I hope your family enjoyed the holiday break and came back refreshed and ready for the months ahead. I must admit to having a unique sense of excitement for the coming year, most of which stems from experiencing life finally resembling something closer to “normalcy” compared to the past three years. It feels that way generally and especially around Burke’s campus. The cherished traditions that were unavailable for so long are returning under the thoughtful leadership and care of our faculty and administration. Whether it was the Fall Festival or more recently for our family the lower school Holiday Sing, it is wonderful to experience again the many opportunities to build community and share in the joy and education of our daughters.  

It is with tremendous excitement that I can announce a 4-year extension of Michele Williams’ leadership at Katherine Delmar Burke School. Michele joined Burke’s in 2012 and her impact and leadership over that period have been nothing short of transformative. Educating, empowering, and encouraging girls to fulfill their potential, now and throughout life, is a profound and in my humble opinion, critical mission, especially at this juncture of our country’s and city’s history. I believe Michele and her team have firmly established Burke’s on the path to continue its nationally recognized leadership and success in driving this mission forward for the next 100 years. I hope you will join me in congratulating her on all that she has accomplished thus far and share in the excitement of what is still to come.  

It is also exciting for me to report that the implementation of Burke’s Five-Year Strategic Plan is underway. The Center for Wellness Exploration Team received an overwhelming response to their call for interview participants. The team members will now begin collecting perspectives on opportunities for growth and improvement in supporting resilient, healthy, and balanced students (SP Goal #1 — Experience: Ready Today, for Tomorrow). The strong response and participation of the broader community is amazing and has provided a significant boost in momentum. Michele and her team are excitedly pursuing other key aspects of the plan and will have additional news in the months to come.  

I have received recently many questions about how the Board operates and wanted to offer a brief overview for our newer community members. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of our school and includes current parents, alumnae, past parents, educators, and community leaders. The Trustees are responsible for supporting and promoting the school’s mission, strategic goals, and policy positions. The Board maintains its focus on the long-range and strategic implications of a host of issues that may impact the school over time.  It is also charged with fiduciary oversight of the school’s long- and short-term fiscal and physical health. To view a committee organizational chart click here and a complete list of Trustees is available here. 

Importantly, the Board also selects, evaluates, and supports the Head of School who oversees all day-to-day operations and programs of the school. The Board does not get involved in disciplinary or personnel issues, curricular decisions, or admissions processes — which are the responsibility of the Head of School. In short, the Trustees act as stewards of the school, while serving as ambassadors of Burke’s mission. Please feel free to contact Johanna Calabria, this year’s Governance Chair, or me if you have any questions about the Board’s work and our governance.  

I hope everyone is excited for the year ahead. It is an honor and a privilege to serve Burke’s and to be a part of this community. On behalf of my fellow Trustees, we are excited to partner with the administration and with all of you to support the incredible work happening here at Burke’s. We look forward to the months and years ahead with great anticipation.