock before I could begin to answer. Needless to say, this question will now go into my repertoire for future interviews! The willingness of these students to meet with an adult they don’t yet know and engage in such a thoughtful and authentic way speaks to the safe and nurturing school environment that SAAS has created. I look forward to learning with, and from each of you, as I find my way in this leadership role and begin to contribute what I can to the greater school community.
We are also pleased to announce that Sandra Midkiff will be joining us as Director of Development in June! She is an accomplished fundraising leader having worked at independent schools from California to New York as Annual Fund Director at The Hewitt School, Director of Annual Giving at The Head-Royce School and Chief Advancement Officer at Ethical Culture Fieldston School. Most recently, Sandra served as Vice President of Development and Philanthropy at New York Road Runners, a major non-profit organization that runs and oversees the New York City Marathon, among other running events and community programs.
Sandra is a Seattle native and her first jobs out of college were at the Intiman and Taproot Theatres. She looks forward to returning to the work of independent schools and is drawn to the SAAS mission and guiding principles, and to our vibrancy which she felt from everyone during her visit to SAAS.
A Note from Sandra
I'm thrilled to be joining the SAAS community and returning to my hometown of Seattle! As SAAS approaches celebrating 40 years, this is an exciting time to be part of a community that continues to live out its mission to question, imagine, and create on a daily basis. More than that, I was struck in my conversations with faculty and staff by the deep love for the school and the infectious energy I felt from each person I encountered. When I visited SAAS, I saw firsthand the warm and welcoming community that values its history (thank you Fred Strong for the tour and history lesson!) but isn't afraid to think boldly, evolving for the next generation of students. And, as someone who was a theatre major in college, I also value the culture of performance, and I am excited to see the myriad of performances next year! I look forward to getting to know the full SAAS community in the coming months and hope you'll stop by to say hello.
We always look to introduce changes to our community as they are happening. Look for additional communications in the coming months. As always, let us know if you have any questions or feedback.
At Seattle Academy, we encourage students to try new things and engage in a variety of experiences in order to facilitate personal growth and build community.
