It is with great pleasure that we write to welcome new trustees to the Mark Day School Board for the 2019-20 school year. With a broad range of expertise, this group will be invaluable to the Board as we continue the implementation of our 2014 Strategic Plan and the long term oversight of Mark Day School in accordance with its mission.

 

Each fall, the Board of Trustees undertakes a year-long process to assemble a diverse board with the appropriate skills and experiences to advance Mark Day School's strategic initiatives.  This process, led by the Board's Governance Committee, involves great care and consideration and is one that the Board takes seriously. This effort is consistent with the National Association of Independent Schools' (NAIS) best practices for governance.

 

As they begin their terms on July 1, 2019, we thank these trustees for generously offering their time and talent to the Board:

 

Lindsay Bartsh, parent of Owen (2) and Molly (1), brings her community building and communication skills to the board. Lindsay has served as a frequent campus volunteer and manager of the hot lunch program. We look forward to Linday's contribution to discussions of diversity and inclusion, particularly the indexed tuition program and making sure all families feel welcome. Lindsay earned a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in music from UC San Diego. She is the former media relations manager for the National Parks Conservation Association and a foster parent for Jake's Place Cat Rescue. We are grateful that she believes in the long-term mission of the school and "feels like it is a gift to protect that mission."

Nish Budhraja, Mark Day alumnus from the class of 2006, seeks to give back to our community. We are delighted that Nish is able "to help contribute to the long-term success of an institution that has been instrumental in my upbringing. The teachers at the school are among the most cherished mentors I have had in my life."  Nish holds a bachelor of science degree from UC Berkeley and worked at Bain & Company as a management consultant and is now starting his own company.. He contributes as an Alumni Advisor for the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Nish's skills in financial planning, budgeting, project management, and strategic planning will be an asset to the Board.

 

Ethan Dornhelm, parent of Sabrina (3) and Audrey (K), is an experienced volunteer, having served for the last two years as the Mark Day School Parents' Association treasurer. The board will benefit from Ethan's familiarity with the Parents' Association events and fundraising and his ability to extract meaningful insights from data. Ethan holds a degree in management science from UC San Diego and is the vice president of scores and predictive analytics at Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). Ethan looks forward to channelling his energy and enthusiasm for Mark Day School into ensuring the continued excellence of our school.

Rachel Street, parent of Toby (6th), has a B.A. in English from Colgate University. Post-college, she worked as a public relations consultant and corporate PR manager.  She spent several years as a stay-home parent and dedicated school volunteer. For the past four years, she has been a freelance content writer and editor for Stanford Management Science and Engineering School and for Lina Group, Inc. Since joining the Mark Day community three years ago, Rachel has been a much-appreciated on-campus volunteer and co-Vice President of Events for the Parents' Association. Rachel also chaired the creative craft fundraiser, "Mark Day Made." Rachel joins the board as an ex officio member as President of the Parent's Association.

 

Kelly Giddings, Spanish teacher and co-coordinator of the World Languages department, is the Faculty Trustee for 2019-2020. Kelly brings to the Board 25 years of experience as an educator, including 16 years at Mark Day School. Her passion for Spanish language and culture resonates strongly with both students and faculty colleagues, and she has helped to bring significant professional development opportunities in world language instruction to teachers from both Mark Day and Bay Area schools. She is a member of the faculty/staff diversity and inclusivity committee, focusing on professional development opportunities for her peers. Finally, Kelly identified and forged the first connections with Pan American School, our partner in Costa Rica, and has led several student delegations there. She will bring all these experiences to the Board.   

 

Welcoming a new slate of trustees is always bittersweet, because in the same moment we bid farewell to an exceptional group of outgoing trustees who have made significant contributions to Mark Day. Completing their terms this year are: JT Herman, Kristin Keeffe, Terry Powers, PA president Ashley Ransom, past board president Shalu Saluja, and faculty trustee Melissa Villarreal. Please join us in extending a sincere thank you to each of these trustees for their thoughtful and professional collaboration over the years and their unwavering commitment to Mark Day School and its mission.

 

Thanks to each of you for your continued trust and confidence in the work of the Board.

 

Kind regards,

 

Robert Hee, Board President

Sam Parker, Governance Chair