Milestone Moments

"It sounds like a great fit for your strengths, and MA is truly lucky to have you!" Sunjya said. He said his daughter Kaia '19 had a great experience working on a semester-long research project in her fourth year about how screen time affects emotions.

While he's pursued a medical career that's bucked many of the field's most intractable conventions, Sunjya says he's often been grateful for how teachers at MA encouraged him to think creatively and to "not be constrained by what someone else says the rules are. "

As the MARC coordinator, Amy has many opportunities to advise students just starting out in STEM. "It sounds cliché, but it' s so important to follow your passion and curiosity—the thing you keep going back to and thinking about," she said. "Go with that because that's going to keep you interested, and that's where you will be able to continue asking newer and deeper questions, even as you learn more and more."

Follow your passion and curiosity—the thing you keep going back to and thinking about...because that's going to keep you interested, and that's where you will be able to continue asking newer and deeper questions, even as you learn more and more.

AMY STRAUSS '05

Sari Wisch shares, “I recently received a 94 promotion to Synagogue Administrator & Communications Manager at B'nai Shalom of Olney Synagogue. I am also the Vice President of the West County Democratic Club in Anne Arundel County, MD. My husband and I are working on upgrading our house that we bought last summer and hope to visit the Bay Area soon.”

Christopher Cooper reports, "The greatest experience of my last year was with three other MA alumni. We were guided by James Shipman and Beau Leonhart on an alumni Vision Quest. The mission was to spend three days and nights solo in the mountain desert. Centering, meditation, quiet-the-noise, listening to our hearts… We all achieved our stated goals, made new friends in the MA Community, and rediscovered ourselves. Exactly the life reorienting we all wanted."

Anne (Nacthrieb) Zesiger: MA Honorary Accomplice, Shelley Mitchell '86, Brook Notary '91, and Chris Cooper '94

Alumni Vision Quest 2022: Mojave Desert, March 2022 Anna Wronsky says, "Hi, all! This has been 99 a year of new adventures. My husband and I moved to Istanbul last summer (his home) to be closer to family. After a decade of visits, I'm happy to call this incredible city home. We live on the Asian side, in a neighborhood known for its leafy tea gardens, waterfront promenade, and millions of cats. I'm working at a Turkish American high school as the Dean of Teaching and Learning. It's a pretty great gig—wonderful faculty and kids and lots of positive energy to build new programs and refine existing practices. Look me up if you are ever in Istanbul! Hope everyone is happy and healthy."

Anna Wronsky '99 with her husband (and a local street cat)

Danielle Katz spent the summer on the road with her non-profit Rivers for Change organizing and supporting The Grand Salmon Source to Sea campaign. The project involved combining adventure and conservation with a team of four women paddling 1,000 miles source to sea down the Salmon, Snake, and Columbia rivers in a call-to-action around breaching the four lower Snake River dams and saving dwindling salmon populations from extinction. The team is currently in post-production on a documentary short and plans to release the film later this fall. Follow along, support, and take action at salmonsourcetosea.com and riversforchange.org.

Ashley Goldsmith Buttner shares, "I am still living in Berkeley and have been working for a private practice group 01 called Practice SF in Mill Valley for the past year. I'm focused on providing therapeutic support for anxious kids and their families. You can check us out at practicesanfrancisco.com."

Barry Wenger happily shares, "My wife, Emma, and I welcomed our first child, Matthew, in late May. While we know we have many sleepless nights ahead of us, we are thrilled to be able to raise him in San Rafael and bring him into the same community where I grew up."

02

Jeanne-Marie Sinnott is still working as a family and sports medicine physician at Kaiser San Rafael and has two boys aged two and four that keep her busy!

Nikole Yinger is incredibly excited that in-person work is starting to come back after two years, and she's getting to be with her customers face-to-face again. Overall, it's been an exciting year for Nikole professionally. Her Learning & Development consulting practice recently merged with another Bay Area coaching firm to form Team Level Partners, which focuses on building engaged, optimized teams within organizations (think Diversity and Belonging, Well-Being, Connection, Alignment, etc.). Curious to know more? Check it out at: teamlevelpartners.com.

Nicole Yinger '02's new venture, Team Level Partners' brand new website

Alyssa Schwartz shares, "I am finishing up my fourth year as the principal of a public Montessori elementary school in St. Paul, Minnesota. My husband and I welcomed baby Ellie last summer and were thrilled to introduce her to MA friends on our first trip back to the Bay Area since before the pandemic."

This has been a year of big and exciting changes!

JESSICA DELL'ERA NUSSBAUM '02

Alyssa Schwartz '02 and daughter Ellie, Alex Mays ‘02 and Liam, and Jeanne-Marie Sinnott ‘02 (minus Oliver) in December

Jeanne-Marie Sinnott '02’s recent park playdate with Alex Mays ‘02, Joel Abramovitz ‘02, and Alyssa Schwartz ‘02

Jessica Dell'Era Nussbaum enthusiastically shares, "This has been a year of big and exciting changes! After five years of rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary in NYC, I was ordained as a rabbi. I finally got to marry my longtime partner, Leah Nussbaum (they/them, also a rabbi!) in a beautiful lakeside ceremony—a thrice-delayed event that was worth the wait. Then, we moved to Medford, Massachusetts, where I began a new position as Rabbi of Temple Shalom, a small but growing intergenerational congregation. We love the Boston area!" Leah Nussbaum and Jessica Dell'Era Nussbaum '02 hold hands under the wedding canopy beside officiant Rabbi Mark Bloom of Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland. Their custom ketubbah, a Jewish wedding contract, was illustrated with a landscape drawn from their backpacking adventures.

03

Sarah Janoff-Brinn is starting her fourth year as the school counselor at MA! She lives in San Rafael with her husband and their two daughters, Nora (4 years) and Sophie (10 months).

04

Victoria Shepard shares, "A little overdue :) but, in November 2021, my husband and I welcomed our first child, a son named Kai! Other than that, I am still living and working in Turkey with the UN Refugee Agency."

Ben Amen shares, "2021 saw the end of my career as an independent BMW foreman and general manager as I made the move to electric! I joined Lucid's field service team right before the launch of the Air, the company's first production vehicle, and it's been a wild ride so far."

Brian Dito shares, "In June, I'll finish a year as 05 the head of administration at the US Embassy in Bangui, Central African Republic. Trying to keep an embassy running in a country with almost no infrastructure has been an eye-opening experience and required much patience and creativity. I've been lucky to meet a lot of great people but am anxious about what the future holds here. I'm looking forward to arriving in Bogota in August for a three-year stint."

Taylor Tan shares, "This was my 8th year as part 06 of the math faculty at MA and somehow my 14th season coaching track and field. I continue to live in Marin City with my five snakes, Mushu, Amber, Charlize, Comet, and Sméagol. This year, the senior class chose me to speak at the graduation ceremony, making me the first faculty alumni graduation speaker in the history of the school. Come visit campus and say hi!"

Now in her sixth season as a professional wedding planner and floral designer, Lisa Tsubouchi has had the pleasure of collaborating with a few MA alums to plan the events of their dreams! Lisa is looking forward to building her business more in the coming years—be sure to follow her on Instagram: @sachiandmaja.

In his service of the San Francisco Fire Department, Sam Schow has been assigned the role of lieutenant of paramedic training on Treasure Island, where he works to promote patient-centered healthcare, health equity, and municipal anti-piracy initiatives. Ben Amen ‘04 and Tracey in Mt. Baldy, CA, November, 2021

Taylor Tan ‘06 speaking at Graduation

Lisa Tsubouchi ‘06, photo by Rosa Delgado Photography

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Catherine Wilka moved back to the Bay Area last summer after finishing her Ph.D. in Climate Physics and Chemistry. She is currently a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford, where she works on understanding the circulation of the upper atmosphere.

Elianna Fred shares, "After a longer, slightly 09 windier road, I finally matched into Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern University, starting my residency in July 2022! So humbled and excited to embark on the next step of my medical career. Big shout out to Marin Academy for helping lay the foundation for me to achieve my goals!"

After four years in New York, Ari Goldstein will begin law school this fall at the University of Pennsylvania.

Big shout out to Marin Academy for helping lay the foundation for me to achieve my goals!

ELIANNA FRED '09

Elianna Fred ‘09 on Match Day 2022

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Marielle Lyons shares, "In Spring 2021, I 17 graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Occidental College with BA degrees in Spanish and Sociology (concentration in immigration). In the Fall of 2021, I started my job as a Spanish support teacher and community engagement assistant at Mark Day School. In April, I was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to Spain for the year 2022-2023. Come September, I will be a US cultural ambassador and teaching English in La Rioja, Spain!"

Ways to Engage

Marin Academy creates opportunities to connect with your fellow alumni and the Marin Academy community based on shared interests, identity intersections, and professional affiliations! To explore current ways to engage, visit:

ma.org/alumni

To receive invitations to upcoming events or to suggest a new alumni program or alumni affinity group, email us: alumni@ma.org

It's that time of year wherein we not only prepare to welcome new members of our community but also pause to say goodbye to those who have served us so well. We send them off with our gratitude for all they have done for MA. With great appreciation we bid farewell to the following faculty and staff:

ROBERT AWKWARD served as the Associate Director of College Counseling at MA for three years. Additionally, he supported our students as the faculty co-advisor for Young Brothers. We thank Robert for the varied and meaningful contributions he’s made to MA’s college counseling program during his tenure; he’s played a significant role in its maturation.

CHRIS BROWN was the Assistant Director of Admissions for Outreach for two years at MA. He helped MA attract students of all backgrounds in an effort to strengthen the student body and the overall diversity of the community. We wish him all the best in his move to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, NH, where he will take on the role of Dean of Diversity and Inclusion.

MARY KAY DOLEJSI worked as science teacher at MA since 2015. She cheerfully and ably served our students in Chemistry, Advanced Chemistry, MARC, and physics during her years with us and was an integral member of the science department, sharing both her teaching and laboratory experience. While Mary Kay has retired, she has not slowed down. Nor, we hope, will she be a stranger on campus!

MARILOU GRAHAM has left Marin Academy for the quieter life of retirement after 24 years of dedicated service. Over the years, Marilou has been a steadfast, high-energy, and invaluable asset to the school. We applaud her for her committed service and wish her much health and happiness in her retirement.

JOSH KALKSTEIN was the Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at Marin Academy for over two decades. We appreciate Josh’s contributions to the soccer program during his time at MA. Marin Academy will enjoy a strong and talent-filled soccer program for many years to come.

KYNDRA KENNEDY worked at MA since 2017 and served as the Director of Annual Giving, Director of Individual Giving, and Interim Director of Advancement. She worked with volunteers across all constituencies - parents, faculty, staff, alumni, students, and grandparents - to raise support for the Marin Academy Annual Fund. Kyndra also started and led MA’s Giving Day for five years, which has raised support for MA’s students and community while also producing fun videos and other content for us all to enjoy. BRETT LARONDE shepherded MA through another challenging year of the ongoing pandemic as our COVID-19 Coordinator. We appreciate his commitment, his detailed-oriented approach, and his can-do spirit, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

JAIME MANDUKE served MA as the Associate Director of College Counseling since 2017. In her time with us, she was also on the Diversity Council, an advisor to the Jewish Student Organization, a junior advisor, and an outings leader. Jaime left MA to remain home with her child who was born in December.

GERARDO MOLINARI was a Spanish Teacher at MA for the past four years. In addition, he served for a time as the boys JV soccer coach and the adult advisor for the Young Brothers. Gerardo and his family have moved to Connecticut, where Gerardo, a recipient of the Walter J. Crain fellowship, will earn a graduate degree in Educational Leadership through the Klingenstein Program at Teachers College/Columbia University while also working at the Hotchkiss School.

LINDSAY NEVILLE retired from MA at the end of January. She was the voice and the face of our school for two decades in the front office, and she has known every student and just about every parent! She has handled difficult situations, helped many people, and handed out probably more Advil than we can count. Please join us in congratulating her on this next chapter in her life!

HEATHER SAMMONS joined MA as the Director of Alumni Engagement at an unprecedented time when we were all working from home; she had mostly connected with alumni via Zoom until hosting the first in-person event—an alumni holiday party—in a long time. We thank Heather for her work at MA during the last year and a half.

HWEI-LI TSAO brought rigorous professionalism to the curriculum as a guest teacher and teaching assistant in MA's Visual Arts Program, pushing students to incredible artistic and technical achievement levels. She will be sorely missed but will appreciate the return of her normal studio hours and the pursuit of her own artistic development.

CHRIS YEE taught physics at MA beginning in 2019. We appreciate his many great contributions to our science department, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

While each of the people leaving us is irreplaceable, we are excited to welcome new faculty and staff who will help us build the next generation of MA graduates. Joining us in 2022-23 are:

FERNANDO ARRIAGA was born in San Francisco and raised in Marin County and he recently celebrated his first year as part of the Operations Team. When not on campus tending to our buildings and grounds, you can find Fernando out fishing the Sonoma coast, exploring the beaches and cliffs in search of his next catch. Fernando enjoys working on and restoring vintage muscle cars. He currently resides in Petaluma with his amazing dog, Frisco.

JULIA CARLISLE is the new library assistant. Before becoming a Wildcat, Julia worked extensively as a US Park Ranger in Vermont and California. She is also an award-winning radio journalist and a graduate of St. Lawrence University in upstate New York.

ARIEL CRAFT ‘07 joins our Advancement Team as the Director of Alumni Relations. She received her BA in Fine Arts with Honors from New York University. She was the Executive Artistic Director at the Cutting Ball Theater, where she forged lasting, mutually-nourishing relationships with artists, arts-workers, and nonprofit partners, as well as many others. Ariel shared that she is eager to advocate for MA, which in her time as a student emboldened and equipped her with values of integrity, curiosity, creativity, determination, and self-worth.

MICHAEL CUPP worked as the Director of Maintenance, Trades, and Grounds—Facility Services for UC Berkeley before joining MA as the Director of Facilities, Safety, and Operations. Michael has worked in the facilities services/management field for over 20 years in both the public and private sectors. His work experiences include maintenance management, facilities management, grounds and infrastructure maintenance, construction management, facilities maintenance engineering, safety and risk management, and green technology initiatives. Michael's commitment to facility services is to provide a safe, clean, productive, and well-maintained physical environment for the students, faculty, and staff by planning and delivering professional services that are sustainable and supportive of MA's expectations and mission. During his time off, Michael enjoys restoring classic cars, cooking, and traveling. JOE DOYLE comes to Marin Academy having previously spent three years as an Assistant Coach for the Sonoma State University Women's Water Polo Team and as a Lecturer/ Swim Instructor in the Sonoma State University Kinesiology Department. Additionally, he served two years as the Head Coach for the Santa Rosa Junior College Women's Water Polo Team and was a PE teacher at Mark Day School. Joe currently coaches SHAQ water polo club and is the head coach for Swim Marin, in the Marin Swim League. Joe was a dual sport athlete as a member of the Santa Rosa Junior College water polo and swim teams, earning All American Honors in Water Polo and helping lead each team to a third place finish in the state. He transferred to the University of the Pacific where he was a two-time All MPSF Academic Team Selection and helped guide the water polo team to a National No. 4 NCAA D-1 ranking. Joe graduated with degrees in Communication & Business Management.

TINA HUANG joins the MA math department as a part-time instructor. She has served the MA community for several years as a substitute teacher and has worked as a tutor at Wyzant since 2013 and Tamalpais Tutoring since 2019. In addition to teaching, Tina tutors all levels of math (from elementary math to calculus), statistics, Mandarin Chinese, and biology. Tina has also worked as a math teacher at Mathnasium, C2 Education, and Fusion Academy and as a substitute teacher at many different schools including Marin Academy. While substitute teaching a variety of classes at MA, she loved the teaching environment and student dynamics. She holds a BA in molecular and cell biology from University of California, Berkeley. Born in Taiwan, she speaks and writes fluent Mandarin Chinese. In her free time, Tina enjoys checking out different restaurants, hiking, playing piano, and dancing.

TEYANA IRVING is new to MA as Assistant Director of Admissions. Prior to MA, Teyana worked at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, New York as Admissions Associate. Teyana earned her BS in Human Services from NYC College of Technology in Brooklyn, New York. When she's not in school she enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, or traveling the world.

PIYA KASHYAP is the new Dean of Equity and Inclusion and comes to Marin Academy from the Grace Church School in NYC, where she was a Class Dean and a member of the high school leadership team, serving as the primary administrator and point person for the Class of 2021 and 2025 students and families. She completed the New York State Association of Independent Schools Justice Equity Diversity Institute and is currently a Master’s candidate in Private School Leadership at Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center. Piya has a BA from Middlebury College where she attended the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference for nonfiction and poetry. Her passion for creative writing and identity exploration through multimedia expression informed the founding of her digital storytelling nonprofit, The Modern Story. Piya and her husband Remy are thrilled to introduce their daughters to the beauty of Marin and to the rich cultures and environments of the Bay Area.

EDINSON P. LOPEZ FLORES joined Marin Academy this year as a Spanish Teacher. Prior to Marin Academy, he worked at Francis W. Parker in Chicago, Illinois, as a Spanish teacher and Advisor. Edinson earned his BA in Education from the Institute of Pedagogic of Monterrico in Lima, Perú and his MEd in Linguistics Studies Applied to the Teaching of Spanish from the University of Jaen, Spain. He is the proud father of Sofía and owner of Logan, Max and Dimitri. Edinson spends his free time rock-climbing and playing chess. When he's not in school, attending a workshop, or working on his lesson plans, he can most often be found walking with Logan or getting ready for the next backpacking trip.

DENISSE MELGAR is excited to join Marin Academy as Associate Director of College Counseling. Prior to starting at MA, Denisse was Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at New York University. Through her work at NYU, she aimed to give students the resources to learn about the college application process and empower them to pursue higher education. Denisse earned her BA in Psychology and Financial Economics from Columbia University and her MA in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from New York University. She has spent most of her life in New Jersey and New York, where she enjoyed attending live theatre, cycling, and spending time with family and friends. Denisse is looking forward to exploring more nature in the Bay Area and finding communities that remind her of home. PENNY MICCO has held accounting manager, staff accountant, and human resources roles in professional services, real estate, staffing, and hospitality industries in the Bay Area prior to joining MA as the Business Office Manager. She holds a bachelors degree from UC Berkeley and frequently returns to Cal with her husband and daughter, also alumni and Golden Bear sports fans. When not in the office, Penny spends her time with family and friends, visits her son in Austin and daughter in San Francisco, reads, bakes, hikes, travels, and enjoys nature.

JENNIFER MORENO is brand new to Marin Academy as the new Lab Technician. Before coming to MA, Jennifer worked at City Sports Club first in Vallejo, CA as a Sales Counselor, and more recently as the General Manager of Sales at their Petaluma location. At San Jose State University, Jennifer earned her BA in Psychology and minor in Chemistry, and soon after contracted at NASA Ames Research Center under Dr. Andro Rios in his organic chemistry lab as a Research Assistant. In the past, Jennifer has also worked as a Service Coordinator at a Behavioral Health Center, as a Personal Trainer and Physical Therapy Aide, and more. (Feel free to reach out and ask her about it!) When not in the lab or in the classroom, Jennifer can be found in the gym, at the park, or in her kitchen learning how to cook new recipes.

MELISSA NEAL joined us last fall as the Visual Storyteller and Communication Manager, overseeing social media management and digital content creation. Through a professional lens, Neal thoughtfully communicates the value of MA classes and programs. Early on, a zest for music and film pulled her towards a career in media; from 2006-2015 she was the Founder and Station Manager of KGPC 96.6fm, a community-focused radio station at Laney College. While overseeing KGPC, Neal had the highest rate of student engagement for any program on campus. As a companion piece, she developed Practice Space, a television program highlighting local musicians, which aired to over 400,000 homes in the Bay Area. Moving into film, Neal was the Story Editor and Camera Operator for Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk. The full-length documentary, produced by Green Day, guided viewers through a journey of over 30 years of music history within the Bay Area. More recently, Neal has served as a videographer for the progressive news platform Daily Kos and the large-scale art studio Engineered Artworks. Her work has additionally been featured in the New York Times, LA Weekly, and Rolling Stone.

NOAH ORGISH is Marin Academy’s new Educational Technologist. He graduated with a BA in English Literature from Whitman College, and since then he has pursued his passions for education and technology in a variety of different capacities. Now, after working as an outdoor educator, a technical writer, and an English and history teacher, Noah couldn’t be more excited about formally combining his passions at Marin Academy. Outside of school, you can find Noah reading, walking his dogs, baking a mean challah, or trying to avoid poison oak while running, mountainbiking, or climbing.

JANIECE RICHARD joined MA in November as the Director of Advancement. She has extensive experience in all areas of fundraising, having worked in alumni relations, planned giving, annual giving, individual giving, and major gifts throughout her career in advancement. She joined us from the University of Southern California, where she raised major gifts for the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. Prior to USC, Janiece worked in alumni relations at both Cal State LA and Harvard-Westlake School. Janiece loves what she does as a fundraiser: ensuring students have the same opportunities that were so impactful in her life, both curricular and co-curricular programs alike, while also building meaningful relationships with parents and alumni! Janiece received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and her master’s degree in education (sports administration) from the University of Kansas and her doctorate degree in education from USC. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, working out, finding street art, and spending time with her family, which includes her husband, fouryear-old son, and dog. She is an avid sports fan and supports her hometown (Kansas City, MO) and college teams: the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas Jayhawks.

JAKE SISCO began this year as an Associate Director of College Counseling. Prior to Marin Academy, Jake worked as an Assistant Director of Admission at Wellesley College in Massachusetts and, before that, Rice University in Houston, TX. Jake earned his BA in both English and history from the College of William and Mary before acquiring a master's in Education with a concentration in Higher Education Administration at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College. Outside of school, Jake enjoys traveling throughout the world as well as following politics, the tv/film industry, and college basketball. He has lived in ten states, D.C., and Italy and always loves a good concert.

2022-2023 Penn Fellows

MARIBEL ALBARRAN joined the Marin Academy Science Department in 2016 as the Laboratory Technician. In addition, she joined the Crossroads Department as a Program Coordinator in 2017. For the past several years she has taught part-time in our science department as a biology teacher while also working in multiple school domains, serving as an advisor and IDEQ leader. This year, Maribel will continue her work in our science department while also earning her masters in education at the University of Pennsylvania.

ANYA STURM comes to Marin Academy as part of the University of Pennsylvania Fellowship program to teach mathematics and coach cross country. She earned her BS in mathematical analytics from UC Davis, where she ran cross country and track. In her free time, she loves trail running, biking, and climbing, as well as playing bluegrass and traditional Irish folk music.

The Magic of MA

Dear Members of our Marin Academy Community:

For our family, MA has been a school where our kids could try new things, be challenged academically, and discover who they are and what they value. What we have cherished most about this school is the community—it's the teachers who pull students aside at lunch to answer questions, the coaches who understand the life lessons that happen on the playing field can be just as important as those taught in the classroom, and it’s the deep friendships that will last long after MA—I think that’s the magic of MA.

In this 50th year of Marin Academy, the magic in this community is alive and well. This edition of NEXUS magazine takes us on a journey to reflect on how our past has defined and informed the MA of today. It looks into the future of education at Marin Academy and beyond. I hope you feel as inspired as I do to be a member of this community and engaged in this work.

This year's Annual Report reflects our community's ongoing efforts to be a leader in education in the Bay Area and beyond. Every gift at every level profoundly impacts how we can face these rapidly evolving moments with confidence. Please take the time to celebrate our loyal donors and read the inspiring stories. And most importantly, please accept my gratitude for your commitment.

I want to express my thanks to our outgoing members of the Board of Trustees:

Rajan Dev, Ian McKinnon, Stephanie Notowich, Sophie Ross, Kevin Thau, and

Molly Tomforde. Our entire MA community appreciates their outstanding commitment and dedication to the School. Please join me in welcoming our newest Board members!

Thank you for all you do to keep the magic alive at Marin Academy.

With gratitude,

Marie Lyons

(Henry '14, Mac '17, Sam '18, George '21) Chair, MA Board of Trustees

PHILANTHROPIC IMPACT

BY THE NUMBERS

$2,541,384

TOTAL CASH GIFTS FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR

RAISED FOR THE MARIN ACADEMY ANNUAL FUND

GENEROUS DONORS

VOLUNTEERS

STUDENTS SERVED

AWARDED IN TUITION ASSISTANCE TO NEARLY 25% OF STUDENTS

$2,382,067 698 57 440 More than $3.9m

MA CELEBRATES HIGHLIGHTS

30 volunteers

72 supporters

$174,367

total raised, including $69,250 contributed for MA Promise

MA PROMISE is Marin Academy's commitment to ensuring the most talented students from all backgrounds across the Bay Area have access to a Marin Academy education.

Read more at ma.org/ma-promise.

GIVING DAY 2022

$121,159 raised in 24 hours

238 incredible donors

12 outstanding advocates

2004 and 2007

(class years with highest number of gifts)

$50K board challenge + $6K in additional challenges and matches by 7 donors

Contributing to the MA Community

Isaura Resendiz

Isaura Resendiz shares more about her experience as a MA parent, Board of Trustees member and why it’s important to support MA.

What strengths and skills have you brought to your roles as a Trustee and volunteer?

I value diversity and equity as criteria for decision-making and I’m proud to play a role in representing my community’s language and culture. In my lived experience as an immigrant and also in my professional work as the Intensive Care Coordination Manager for North Marin Community Services, I am in contact with lowincome people and immigrants, which allows me to share that perspective and voice as we make decisions as a board for the students and the faculty.

What have you learned or gained through your service to MA? I have learned to respect the opinions of others, know my role as a trustee and parent, and support the head of the school after a final decision has been made. As a volunteer, getting to know and connect with the Latinx community in a more meaningful way talking to people individually by phone and getting to know them has been a unique experience. Being on the board with other professional and very highly skilled people, I’ve learned a lot about areas such as diversity, strategic planning, and finance.

What inspires you to serve the MA community, as both a Trustee and annual fund volunteer?

I’m inspired by the connection with other parents, faculty, and administrators. Also, it allows me to share my strengths by helping other parents and students from my own community.

Your son César is a senior at Marin Academy. Why did your family choose MA?

Because of the distinctive opportunities for the students, innovative curriculum, and the amazing, welcoming, and inclusive community, along with the science curriculum and the athletic program. We also chose MA because of its generous financial support, which allows us to be able to be part of the MA community and open doors to broader opportunities.

What’s your favorite MA memory?

When my son got injured, all his teachers and the 9th-grade Dean stepped up and supported him during his challenging time. They moved a class into a more accessible classroom, assisted him with his school backpack, walked with him when he needed to transfer from one classroom to another, and many other extraordinary moments of support from his friends and peers. I spent one week in the school and I was able to witness so much love and care by everyone who encountered us at MA.

Participation is valued no matter the amount, so that we can show how much we care about and love our school.

You also support MA philanthropically. Tell us about that.

I believe contributions to the MA community can be made in different ways, not only by giving large monetary contributions. I can also contribute by giving some of my time to any event or activity where my skills can be used. As I often discuss with families I connect with through my annual fund outreach, at MA, participation is valued no matter the amount, so that we can show how much we care about and love our school.

How does MA foster a culture of service among students?

The school maintains an inclusive curriculum that remains respectful of differences. Teachers ensure that all students are included in all aspects of the school, while acknowledging the unique differences students may possess and how those differences contribute to the MA community.

Contribuyendo a la Comunidad de MA

Isaura Resendiz comparte más sobre su experiencia como madre de MA, miembro de la Junta Directiva y por qué es importante apoyar a MA.

¿Qué fortalezas y habilidades ha aportado a sus roles como miembro de la junta directiva y como voluntario?

Valoro la diversidad y la equidad como criterios para la toma de decisiones y me enorgullece desempeñar un papel en la representación del idioma y la cultura de mi comunidad. En mi experiencia vivida como inmigrante y también en mi trabajo profesional como trabajadora de casos críticos con North Marin Community Services, estoy en contacto con personas de bajos ingresos e inmigrantes, lo que me permite compartir esa perspectiva y voz al tomar decisiones en la junta directiva para beneficio de la facultad y los estudiantes.

¿Qué ha aprendido o ganado a través de su servicio a MA?

He aprendido a respetar las opiniones de los demás, sé cuál es mi papel como miembro de la mesa directiva y mi papel como padre, también aprendí que una vez que se discute un tema, la decisión que se toma en grupo es apoyada por todos. Como voluntario, conocer y conectarme con la comunidad Latina de una manera más significativa, hablar con las personas individualmente por teléfono y conocerlas ha sido una experiencia única. Al estar en la junta con otras personas profesionales y muy capacitadas, he aprendido mucho sobre áreas como la diversidad, la planificación estratégica y las finanzas.

¿Qué lo inspira a servir a la comunidad de MA, como miembro de la mesa directiva y como voluntario del fondo anual?

Me inspira la conexión con otros padres, profesores y administradores. Además, me permite compartir mis fortalezas ayudando a otros padres y estudiantes de mi propia comunidad.

Su hijo César está en el último año en Marin Academy. ¿Por qué su familia eligió MA?

Nosotros escogimos Marin Academy por diferentes razones. Primero, por las oportunidades distintivas para los estudiantes, después, el plan de estudios innovador y la comunidad increíble, acogedora e inclusiva, junto con el plan de estudios de ciencias y el programa deportivo. También elegimos MA por su generoso apoyo financiero, que nos permite ser parte de la comunidad de MA y abrir puertas a oportunidades más amplias.

¿Cuál es tu recuerdo favorito de tu tiempo en MA?

El recuerdo favorito que tengo es cuando mi hijo se lesionó jugando fútbol y todos sus maestros y el decano de noveno grado lo apoyaron durante este momento difícil. Movieron una de sus clases a un salón más accesible para que él pudiera asistir, lo ayudaron cargando su mochila escolar, lo acompañaron cuando necesitaba trasladarse de un salón a otro y muchos otros momentos extraordinarios de apoyo de sus amigos y compañeros. Pasé una semana en la escuela con mi hijo y pude ser testigo de tanto apoyo y atención por parte de todos los que nos encontraron en MA.

También apoya a MA filantrópicamente. Cuéntanos sobre eso.

Creo que nuestra contribución a la comunidad de MA se puede hacer de diferentes maneras, no solo dando grandes contribuciones monetarias. También puedo contribuir dando parte de mi tiempo a cualquier evento o actividad donde se puedan utilizar mis habilidades. En los últimos tres años, he tenido la oportunidad de hablar con las familias Latinas sobre el fondo anual en MA, y les comparto porque la participación sin importar la cantidad es esencial para que podamos demostrar cuánto nos interesa la escuela y cómo apoyarla.

¿Cómo fomenta MA una cultura de servicio entre los estudiantes?

La escuela mantiene un plan de estudios inclusivo que se mantiene respetuoso de las diferencias. Los maestros se aseguran de que todos los estudiantes estén incluidos en todos los aspectos de la escuela, al tiempo que reconocen las diferencias únicas que los estudiantes pueden poseer y cómo esas diferencias contribuyen positivamente a la comunidad de MA.

Fundraising Summary 2021-22

 PLEDGES AND CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED

Annual Fund Gifts

Endowment Gifts $ 2,382,068

$ 1,000

Capital Campaign $ 3,694,178

Other Restricted Gifts $ 2,031

Total $ 6,079,276

Operating Fund Summary 2021-22

 REVENUE AND SUPPORT

Tuition

Annual Giving*

Interest and Other Income

Transfers

Total

$ 23,753,861

$ 2,541,384

$ 265,789

$ 1,001,850

$ 27,562,884

* Represents gifts for current operations only and does not include any gifts for capital improvements or endowment.

 EXPENSES

Salaries and Benefits

Financial Aid $ 15,630,545

$ 3,805,337

Academic Departments $ 1,840,444

Physical Plant $ 2,528,095

Administration and Student Support $ 2,428,730

Bond Financing

Total

$ 1,329,733

$ 27,562,884

Capital Campaign 60.77%  Annual Fund Gifts 39.18%  Endowment Gifts 0.02%  Other Restricted Gifts 0.03%

Tuition 86.19%  Annual Giving 9.22%  Interest and Other Income 0.96%  Transfers 3.63%

Salaries and Benefits 56.71%

Financial Aid 13.81%

Academic Departments 6.68%

Physical Plant 9.17%

Administration and 8.81%

Student Support

Bond Financing 4.82%

Language Study With Experiential Richness

John Petrovsky

John Petrovsky retired in 2007 after a 21-year career teaching Spanish at Marin Academy. Now, his generous commitment funds the Summer Language Study Abroad Scholarship, which provides an opportunity for one student to hone their language skills and forge crosscultural connections through independent study overseas. We caught up with John to find out more.

What were your earliest experiences of studying abroad?

As a junior at UC Berkeley, I studied Spanish in Guadalajara, Mexico. I lived with a family and three other Americans, and the family's father wanted to practice his English. It was fun and good for my language ability, but it wasn’t until after I got my master’s degree from Berkeley that I had an authentic immersion experience. I received a full scholarship to attend a two-month summer program in Madrid. I lived with a welcoming family, had incredible professors (including the director of the Prado Museum, who taught art history), and was friends with other Americans who wanted to practice their Spanish. My time in Madrid made me want to help MA students share that experience.

Tell us about some of the trips you led for MA students.

My eight trips to Spanish-speaking countries with MA students were real highlights in my career and, in fact, my life. My dear and respected colleagues Madelon De Lauff Johnson, Glenn Stanfield, and I decided to lead trips to countries other than Mexico and Spain since we assumed students might visit those countries on their own.