Dear SWS Community,

I often share that when my first child was born I realized that the decision to have a child is to allow your heart to walk outside of yourself forever. To care for a child is a lifelong decision. I have always felt my role in school leadership as an extension of that care; that I hold the privilege of sharing with you, for a short while, the worry, pride, and joy, and I take that responsibility very seriously. I hold in my heart each child. Thank you for that privilege.

For the last year, I have had the honor to serve as the Seattle Waldorf School Head of School and be a part of this extraordinary school community. So, it is only after a tremendous amount of deep reflection that I write to convey the news that the conclusion of the 2021–22 school year will be my last in this capacity. Two years is a short time and yet my heart is filled with relationships with both children and adults in this community that have forever impacted me. As I look ahead to the next step in my career I know that our school is exceptionally strong, knows how to hold each other and pivot with change, and is well-positioned for continued success.

First and foremost, I am deeply grateful to our faculty and staff, the leadership council, and the Board of Trustees past and present; caregivers, extended family, and alumni; and, of course, our students, for the tremendous support I have experienced. When I arrived at SWS I had no idea how my journey would unfold, how the continued pandemic would influence decisions or the number of wonderful relationships I would build here. There are many people to personally thank for their support, and I intend to do my very best in the coming months to express my gratitude to them individually.

This decision was not an easy one for me and I do believe that my time at SWS is exactly where I was supposed to be. I believe that this community's strength and shared passion for Waldorf education will sustain the school going forward. And I have every confidence that our Board of Trustees will find the right leader to take our school to yet another level of success with consideration to our mission and our students. We still have the remainder of our year ahead, and I will work energetically on behalf of the school to build upon the strong foundation for my successor.

Thank you for your continued passion, trust, and support in all that we do at SWS. It will always be the commitment of our faculty and staff and our community’s bright spirit that helps us best serve our students.

In peace,

Raquel Scharf-Anderson, Head of School

Dear Members of the SWS Community,

As you read in her letter, Raquel informed the Board of Trustees that this will be her final school year as Head of School, with her tenure ending at the conclusion of the 2021–22 school year. The Board recognizes that this personal decision was difficult, and one not made lightly by Raquel and her family. On behalf of the Board I want to thank Raquel for her steadfast leadership; her dedication to the children and families here at Seattle Waldorf School; her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and her daily infusion of joy, kindness, and respect into all of our lives.

I would like to recognize Raquel’s contributions to SWS, which will have a deep and lasting impact in our community. She hired our first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and brought this important work to the forefront for our students and families. She created an environment that is elevating the voices of the students and empowering them to know that they can make a difference in our world. And, with care for the wellbeing of our entire SWS community, Raquel is leading our COVID-19 planning and response team to help safeguard all students, teachers, and staff.

Raquel is committed to continuing this important work until the very last day of her tenure with us at SWS. I know you all join me in gratitude for the leadership Raquel has demonstrated during this unprecedented period of history.

One of the most important responsibilities of the Board of Trustees is the selection of the new Head of School. The Executive Committee of the Board is in the process of establishing a Head of School Search Committee and will work in concert with the Search Committee to appoint a National Search Consultant to conduct a comprehensive search. Over the coming weeks we will share updates on a regular basis about the Search Committee formation, search process, and our selected search partner. The Board of Trustees is committed to conducting an inclusive and comprehensive search for our next Head of School.

Because Seattle Waldorf School is a community grounded in an outstanding faculty and staff and a vibrant student community, we are confident in our ability to weather the challenges that change and transition present.

I believe transformation will reveal new opportunities, and that the strength of our community helps ensure that SWS will continue to thrive and carry the gift of Waldorf education well into the future for generations to come. We invite you to be in touch with us via email with any questions about the Head of School Search Committee and process.

Respectfully,

Eva Elliott, Board President

Eva Elliott, President

Nat Burgess, Vice President

Brigitte Bertschi, Secretary

Fred Ingham, Treasurer

Brett Calhoun, Trustee

Mitch Flatow, Trustee

Tanja Omeze, Trustee

Steve Roos, Trustee

Cathy Simon, Trustee

Raquel Scharf-Anderson, Head of School (Ex Officio)

Community Association Representative (Ex Officio)