Dear Friends,

We hope this message finds you all well and that you and your children are enjoying the spring weather and final weeks of school. Thank you to all who were able to attend and participate in last week's community meetings with our search consultants Bill Lyons and Jane Armstrong from Independent Thinking. Bill and Jane both appreciated your thoughtful comments and candor in discussing the search for the next Head of Concord Hill School. For those of you who were unable to attend, or would like to provide additional feedback, please fill out our online survey to share your thoughts:
We also wanted to let you know that based on a strong recommendation from Independent Thinking, we have decided to add two faculty members to the search committee. We are pleased to share that Co-Kindergarten teacher Rachel Ruina and Science & Math Resource teacher Colleen Kapsch have both agreed to join the Search Committee, effective immediately.
A teacher since 2009, Colleen Kapsch has been with CHS since 2016. Prior to teaching at Concord Hill School, Colleen taught at the Bishop Walker School for Boys in Anacostia, where she was the Fifth Grade Lead Teacher and the Fifth and Sixth Grade Math & Science Teacher. She also taught at Beauvoir--the National Cathedral Elementary School--from 2010 to 2013, where she was the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Math & Science Specialist, as well as a Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher. She received an M.A. in Teaching in Elementary STEM Education from Tufts University, and a B.A. from Stanford University.
 
Rachel Ruina has been a teacher at Concord Hill School for the past 13 years. Prior to CHS, Rachel begin her career in 1985 teaching in both independent and public schools. She taught Second Grade in the Falls Church Public School system and has served as a Third Grade Resource Teacher for St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School. Rachel received an M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Lesley University, and a B.A. in Religious Studies from Grinnell College. 

We are delighted to have the benefit of their unique and individual perspectives, and are grateful that they are willing to volunteer their time to support this important process.
 
We are grateful to you all for your continued support. We look forward to receiving your responses and will continue to provide updates as our process moves forward. As always, please feel free to reach out anytime with any questions.  
 
Sincerely,

Ellen Spiegel
Chair, Board of Trustees
ellenblankenstein@gmail.com         

Kim Henderson
Chair, Search Committee