Mirman School Meridian 60th Anniversary Edition 2023-2024
the Annual Magazine of Mirman School
Dear Mirman Community,
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE to introduce you to the 2023–2024 edition of Mirman’s Meridian As you can imagine the word “meridian” has several definitions. I think for the purposes of this publication, I will go with the “acupuncture” reference that indicates a “myriad of pathways that carry energy to the vital organs that sustain one’s body and one’s life.”
I believe, after 60 years, that this pretty perfectly captures the Mirman of today. Revisiting our visionary ideals and values, Mirman not only finds itself positioned as a leader in the field of gifted education, but also a vibrant and ever-evolving testament to the power of childhood and the many tributaries so essential in nurturing the intellectual and emotional health of Mirman students.
The following pages are a visual testament to an organization steeped in self-reflection and evolutionary change. Just as the completion of our athletic facilities in 2017 proved transformational related to Mirman’s focus on kinesthetic development, teamwork, sportspersonship, and our focus on whole child education, we now find the new Guerin Family Learning Center and Derfner-Lieberman Family Arts Pavilion transformational in reducing individual class sizes, as well as centering Mirman’s focus on STEAM, and the performing and visual arts.
Yet, more essential than the opportunities offered by these impressive new facilities remains the commitment, talent, and dedication of our teaching faculty and staff. Our singular belief is that a well-educated and informed student remains the greatest catalyst for positive societal change and that this belief transcends any brick-and-mortar structure we might envision. 2023–2024 finds us unwavering in our collective vision that every individual who participates in our democratic society has a responsibility to leave their little corner of the world in better shape than they found it.
I hope the following pages bear out this philosophy for you, our friends and stakeholders. For my part, I can’t help but look to my final year as Head of Mirman with a deep and abiding gratitude for all of you who have made this remarkable school what it has become today—and will be tomorrow.
RESPECTFULLY,
Dan Vorenberg Head of School
WWith pride and humility, we celebrate the 60 years Mirman has nurtured and educated children, those who have gone on to incredibly successful careers . . . and those beginning their adventures. In doing so, we remember our past and nurture our future. Many institutions fail because they don’t find the balance between these two basic principles.
Our past is a prime reason we have been able to keep the vision of gifted education front and center, while expanding the definition of how we develop the whole child. Mirman is helping kids understand the importance of respecting all voices, our obligation to those less fortunate, that bias and hatred have no place in society, compassion and empathy are pillars of strength, and our differences a blessing for learning and growth.
Mirman’s Board of Trustees is dedicated to ensuring the school’s legacy and vision remain balanced. Our enduring mission will carry us forward. Much has changed, yet our foundation stays the same. It is our task to continue setting the foundation for this journey, for all who follow.
Kiko Washington Chair, Board of Trustees
mirman
Alan Mirman and Leslie Mirman Geffen share memories of their parents, legendary founders of Mirman School—Dr. Norman Mirman and Beverly Mirman—and how their vision lives on.
ON mirmans
mirman
TTWO INSPIRED FOUNDERS
Leslie Mirman Geffen: Our parents came from New York, one from Brooklyn and one from the Bronx. After World War II, they migrated to California for the sunshine and stayed, living first in Riverside and then in Los Angeles. With his undergraduate degree in chemistry, our dad began working for the Gas Company, but wasn’t too happy. Our mom saw an article saying Los Angeles was in dire need of teachers, and that’s where the story begins. Dad became credentialed and taught for 10 years in the L.A. Unified School District (LAUSD), while our mom was in the import/export business.
Norman and Beverly were modest folks with a big dream.”
– LESLIE MIRMAN GEFFEN
During his time in LAUSD, Dad observed that often the brightest students weren’t being challenged; they were asked to tutor other students but didn’t have opportunities to expand their own learning. Simultaneously, Alan and I were in “pullout” gifted programs in LAUSD and being “pulled out” for enrichment activities for an hour a week didn’t really add much to our education. Our dad decided to obtain his PhD in Gifted Education at UCLA.
Alan Mirman: His PhD dissertation was on acceleration of advanced learners—what was then called “skipping,” meaning students were “skipped” from one grade to another (which both he and our mom had done in their own schooling).
EDUCATION WITH A MANTRA
AM: The school they founded in 1962, a year or so after his dissertation, was not built around that concept of “skipping,” but about building depth and complexity into children’s education, making an individualized, specialized education for each child so they can go as far as they can and pursue their passions with no artificial stops and boundaries. That was their mantra.
LMG: There were hardly any schools in the country at that time for gifted students— perhaps four. After the L.A. Times published an interview with our mom and dad, nine sets of parents bravely stepped into that arena and entrusted their children to the Mirmans’ vision.
Creating a beautiful, happy, nurturing environment for the children was always of great importance.
– ALAN MIRMAN
”
AM: It was so extraordinary. . that they could undertake this major endeavor with just their personal strength and passion, our dad’s experience as an educator, and our mom’s in business is a great testament to their drive and vision. We didn’t realize the extent to which our parents were visionaries and pioneers until we were
LMG: That first year, the school was in our home in Mar Vista. They hired four specialist teachers in addition to dad teaching Math, even though he was credentialed to teach all subjects. Curriculum, even at that time, included Greek mythology and foreign language. Our parents were an amazing team, each one’s strengths complementing the other’s. Together they were formidable.
PHENOMENAL EARLY GROWTH
AM: In 1963, the school moved to a small, converted motel site on Pico Boulevard in West L.A. There were five classrooms, an office, a playground with a couple of foursquare areas, and tetherball. At the end of the day, our dad propped a ladder against the wall to retrieve the balls that had landed on the roof.
At Open House, Leslie and I had to chase the artwork that came off the easels when the wind came whipping down the corridor. By the late ‘60s, we began renting additional classroom space at other sites. The growth was phenomenal.
LMG: Students were grouped more or less by age but allowed to join older classmates in subject areas like Math when ready for more advanced work.
AM: Our parents ran a tight ship. Respect was expected among all segments of the community. Dress for students, teachers, and administrators was on the more formal side—definitely no jeans! Technology consisted of pencils and erasers, and copies done on mimeograph machines yielding what was then called “purple prose” because of the ink.
LMG: Norman and Beverly were modest folks with a big dream. They had no special financial resources, personally or professionally, and no experience with the kind of fundraising needed to provide scholarships or special educational resources and equipment. Minutes of a 1962 parents’ meeting talked about using Blue Chip stamps for fundraising.
Our parents did not have friends with “deep pockets” nor was that a focus in the admissions process. Their focus was on the individual student, not what their parents could give. While now parents are major drivers of Mirman’s fundraising efforts, in those early days, the central vehicle was Dr. Mirman’s annual letter asking for support.
FINDING A HOME ON MULHOLLAND
Our parents were an amazing team, each one’s strengths complementing the other’s. Together they were formidable.
– LESLIE MIRMAN GEFFEN
”
AM: The school got extremely crowded at the Pico site by the end of the 1960s and, after months of searching, our folks were very happy to find the site on Mulholland—at the time just open land with not much around it. At the beginning, the specialists in Science, Music, and Art did not have their own rooms, but went from room to room. The children were delighted when the Science teacher appeared with Lumpy the boa constrictor wrapped around her shoulders.
Bit by bit, the campus grew from the original handful of classrooms and administrative space to include an auditorium, rooms for the specialists, a kitchen, and a small room for our first Apple computer classes. Our first capital campaign in the early ‘90s allowed us to build the Upper School building. Since then, we’ve almost doubled our campus.
LMG: Even in all of this growth, our parents were always focused on the intellectual, social, and emotional needs of the children. Families were always rather surprised at our admissions interview. It wasn’t focused on the parents’ professions or how much money they could conceivably give to the school—it was totally focused on the child. The only question was: Would this be the right place for that child?
AM: The mission was foremost, shaping and guiding the curriculum and teaching methods. They wanted to make sure they selected teachers who could meet the children’s needs and embrace their special qualities. It mattered most whether the school was delivering individualized education to highly gifted learners in an environment that was beautiful and joyful. They wanted this to be a place where, if a child asked a question, no one would say, “You’ll get to that next year.” And, if a child asked a question the teacher had never heard before, they would take joy in this and say, “I don’t know but let’s go find out together.”
MIRMAN’S EVOLUTION
AM: As the school changed and our parents got older, the school’s administrative and governance needs evolved, too. While the school had been a non-profit organization since its inception and accredited by state and national educational organizations, it needed to find educational leaders to continue to fulfill the mission in the future. It needed its governance to evolve from a small founding Board of Trustees to a full, institutional governance-style board. All this began to happen in the early 2000s.
LMG: In their later years, our parents were often present at the school and able to see and appreciate the expanded facilities, development of technology, new athletic field and opportunities, Senior Garden, play equipment, and cultivation of trees and plants on the campus.
AM: And that’s why the school’s fund for donations in their name is dedicated to the beautification of the campus. Creating a beautiful, happy, nurturing environment for the children was always of great importance to them.
LMG: Alan and I are deeply grateful for how the school has maintained its dedication to the original mission our parents envisioned—to provide a joyful, stimulating learning environment for children to explore all their
different abilities and feel supported and understood. Our Heads of School, our Trustees, our faculty and staff have stayed true to that purpose while continuing to advance our pedagogy, our facilities, and opportunities for our students.
THE NEW GENERATION
AM: Our parents might be surprised that Leslie and I have continued making such a strong commitment to try to perpetuate what they began and made whole. They didn’t ask us, “Will you do this?” Maybe they just knew we would.
LMG: I think they did. And think they’d be really happy.
AM: My three sons benefited tremendously from going to Mirman. have been on the Mirman Board for many, many years and deeply enjoy that role. I get to see up close the continuity and affirmation of themes our parents had in mind when they started the school. That means a lot to me and to Leslie.
LMG: was 14 and Alan was 11 when Mirman School started, so we weren’t able to attend. However, like Alan’s, both my children went to Mirman and now my oldest grandchild is here, so I’ve seen how important Mirman was in their education and development. I worked at Mirman for 23 years, including positions of Head of School, Director of Admissions and of Alumni Affairs. was also on the Board of Trustees. All these roles have given me wide and varied perspectives on the school’s development over time.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
AM: One of the biggest questions parents often ask is: Will we add a high school? That’s been a question for about 40 years, but it’s not our focus now. Our focus is being the best K-8 for highly gifted children. Our latest accomplishment is our new Learning Center, with its classrooms, technology and arts facilities, completed after another successful fundraising campaign. All of these support our mission and speak to the ability of the school to aspire and to inspire.
LMG: agree. Because what won’t change is the drive to provide learning and growth opportunities for this wonderful population, to stimulate their creativity and their commitment to community service, to inspire them to develop their gifts and to use them in ways to make our world a better place.
We didn’t realize the extent to which our parents were visionaries and pioneers until we were adults ourselves.”
– ALAN MIRMAN
full steam ahead
The 2022–2025 Strategic Plan charts a course for Mirman School to become even more accessible, inclusive, and global.
2022–2025 Strategic Plan
Strategies to support:
Our Mission & Philosophy
Integrated Gifted Curriculum
Mission-Driven Partnerships
Equity & Access
Institutional Sustainability and Growth
MIRMAN’S 2022–2025 STRATEGIC PLAN—the school’s first post-pandemic roadmap—has a destination in mind, and it is outward-facing, global, accessible, and diverse.
“We learned some very tough lessons from the pandemic,” says Dan Vorenberg Head of School. “But one extremely important lesson is the power of access.”
When Mirman went remote during the height of COVID-19, school leaders saw how connected the school became with other educators and leaders across Southern California, the nation, and the world. From that came the potential for broader learning opportunities.
“The pandemic definitely helped inform the development of this Strategic Plan,” says Former Trustee Sharon Gavin, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committees for both the 2022–2025 and 2018–2021 Strategic Plans. “Our experience living in the virtual world reinforced to us the importance of both gaining insights from others and sharing our own knowledge and expertise with them.”
MISSION-DRIVEN PARTNERSHIPS
That aspiration led to a key goal in the newest plan: developing more “mission-driven partnerships” beyond Mirman’s borders—an idea Gavin wholeheartedly endorses. “There are numerous opportunities for us to create valuable partnerships,” she says.
For example, students can engage in joint research projects with academic institutions, collaborate with non-profit organizations, participate in virtual
discussions with field experts, or gain experiential knowledge via field trips. “Partnerships can also provide both faculty members and students with leadership opportunities,” Gavin adds.
The 2018–2021 Strategic Plan put major emphasis on the creation of a new building, the Guerin Family Learning Center and Derfner-Lieberman Family Arts Pavilion, with all the component parts, from STEAM to performing and visual arts to added classroom space.
The 2022–2025 Strategic Plan takes that a step further with an objective to establish Mirman “as a thought leader and resource in gifted education through curriculum innovation and collaboration.”
A planning retreat in 2021 brought together faculty and staff, parents, alumni, and trustees. “There was a fresh sense of transition and renewal,” says Vorenberg, “a desire to say, ‘What’s next?’”
The driving question became “what can we do to further our goals for Mirman with this new space?” says Gavin. “How can we leverage what we have here?”
VISUALIZING THE NEXT 3–5 YEARS
The plan envisions ways to realize Mirman’s commitment to inclusivity in its curriculum, school culture, and identity. That includes continuing to refine a gifted curriculum and culture that integrates a comprehensive K-8 social-emotional curriculum and DEIJ (diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice).
Among the measures outlined are recruiting and retaining a diverse population of educators, administrators, staff, students, and trustees; creating more opportunities for professional growth; and fully implementing the Flexible Tuition Program approved in May 2022.
“As a board, we are excited to see the new Strategic Plan in action,” says Kiko Washington, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “It is a living, breathing document that is already taking shape in various ways throughout the Mirman community. We are engaged in these developments as they blossom.”
Gavin looks on the collaborative process with excitement. “This is a chance to do something that will have a positive impact on so many people.”
For Vorenberg, the newest three-year plan is “something equal parts daunting and invigorating.”
As always, the primary goal, he says, is “to make sure our kids are prepared for life in an increasingly complex world.”
mirman’s artful transformation
Amid an air of jubilation, the resounding snip of the giant scissors on September 20 marked the official dedication of the Guerin Family Learning Center, Derfner-Lieberman Family Arts Pavilion, and their surrounding spaces.
CHEERS AND APPLAUSE filled the air as students, teachers, and community members gathered to ring in this exciting milestone in Mirman School's history.
Kicking off the 2023–2024 school year, Mirman students began painting, acting, music-making, and studying a world of subjects as the new Guerin Family Learning Center and Derfner-Lieberman Family Arts Pavilion opened its doors, essentially transforming the campus once again.
Mirman Next—the Mirman School’s most recent capital campaign and one of its most successful—achieved its objective to create an expansion that will enable the school to increase enrollment while simultaneously decreasing Lower School class size.
CHECK OUT A TIME-LAPSE VIDEO OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
Active fundraising ran from April 2022 through June 2023. The campaign exceeded its initial goal to raise $12.5 million, with an official total of more than $15 million—despite its launch during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are grateful to each and every donor, volunteer, our Board of Trustees, families, faculty and staff, the entire community that contributed to this tremendous achievement,” said Noah Kaufman Director of Advancement. “We did it together. Come see the beautiful result!”
The 16,130-square-foot Guerin Family Learning Center and Derfner-Lieberman Family Arts Pavilion open up immeasurable opportunities for individualized learning with the:
» Michelson Family STEAM Center for Innovation
» Lauren and Bobby Turner Visual Arts Studio
» Wiczyk Performing Arts Studio
» Five new Lower School classrooms to facilitate individualized exploration and discovery.
“With our community behind us, Mirman has matched our investment in faculty and curriculum with an investment in our campus that sets the stage for the future,” said Head of School Dan Vorenberg
The ambitious construction project also gave Mirman the opportunity to renovate and reimagine some existing spaces, including Lower School Art and Science, three Lower School classrooms, a breakout space, and a Staffulty Lounge.
“Thanks to the support of all of our 60th Anniversary Celebration and Fund-A-Need supporters for helping to make our new Staffulty Lounge possible!” said Kaufman.
The Campaign for FAAM Circle
Fundraising continues for FAAM Circle, an outdoor space that will be located adjacent to the Mr. Lee Senior Garden.
Designed to evoke the oral tradition and drum circle community-building archetypes of Black, Indigenous, and Afro-Latinx traditions, FAAM Circle will be dedicated to campus instruction, enrichment, and programming in honor of the unique contributions and institutional impact of Families of African Ancestry at Mirman (FAAM)— the longest-standing affinity group at Mirman School.
The FAAM Circle Fund founders, the Branion/Hayes (Hannelore) and Duncan (Tommy and Sydney) Families, made extraordinary lead donations to kickstart the project.
You can add your voice and support by contacting Noah Kaufman Director of Advancement at nkaufman@mirman.org or (310) 775-8428.
MAGIC OF THE MOMENT BY CHECKING OUT PHOTOS HERE.
“Smaller class sizes give us an abundance of space, and the Michelson Family STEAM Center for Innovation and Derfner-Lieberman Family Arts Pavilion will open new windows . . . as we hone and strengthen our gifted learners’ creative selves.”
“Musicians at Mirman now have a state-of-the-art, 21st-century space in which to create, collaborate and build inspiring connections beyond the Mirman gates.”
–NICOLÁS KELLO Director of Music
“We are redefining what is possible with STEAM. We can reimagine interdisciplinary collaboration, broaden our bank of tools, and foster the spirit of design and innovation like never before.”
–TRI VO HUYNH
Director of Curriculum
and Instruction
“In this encouraging atmosphere, with proper flooring, mirrors, and dance barres, our young dancers can safely explore their passion and develop their choreography skills.”
–ANGELA
BROWN Director of Athletics
Thank you, volunteers!
MIRMAN NEXT CAMPAIGN CABINET
Kate Phillips Wiczyk, Co-Chair
Lauren Turner, Co-Chair
Kourosh Ghassemieh
Jackie Hayes
Catherine Huang
Anessa Karney Goldstein ’77-’82
Alan Mirman
Mona and Steve Oh
Karen Sherwood
Kevin Sinclair ’89-’97
Paddy Spence
MIRMAN NEXT VOLUNTEERS
Juyun Barnavon
Nicole and Thomas Duncan
Darren Enenstein
Ashley Felts ’92-’96
Jackie Hayes and Jeffy Branion
Heidi Hendrix
Jamie Kornberg Phillips
Lauren Lake
Synthia Lee
Michelle Lobel
Wally Marks
Davina Massey
Robyn Norris
Finley and Jeanette Polynice
Beth Quillen Thomas
Deron Quon ’82-’86
Layne Rosen
Jason and Syreta Travis
Bobby Turner
Dikla Unatin
Modi Wiczyk
Dana Wolf
FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Mayee Futterman
Alex Wuo
Rick Benfield, Mirman Administrator
“An art space that is flexible, with plenty of natural light, wall space to display and critique artwork, and room to explore and experiment, is a gift to any creative person.”
–KARYN RAZ
Upper School Art Teacher
“This dedicated arts space creates an exciting classroom, rehearsal and performance space for our Theatre students. We look forward to the challenge of coming up with creative ways to use it.”
–JEFF MAYNARD
Director
of Theatre
Named spaces: Donors & Honorees
INTERIORS
Guerin Family Learning Center
With thanks to the Guerin Family
Derfner-Lieberman Family Arts Pavilion
With thanks to the Derfner Foundation, Jay Lieberman, and Andrea Lieberman and Vincent Passeri
Michelson Family STEAM Center for Innovation
With thanks to Alya and Gary Michelson
Lauren and Bobby Turner Visual Arts Studio
With thanks to Lauren and Bobby Turner
Wiczyk Performing Arts Studio
With thanks to the Wiczyk Family
Miller Murgio Classroom
With thanks to Robyn Murgio and Christopher Miller
Satchu Family Classroom
With thanks to Amie and Asif Satchu
Sherwood Family Classroom
With thanks to the Sherwood Family
Spence Family Classroom
With thanks to Paddy and Jerra Spence
Stibel Family Classroom
With thanks to Jeff and Cheryl Stibel
EXTERIORS
PSL Courtyard
In recognition of the Parent Service League
Norman and Beverly Mirman Knoll
In recognition of Mirman’s founders
Dr. B’s Pavilion
In recognition of Dr. Richard Boolootian, former Science Teacher
Mr. Lee Senior Garden
In recognition of Darrel Lee, former teacher, coach, and administrator, with thanks for lead gifts by Deron (’82–’86) and Cora Quon and Kevin (’89–’97) and Kerry Sinclair
Solomon Plaza
In recognition of Dr. Cynthia Solomon, with thanks to the Jones Kau Family
–MONICA SONE Fourth Grade Teacher
Honoring pledges and gifts received by July 30, 2023
Anonymous
Michael C. Agran
The Ahmanson Foundation
Juan and Claribel Alcantar
in honor of Miguel and Matthew
Danielle Amerian Greenberg •
Angela Arnold and DJ Jacobs
AnnaLea and Evan Arnold
Lital and David Aschkenasy
Juyun and Erez Barnavon
Brad Barry
The Bauer Family
Brittany Beer Langer
Lawrence Bender
The Benfield Family
Yamit and Arik Betesh
Kira and Michael Blaustein•
Rahsan and Napiera Boykin
in honor of all Black Boy Joy at Mirman!•
Peter Brady
Jeffy Branion and Jackie Hayes•
Stephanie Braun
Tulani Bridgewater and Family •
Amanda Brooks
Marc and Yu-Tsun Brown
The Cadwell Family
Tyler Cassidy
Lizeth Castellon
Chao Family Foundation
Jessica Chase Spaly •
Cho Family
Alec Colantonio-Ray
Michael Coleman
Marcus Collins
Ray Cunningham
Bahar and Ramin Davidoff
in honor of Benjamin, Evan, and Ryan Davidoff
Debra Davis
Annabeth Deamer White•
Beatriz and Sevan Demir
The Derfner Foundation
The Diadames
Barbara Dischler
Justin H. Dove
Nicole and Thomas M. Duncan II in memory of Robin M. Barclay •
Julie and Robert Edelstein
Darren and Susy Enenstein
Gregory Engel
Jennifer Engelberg Bader•
The Eshaghian Family
Grace Esquibel and Brian Ranade Euh Family
Maliha and Adam Fakhri in memory of Banu Fakhri
The Farag Family
Ashley Felts
Jack Fener
Sydney Fener
Peter Ferrie and Ling-Li Dong in honor of Jessica Ferrie and Karina Ferrie
Jerriann and Quentin Fleming in honor of Evan Fleming
Frain Family in memory of Ted Cunningham•
The Freeman Family in honor of Margaret Furlong and in memory of John Freeman Senio r•
Chloe and Griffin Freitas• Fribourg Family •
Li and Alvin Fu
The Furst Family
Mayee and Marc Futterman
The Gallow Family •
Alex and Irina Ganelis
The Gavin Family •
Donald and Irene Gavin
Talia Geffen and Mathew Arnold
Aida Gharapetian
Delara and Kourosh Ghassemieh
Billy and Joanna Ku
Sagar Kumar
Veronika Kurshinskaya and Jean Sherlock
Lauren Lake and CJ Woods II•
Justin and Yassi Lancer
Ginh and Mark Landecker•
Julie Leavitt
Lee and Spencer Family
Audrey Lee and Family
Sora Lee and Jeremy Zhu
Susan and Brendan Lee
The Leung Family •
Aileen Level
Brian Levine and Christen Sewell•
Michael J. Libby
Andrea Lieberman and Vincent Passeri
Jay Lieberman
The Liu Family
Yan Liu and Rong Yan in memory of Shuzhen Wang
Michelle and Josh Lobel
Dan Lukas and Anne Jarmain•
Aaron, Carol, and Wally Marks
Michael Marshall and Melissa Palmer
Davina Massey
Coach Leo Matos
Josh Gitelson•
Katherine Gitelson•
Bruce Goldsmith Family
Elvia Gonzalez•
Gould Family •
Griego Anderson Family
The Guerin Family
The Haley Family
Carolyn and Scott Hampton
Rosemarie Havranek and Nathan Myhrvold
Bobbie and Sandy Heck
The Hendrix Wimer Family in honor of Mirman Faculty and Staff
Jennifer Hinman and Michael Moody and Family
Wendy and Ivan Ho
Hong Family
Johnny and Wendy Hou
Catherine and Albert Huang
Jared Hubbard
Tri Huynh
Dr. Tenika Jackson in honor of Parker Jackson•
Jodi Jacobsen
The Karney Goldstein Family in memory of Ami Karney
The Kau Jones Foundation
Rabbi Jim and Sue Kaufman•
Noah and Ali Kaufman••
Kay Kopman Family
Nicolás Kello
Mr. and Mrs. Marc Kelly
Erika Kennair and Bryan Miller
Velma King
in honor of Dr. William Douglas King•
Velma King in memory of Vanessa Suzanne King and Dr. William Stanley King
Kelli Kirkland and Apollo Powers•
Patricia A. Kirkland•
Sherri and Jack Kolodny
Leanna and Marc Primiani
Beth Quillen Thomas in honor of The Mirman Family
Deron and Cora Quon•
Robin Raval
Tina Ravanshenas
Reed Family •
Kimberly and Dale Reed
The Richardson-Galtt Family • Reggie Rios
Barbara and Jeffrey Rosenbaum
Mark Rotenberg • Yuma Saito
The Sampath Family
Amie and Asif Satchu
Mary Sebunya
Brian and Suzanne Selmo
The Sherwood Family •
The Simshauser Family
Kevin and Kerry Sinclair•
The Smith Family, in honor of the Black/African American Families at Mirman•
Joel Smith•
Rita Anne Smith
The Smutny Family •
Patricia and Michael Sofroniew
•
Miles B. Maxu
Meer Family
Elle and Marc Menowitz
The Merrill Family
Alya and Gary Michelson
The Mirman and Geffen Families, in memory of Norman and Beverly Mirman•
Leslie Mirman Geffen•
Aaron Mirman-Heslin•
Alex and Caroline Mitchell
Victor Molina
Rachel and Fabian Morales
Lisa and Ron Moy
Robyn Murgio and Christopher Miller
Kimberly and Guy Nachtomi
Arielle Natelson Bases•
Craig Nehamen
Robyn and Dean Norris
Holly Novick in honor of Jackson Novick
Lina and Stephen O'Connor
Mona and Steve Oh•
Tommy and Codie Oliver•
Ariel Osterweis and Églantine Colon
John S. Osterweis
Kat and Albert Page
Christina and Charles Pak
The Parent Service League
Ram Parvataneni and Debika Bhattacharya
Richard and Helene Paul in honor of Keegan and Anika Ellice-Paul
The Pellico Family
Petrus Family
Jamie and Josh Phillips
Mark D. Pindler
The Polynice Family •
The Powell Family in honor of JJ •
Monica and Steven Sone
Dan Song
Paddy and Jerra Spence
Douglas and Margaret Spencer
The Stark and Ledahl Family
(Deb, Brian, Sinclaire, Beckett)•
Julie and Arch Stein
Jeff and Cheryl Stibel
Aparna Sulé and Raj Iyer
Zhiyong Sun and Cindy Ke
Eric and Nancy Sussman
Adam Tabeling
Amy Tedder
Sonia Rosario Teng Family •
Karika Thompson
The Tolaney Family •
Travis Family
Serenah Truong
Jay and Magdalena Tucker•
Lauren and Bobby Turner••
The Urcis Family
Michelle and Ruben Urcis
Anna Volodarskaya
Dan Vorenberg ••
The Wang Family
Yan Wang and Xiaolu Ma
Jewels and Kiko Washington
Odetta Watkins•
The Wiczyk Family •
Allison Winter
Dana and David Wolf
Alex and Wendy Wuo•
Idalia, Rami, and Gabriel Yacoub
Alison Yager•
Shiqing Yin
Helena Zhang and Sebastian Liu
The Zhao Family
in honor of Lawrence, Lucas, and Liana
Rose and Loren Zitomersky
BBy any measure, 60 is a milestone occasion, worthy of a year-long celebration and more.
Inspired by the achievement, the entire Mirman community united to celebrate the school’s 60th Anniversary during the 2022–2023 school year.
There were lots of reasons for revelry starting with the school’s phenomenal growth from those first days in 1962 when Dr. Norman J. Mirman and Beverly Mirman opened their West L.A. home to nine pioneering students.
Since then, Mirman has continued to get bigger, and most especially better, throughout six eventful decades.
On its diamond anniversary, Mirman is a shining gem. Our community students, alumni, parents, faculty and staff, trustees, and loyal friends makes us so.
What’s next, you ask? We’re asking that, too. And we’ve come up with some dream-as-bigas-you-can ideas. For now, let’s continue celebrating and admire Mirman at 60.
Beautiful!!
The Mirman years
FROM THE BEGINNING, the history of Mirman School has been life-changing—for our students, teachers, staff, and broader community. The school’s achievements, set against highlights in the cultural zeitgeist, often led the way in developments in gifted education.
publishes his PhD dissertation on gifted learners.
September 10 – 1st day of Mirman School 9 students meet at home of Dr. Norman Mirman and Beverly Mirman in West L.A.
1962
The Beatles begin recording their 1st album (The Red Album).
Top-rated TV show: The Beverly Hillbillies
June – Mirman School’s first graduation.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination, including in education.
1971
The U.S. voting age is lowered from 21 to 18 years old when the 26th amendment is ratified.
September – Enrollment reaches 22 & 8 teachers.
Mirman moves to 3 classrooms on Pico Blvd.
September – Mirman enrollment tops 100. Some classes meet at the Japanese Institute in West L.A.
have.
September 12 – Dedication of new Mulholland Blvd. campus! Mirman receives architectural award from Western L.A. Chamber of Commerce.
September 14 – 109 Mirman students fill 8 classrooms.
Dr. Norman J. Mirman
Schwinn Sting-Ray becomes the bike to
Dr. Norman Mirman serves as President of National Association for the Gifted Children.
Dr. Norman Mirman receives the Citation of Merit by NAGC, recognizing his outstanding work in creating a school for the gifted.
July 20, 1969 – American astronaut Neil Armstrong walks on the Moon.
The Marland Report to Congress offers 1st federal definition of gifted and talented children.
The Office of Gifted and Talented in U.S. Office of Education receives official status.
Mirman’s Tech Education Program debuts, one of the 1st of its time.
September – Start of 10-year Mirman campus expansion: auditorium, kitchen, classrooms, and more.
A Nation at Risk: critical report by the National Commission on Education says that gifted, low-income students are being left behind.
Congress passes the Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act.
September – Mirman campus adds library, science lab, Computer Sciences Center, new classroom, renovated athletic field, and more.
October 12 – Campus dedication ceremonies. CA Gov. Jerry Brown among the luminaries. City of L.A. proclaims “Mirman School Day.”
“Twenty-First Century Campaign
The Joy of Learning” expands the campus with more lower and middle school classrooms, US Computer Center, new music room, enlarged auditorium, new kitchen, and more.
1977, Star Wars movie trilogy begins.
The Fall of Saigon, effectively ending the Vietnam War.
1990, Hubble space telescope is placed into orbit by space shuttle Discovery.
Art room expands Lower School Computer Lab created from a classroom. Kindergarten classroom added.
U.S. Dept. of Education’s National Excellence: The Case for Developing America’s Talent outlines how the country neglects its most gifted youth.
Mirman acquires land for a planned 2-story Upper School complex.
National Assn. for Gifted Children publishes Pre-K to Grade 12 Gifted Program Standards.
A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America’s Brightest Students argues for academic acceleration of gifted and talented students.
Mirman launches Learning Enhancement and Achievement Program (LEAP). Upper School building opens including classrooms, outdoor amphitheater and Upper School Computer Lab.
No Child Left Behind Act signed into law, emphasizing school accountability for academic progress of all students. Funds diverted from gifted students to basic literacy. Mirman holds groundbreaking for Annenberg Communication Center.
launches The
Earthquake, magnitude 6.7, hits the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles.
Pluto demoted from planet to dwarf planet.
Dedication of Annenberg Communication Center with the McDaniel Library, Upper School Science Lab, Founder’s Room, and classrooms.
Other Mirman programs begin, including Service Learning, Design Thinking, Upper School Advisory, 1-1 laptop program, Classes in information & media literacy, advanced computer science.
Ribbon-cutting for Kotzubei Family Athletics Field & complex.
Barack Obama is elected as the 44th President, the first African-American President of the US.
September – Mirman opens Senior Garden.
November – 3.2 acres acquired to create new athletics field complex.
Mirman celebrates its Golden Anniversary—50!
Innovation Design Lab a modern makerspace lab, replaces Upper School Computer Lab.
Mirman named an “Apple Distinguished School” for leadership, innovation, and educational excellence.
July – Mirman’s creates position of Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
September – Launch of MirmanX, a startup accelerator for moonshot projects
October – Dedication of Mirman’s Kotzubei Family Athletics Field
2018, Mirman reintroduces our Mustang with a new name—RIDER (Responsibility, Integrity, Discovery, Empathy, Resilience)—melding our core values with school spirit.
Planning begins for the “Mirman Next” capital campaign to expand the arts, STEAM, and classroom space.
April – Women in STEAM at Mirman celebrates ingenuity with rocketry, toy making, catapult building, and more.
Bikes go electric.
April – Mirman community fully back on campus.
March – Mirman School goes virtual in response to global coronavirus pandemic.
September – Kindergarten classes return to in-person learning. Other classes phase in.
Mirman Next capital campaign exceeds its goal of $12.5M to raise over $15M.
June 1 – Groundbreaking for The Learning Center
November 9 – The Mirman community sings “Happy 60th Birthday” to the school at the Party at the Pier, Santa Monica.
2022
Top-rated TV show: NCIS
2022
The world population reaches eight billion people.
April 29 – Mirman celebrates its 60th anniversary semi-formally at the Skirball Cultural Center.
September – Opening of the 16,130-square-foot Guerin Family Learning Center and Derfner-Lieberman Family Arts Pavilion!
Mirman enrollment tops 417. Faculty/staff: 100.
2022, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch dies at the age of 96.
our sensational
party at the pier
THE FAMED SANTA MONICA PIER lit up the night sky for the Mirman community on Nov. 9, 2022.
Kids of all ages, parents, faculty and staff—and a whole host of invited friends and neighbors—marked the school’s 60th birthday by creating unforgettable memories.
The Party at the Pier, which drew about 500 attendees, was sponsored by Mirman’s own Parent Services League (PSL).
“We were thrilled that our students and families could come together to celebrate such an important birthday,” says Stephanie Leung Assistant Head of School, Head of Lower School, Party at the Pier Planning Co-Chair, and a Mirman parent herself.
Mirman students, faculty and staff showed up in their exclusive event “swag”—60th anniversary sweatshirts,
which many parents also wore. The crowd braved the Pier’s iconic steel roller coaster, giant Ferris Wheel, and famed Sea Dragon, among other rides. The night’s menu featured carnival fare, including popcorn, hot dogs, and pizza.
The event was such a success—and the feeling of community so strong—that everyone agreed it should be a new annual tradition.
The most special moment may have been when the Pier went quiet, says Leung, and “the entire crowd sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Mirman.” Then out came the cupcakes!
In addition to Leung, event committee members were 2022–2023 PSL President Celina Meites, and fellow Co-Chairs Jenni Pulos, Sarmela Sunder, and Brenda Wong
60th celebration
WHAT IS A SURE SIGN of a successful fundraising event?
60th Anniversary Steering Committee
Reagan Smith Smutny ‘92–’00, Chair
Sydney Banner ‘03–’08
Ericka Dean
Noah Kaufman
Grace Kelly
Stephanie Leung
Celina Meites
Rita Anne Smith
Karika Thompson
“People didn’t want to stop talking or sit down,” says Karika Thompson Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, of the school’s 60th Celebration on April 29, 2023.
The festive evening at the Skirball Cultural Center—Mirman’s first post-pandemic fundraiser— featured a sit-down dinner, dancing, and both a live and online auction, in support of Mirman School. The elegance was reinforced by the guests’ attire, which walked the line between semi-formal and black-tie.
Planning for the event started about nine months earlier, with co-chair duties shared by three Mirman parents—Kimberly Nachtomi, Cora Quon, and Theresa Abelson, working collaboratively with 60th Anniversary Steering Committee Chair Reagan Smith Smutny ’92–’00.
Mirman was the star. “It was wonderful to watch a room full of people, all of whom feel the same way about something, come together to celebrate,” says Nachtomi.
“We wanted to surpass everything we’d done in the past and make the evening exceptional for all our guests. We wanted one for the record books,” says Abelson, who gathered auction donations.
In-person items that drew serious bidding included trips to Paris, France; Cabo San Lucas; and Hawaii, among other destinations. The online auction featured “Teacher Treat” raffles, with prizes of one-on-one time with a favorite Mirman teacher or staff member. The 60th Celebration raised $385,000—the most funds generated by a single event in Mirman history—including a record-breaking Fund-A-Need contribution to renovate the Faculty/Staff Lounge.
For Quon, whose husband Deron ’82–’86 is a Mirman grad, the event allowed an extended community to mark “all that Mirman has accomplished and aspires to be in the years to come. To see so many members, past and present, attend was inspiring.”
sharing thewisdOm
commUnity
kindergarten
Alex Mitchell
The Alumni 60th Anniversary Speaker Series in 2022–2023 brought former students, a parent, and a former administrator back to Mirman to share how their own individual journeys relate to Mirman’s grade level themes: Community, Change, Origins, Systems, Power, Transitions, Connections, Evolutions, and Impact.
Here are highlights of what they said to our students:
Mirman student: 1987–1992 Co-Founder and CEO of HOLA Recuperative Care, which helps unhoused patients heal, obtain benefits and permanent housing.
“I wanted to use my foundation from growing up at Mirman to look at a problem everyone is noticing and get creative about it. We try to see what got someone homeless, address those issues, and help them find a life off the street.
“When we were children (your parents, teachers, and myself), the problem of homelessness didn’t exist like it does now. This isn’t how society is supposed to function; it’s not how people are supposed to live. Talk to your parents and teachers. Know these problems are not your fault.”
“I have been asked to speak about ‘change.’ For the most part, do not like change. It can have good and bad aspects. Take this amazing school. When I attended, Mirman was a little hole-in-the-wall, converted storefront. I had eight students in my class who received our education from the greatest teacher I’ve had to this very day—Dr. Norman Mirman himself!
“I think you’ve lost some of that intimacy . . . but the school has become something more wonderful than anything could have ever imagined.”
origins
second grade
Reagan Smith Smutny
Mirman student: 1992–2000 Award-winning children’s book author: “Teeth Brushing, Together,” “Mommy Has a C-Section,” and upcoming “Meet Stretch: The Adventures of Dragon Girl”
“If there’s a book you want to read and it hasn’t been written, then write it! My books originated from a desire that they had existed for me. I wished had a book to read to my children that would help us better navigate a specific situation, but nothing like what wanted existed yet. wanted this so much, wrote out stories and made drawings on printer paper.
“Over time, I realized how much these stories not only helped my children and me, but could help others, too.”
SyStems
third grade
Samantha Rawlins Mirman student: 2001–2007 Rocket Scientist, Doctoral candidate in Systems Engineering
“My first introduction to rocketry was at Mirman. Today I’m a Rocket Scientist working on my third degree, first aerospace and nuclear engineering, now a PhD in systems engineering. Decide what problem in the world you want to fix—or your various interests— and you can merge them together.
“This generation has to be truly interdisciplinary. That gives everyone the opportunity to make your own job.”
Power
fourth grade
Michael Libby
Mirman student: 1989–1996 Experience Designer, focusing on theme parks, video games, retail/brand experiences and more
“Storytelling is becoming more participatory, more collaborative.
The niche I’ve carved out is the convergence of storytelling and interactivity. In this world of modern storytelling, how do we create a narrative system where each user has their own hero’s journey?
“As a creative person, part of your job is coming up with good ideas. The other half is pitching those ideas. At each step, story has the power to make people care.
“My career has never been a straight path or obvious what’s next. I haven’t always been successful. But I’ve persevered and had many successes. I took from my time here at Mirman the love of learning and knowledge. You are never done learning. Relentless curiosity and resilience drive the desire to explore the world and increase the aperture of your lens on life.
“Your careers are more likely to resemble mine than previously normal paths you are probably going to have to learn completely new things every few years.”
connecti o ns
sixth grade
Ben Bram
Mirman student: 1995–2002 Grammy award-winning Arranger, Music Director, Producer, Engineer, and Educator
“Creating community through singing is one of my biggest passions, and it’s something I’ve been fortunate enough to do as part of my job. The Sing-Off, Acapop! KIDS, and A Cappella Academy have all resulted in really rich and deep connections through shared experiences.”
e volution S
seventh grade
Jocelyn Balaban-Lutzky
Mirman faculty/staff: 1988–2018 Executive Director, Nasri Academy for Gifted Children, Las Vegas, NV
“For 30 years worked at Mirman. The campus changed; styles changed. I saw teachers and administrations come and go, programs change and evolve. One thing never changed: the mission of the school and the dedication to the students’ education. I’m still evolving. Your own evolution will happen at Mirman and beyond.”
“Impact takes a lot of forms. Think now about what you want to focus on. Dabble while you can—so you build toward wisdom. Do new things on a regular basis. You gain perspective by trying lots of new things. In your career, become an expert in something.
“This is my view, based on my experience. Ask other people. I should be only one data point.”
what will mirman look like in 60 years
2083 is something we can only dream of. Mirman will still be meeting the needs of gifted children, still be changing lives, building community, continuing on its mission it has today."
– RAY CUNNINGHAM Head of Upper School
There may be no drop-off line and no people to check you in. Just a robot and when it’s raining, the robot is waterproof. And you have your own robot, decorated with gems and sequins and all that. It’ll give you your food and anything you forget, like your homework."
More grade levels. Really, the sky’s the limit!
– JEMMA TSONEFF
Alum,
class of 2023
We ask the kids, ‘What do you think the school is going to look like?’ They come up with amazing ideas flying drones for security, classrooms made of glass, being transported between rooms through tubes. It’s exciting."
–
KATY CARROLL Kindergarten Teacher
You might have a college, like K-College, definitely a much larger school. Graduate school, law school, nursing school, everything, all of it. Take over the whole hill."
– JASPER HUGHES Alum, class of 2023
I envision limitless accessibility to environmental education for all gifted learners who seek it near and far."
– CORA QUON Parent
I see Mirman taking over Mulholland Hill. And it’s going to be known internationally. Everybody around the world will know what Mirman School is about."
– RONALD MORALES Lead Security Officer
In 60 years, want to think we will be celebrating 50 years of Mirman being a K-12 institution. Our core values will keep us at the vanguard of diversity, equity, and inclusivity. ."
– JOHN FREEMAN Parent
Through technology, Mirman’s scope may expand to those who cannot be on Mulholland Drive, which could make the school even more inclusive and able to serve people all over of different means and orientation."
–
ALAN MIRMAN Trustee
– MADISON S. 3rd Grader
I’d like to see us be a truly diverse and inclusive community. I think we’re well on our way."
–ALEX WUO former Trustee, Alumni Parent
I’d like to see the school be a place where what kids learn is not downloaded or pre-programmed. And you still have the fundamental human connection between teachers and students, and students and students."
–PETER BRADY Upper School History Teacher
My hope is we keep getting students as hungry to learn. They come here, they’re curious, they’re excited, and they’re optimistic. I don’t want that to change."
– MARY BETH CAROSELLO Art Teacher
Mirman is going to continue to be a wonderful learning place. And the heartfelt love and sincerity in the educational approach is going to continue to grow."
–CELINA MEITES PSL President 2022–2023 and Parent
What do think Mirman will look like in 60 years? I have no idea, but I know that greatness will be all in it."
–ERICKA DEAN Director of Equity,
Inclusion, and Community
Mirman is on track to keep expanding, keep growing, and keep going in the direction they are right now."
–JJ POWELL Alum, class of 2023
hope Mirman can build even more substantially on the foundation it has already established. I would also like to see Mirman’s presence in the community of gifted and highly gifted to increase."
–JOHN WEST former Head of School
What will not change is the incredible inquisitiveness of these children. Their absolute commitment to learning, their curiosity about everything they see around them."
–NICOL Á S KELLO
Director of Music
This will be an even more diverse space as it relates to identity—racial, cultural, linguistic, gender. And we will challenge this notion that giftedness means one thing and rather see the full spectrum of possibilities.”
–JUSTIN H. DOVE School Psychologist
commemorating
moments THE
For 20+ years, Toy Kelly importantrecordedpassages for Mirman students in her bulletincrowd-pleasing boards.
TTOY KELLY CELEBRATED the journeys of students at Mirman School—from the first day in kindergarten to their sought-after senior status and every Spring Fair in between.
For over two decades, she created one-ofa-kind bulletin boards outside the Mirman Administrative Office three times a year—a Welcome board for incoming kindergartners, a Congratulations, Soon-To-Be Graduates board for each year’s Seniors, and a promotional board for the annual Spring Fair.
“I loved doing it. It made my job so exciting, and gave everyone a lot of joy,” says Kelly, who joined Mirman in 1999 in the classroom and went on to commandeer the front office as administrative aide.
Each board was unique. “I tried not to do the same thing twice. That’s my Gemini side,” says Kelly, who announced her retirement at the start of Mirman’s 2023–2024 school year.
Her bulletin boards became so popular that helping her work on one—and assisting at the front desk—was a sold-out item at a Mirman
School auction. Students often pose before a board with their photo in the background. “They looked forward to it,” says Kelly.
“From band-aids to bulletin boards, there is no member of our community, both past and present, that hasn’t benefited from Toy’s attention, kindness, love, professionalism, and grace,” says Head of School Dan Vorenberg
With 20+ years of bulletin boards behind her— over 60 different creations—Kelly explored a world of ideas related to students and the school.
She designed a Harry Potter “Wizarding World”themed board, a Spring Fair announcement inspired by a party invite, and a “Next Stop: High School” display with mortarboards handmade by each individual student, among others. Even COVID-19 didn’t stop her—she created a Welcome board in 2020, for the rare visitors when the school went virtual.
“I saw students arrive as kindergarteners, watched them grow, and celebrated them as they got ready to leave,” says Kelly. “There’s a lot of love in there.”
The best of luck from all of us at Mirman on your new adventure, Toy!
In
honor and memory of our dedicated faculty & staff
great wall of mirman
Celebrating & honoring longstanding former faculty & staff as of October 1, 2023
Jocelyn Balaban-Lutzky
Doris Berlan
Dr. Richard Boolootian
Ellen Brown
Michael Coleman
Dr. Julia Candace Corliss
Nancy Dean
Karin Durup
Dr. Susan Garrard
Galen Gary
Ana Marini Genzon
Julie Clark Hansen
Paul Kay
Toy Kelly
Darrel Lee
Lucy Leonardi
Beverly M. Mirman
Dr. Norman J. Mirman
Leslie Mirman Geffen
Joe Norton
Ramona Otto
Ronna Perel
Luis Rodriguez
David Royal
Judith Sacks
Wendy Samson
Jane Shimotsu
Sheila Simmons
John Thomas West, III
Larry Wiener
in memoriam
Faculty and staff as reported to the school as of October 1, 2023
Doris Berlan
Stuart Biegel
Stuart Brown
Roz Goldberg
Jean Harris
James Hinton
Sandy Liebman
Marjorie Martinez
Beverly Mirman
Dr. Norman J. Mirman
Kristen Rushlow
Romulo Tecson
Sheila Vaughan
Sharyn Woodbury
NNestled within the following pages of our special 60th anniversary edition of the Meridian, you will find the 2022–2023 Mirman School Annual Report. As we celebrate six decades of nurturing and educating our unique population of learners, this magazine showcases the incredible journey of our school. From nine students in the living room of our founders, to the harmonious blend of bucolic charm and contemporary form and philosophy we all enjoy today atop Mulholland Drive, Mirman has not only persevered, but it has thrived.
This evolution is not the result of happenstance, but rather the critical and fruitful work of an ongoing partnership, between those who call education their passion and vocation, and those who, as dedicated parents and guardians, play an integral role in supporting the academic, kinesthetic, and social/emotional journeys of their children. With the unwavering support of our donors, and the support of our community members in all its forms we, together, have been able to continue to nurture the boundless potential of highly gifted children, for decades.
It is with the utmost gratitude and appreciation that we invite you to delve into this report, keeping in mind that it is not just a declaration of the direct and positive impact these donors and volunteers including parents/guardians, grandparents, alumni, faculty, staff, corporations, and foundations have made on our school and our community over the last school year, but a testament to the strength of our shared and ongoing commitment to the children of Mirman School, and the enduring bonds that unite us in our unwavering support and care for them.
Noah Kaufman Director of Advancement
annual giving donors
Legacy Gateway
($50,000+)
Anonymous The Diadames •
Tom Swan and Joe Townley
Neetu and Neil Tolaney
Mirman Gateway
($25,000–$49,999)
Allison Gorelik and Aaron Fishman
Veronika Kurshinskaya and Jean Sherlock
Alya and Gary Michelson
Ram Parvataneni and Debika Bhattacharya
Marina and Stephen Pellico•
Lauren and Bobby Turner•
Visionaries Gateway
($15,000–$24,999)
Anonymous
Christina and Tom Cadwell
Sharon and Andy Gavin•
Wai Mei Lee and Clifton Ma
Lili Ma and Yi Li
Morgan and Matt Paget
Parent Service League•
Douglas and Margaret Spencer• Jewels and Kiko Washington•
Founders Gateway
($10,000–$14,999)
Anonymous
Ajmera Family •
Chad Billmyer and Jason Hendler•
Nicole and Thomas Duncan
Asma and Irfan Furniturewala
Jackie Hayes and Jeffy Branion
Hong Family •
Johnny and Wendy Hou
Velma D. King, in memory of Vanessa S. King and in honor of William D. King
Ginh and Mark Landecker•
Lee and Spencer Family •
Sora Lee and Jeremy Zhu
Jia Li and Jacky Xi
Bridget and Ty London
Dan Lukas and Anne Jarmain•
Elle and Marc Menowitz•
The Morgan Family
Robyn Murgio and Christopher Miller•
Kimberly and Guy Nachtomi
Pavitra Krishnaswamy and Adit Narasimha
Jonathan and Jenni Nassos, in memory of Dr. Tassos P. Nassos•
Marc and Leanna Primiani•
Suzanne and Brian Selmo•
Jerra and Paddy Spence•
Harry Suh and Patty Koh
Zhiyong Sun and Cindy Ke•
Peter and Angel Wang Family
Xin Wang and Xian Zhang
Kate and Modi Wiczyk•
Idalia and Rami Yacoub
Rong Yan and Yan Liu•
Jessica Zhao and Alan Zhang
The Zhao Family •
Head of School Gateway
($5,000–$9,999)
Anonymous
Theresa and Eric Abelson•
Sezin and Olcay Aksoy •
Sara and Mazdak Amiri Vaezpour
Lina and Tom Ara
David and Lital Aschkenasy •
Erez and Juyun Barnavon•
Julia Bedanova and Widmar Hernandez
The Cha Family
Chao and Narayan Families•
John Cho and Kerri Higuchi
Purna and Rajesh Chopra
Clarice and Hubert Chu
Tammy and Steven Chu
Demsky/Moore Family
Julie and Robert Edelstein•
Darren and Susy Enenstein
Grace Esquibel and Brian Ranade
Euh Family
Maliha and Adam Fakhri•
The Farag Family •
Peter Ferrie and Ling-Li Dong
Li and Alvin Fu••
Dr. Irina Ganelis and Mr. Alex Ganelis•
Heidi and Lawrence Grey •
Rachelle and Michael Guerin
Bobbie and Sandy Heck••
Heidi Hendrix and Ken Wimer
Salman and Alya Hussain, in honor of Dan Vorenberg
Jacobs Family
Christine and Michael Kim
Linda Kim and Stephen Liu
The Knott Family •
Billy and Joanna Ku
Yassi and Justin Lancer•
Susan and Brendan Lee•
Rob Lufkin and Jenny Li•
Newsha Malakzad
The Merrill Family •
Mia and Gabe Miller
Alan Mirman, in memory of Nancy Mirman•
The M.R. Metzger Family Foundation•
Susan Napier and Alex Berger
Deron and Cora Quon••
The Sampath Family •
Derek Schneider and Wisdom Lu•
Dr. Jin Seung and Ms. Grace Yim
Shang’s Family
Aarthi Sowrirajan and Vamsi Adusumilli
Katy and Justin Stark
The Sunder Family •
Matilda and Stephen Sung
Christa and James Tillman
Steve Tsoneff and Jessica Siegel
Nu Usaha and Larry Furst•
Dan Vorenberg •
Ben Wang and Ady He Saien and George Wu
Dr. Herbert Yang and Mrs. Grace Katharine Young
Lucas Zhang Family
Jie Zheng and Steve Zhao
Campus Gateway
($3,600–$4,999)
Peter Beerel and Janet Martin•
The Ellice-Paul Family
Amy Harkin and Steven Goodrich•
Synthia Lee and Howard Liu•
The O’Connor Family •
Kat and Albert Page
Lin Qi and Bo Feng
Norah T. Wang’s Family
Alex and Wendy Wuo•
Benefactor Gateway
($2,000–$3,599)
Anonymous
The Alber/Zhou Family, in memory of Xin Wu and Anze Zhou•
Michele Andelson, in honor of Henry (Fourth) and Benjamin (First) and in memory of their “Papa”
Arlen H. Andelson
Nathaniel and Anina Bach
Daven Bhavsar and Sabrina Lemmens
Tina Chang and Hubert Chen
Crawford Tiemann Family
Dr. and Mrs. John and Ursula Diaz
•
Fribourg Family
Constance Fung and Hawkin Woo
•
Ross and Danielle Greenberg
Harvilicz Family
The Kay Family
•
Michael and Edita Kremerman•
•
Kumar Family
Janna Levenstein and Kieran McKiernan•
Brian Levine and Christen Sewell••
Douglas Lichtman and Inessa Grinberg •
Leslie and Brett Marley •
Heather Morris and Mike Cohen
Jamie and Josh Phillips•
Postrozny Family
Amir and Irram Rao•
Dr. Madison Richardson
Anastasia Romantsova and Mark Garber
Rushfield Family
Alyson and Matthew Schonholz
Steven and Tiffani Shin•
Simon Family
The Song Family
The Stubbeman/Fan Family •
Marguerite and Patrick Sung
Jia Wang and Lusheng Ji
Patron Gateway
($1,000–$1,999)
Anonymous
AmazonSmile•
Anousheh Family
Manish and Geetika Antani, in memory of Arum Upadhyaya
Margaret and Danilo Bach
Bahri Family
The Barnes Family, in memory of Dr. Louis J. Barnes Jr
Anna and Kristian Beloff •
The Berenji Family
Susan Berger
Saul, Jann, and Ashley Berman• The Bersch Crain Family
Amar Bhattacharyya Family
Rahsan and Napiera Boykin
Marc and Christina Cahill
Jessica Chase Spaly
•
Stephen and Jennifer Cleare
Matt Corman and Dawn Urbont
The Davidov Family •
Sabine Dreher and Robert Amin•
Sun and Prasad Parmeshwaran•
Rice-Williams Family
Richardson Galtt Family
The Romano Steinberg Family
Alison and Larry Rosenthal
•
Rachel Silverstein and David Dozoretz, in memory of Ellen Silverstein
David Simonds
Kerry and Kevin Sinclair••
Stafford Chen Family
The Stein Family
Sternberg-Hilton Family, in memory of Valentino
The Taniguchi Family
Wegge Family •
Junjie Wei and Xiao Bao
William and Sonia Pindler
Family Foundation•
Caitlin Wu and Tao Qu
David and Connie Yao
Donor Gateway (up to $999)
Anonymous
Annie Abrams•
Meeryo Christa Ahn C•
The Alcantar Family •
Steve and Mary Altiere
Kristan Andrews•
Andrew Arnold•
AnnaLea and Evan Arnold
Adriana Basurco
Andrew Bloomgarden••
The Boasberg Family, in memory of Jack Mishkin•
The Bonnici Family
Darlene Boyd
Brady Family
•
Marc and Yu-Tsun Brown•
Peter Castro and Sophia Chang
Chen Family
The Hayes Family •
David and Susan Heckerman•
Margaret Hilton Paulson, in honor of Alan and Leslie Mirman
Daniel Hong • Allie and Don Isaac
Dr. Tenika Jackson
Michael and Lynn Kaufman• Kazerouni Family
T. Evans Knight• Katherine J. Kuchenbecker, in honor of Mrs. Cave• The Lacob Family
Marc Adam Lebovitz•• Audrey Lee••
Patrick Quinlan•
Rastegar Family
•
Barbara and Jeffrey Rosenbaum
Ora Rosenbaum•
Nadine and Edward Rosenthal•
The Rowell Family
Magdalena and Gaurav Sant
Ethan Sawyer••
Thomas J Scoville and Elena Figueroa
M. Rahim Shayegan and Shiva Falsafi
Alastair Shearman•
Igor Shlimovich and Larissa Markevich•
Devin Sidell•
Mary Sidell•
Matthew and Courtney Simmons
The Lubbe and Hill Family
Debby and Adam Fenner
• Fine Family
Lois Grace Golde•
Julie Haffner and Patrick Prickett•
Haider-Fischer Family • Hinman Moody Family, in honor of Mirman’s 60th year
Drs. Wendy and Ivan Ho•
Alexandra and Lawrence Hughes•
The Jahromi Family
Sarina and Robert Jarchi
Sousan Karimi and Franklin Sedarat•
The Kennair-Miller Family • The Kim Family
Gayla Kraetsch-Hartsough and Jeffrey Hartsough•
Janet Kwuon
An Le and Doron Azrialy
Raphael Lei and Misha Suksnguan
Amy and Steve Levin•
Adam and Alexandra Lewinson, in memory of I.M. Lewinson•
Jade and William Liu
Ariel Osterweis and Églantine Colon
Dana Chidekel•
Crystal and Andrew Cohen
Marcus Collins•
William Cortez-Moore•
Jesse Cruz
Adam and Tiffany Diament•
Yoni Dobie-Geffen, in memory of Dr. Norman and Beverly Mirman•
Sandra Ferrari Disner
Joseph Fishkin and Cary Franklin
Freeman Family •
Dr. and Mrs. David M. Fung • The Gallow Family
Hannah Gardner Sherwindt•
Talia Geffen and Mathew Arnold, in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Mirman•
Ruth Glass and Leor Hackel•
Akane Glaze
Yi Gong and Mingtian Zhao
Elvia Gonzalez•
Griego Anderson Family
Allison Gutwillinger• The Haas Family •
Jeffrey Hartsough••
•
Carol and Gerold Libby
David H Lockman
Julie and Giulio Maresca
Kesha Martin•
Eve McCabe and Jonathon Stewart• The McKeown Family • Meer Family, in memory of Daniel Meer and in honor of Elana Meer
Leslie Mirman Geffen, in memory of Norman and Beverly Mirman• Montanez Garay Family
Eliseo and Elsa Montenegro, in honor of Edson and Bryan Montenegro
Stephen R and Kathleen L Morgan•
Elisia Nettles
The O’Dell Family
Tommy and Codie Oliver
Sirie Palmos•
Petrus Family •
The Polynice Family
The Powell Family
Jim Sington and Susan Murdock•
The Smiths – Slade ‘98, Reagan ‘00, Connolly ‘02, Kaelyn Smith
Smutny ‘30
The Smutny Family • Sunwoo Family
Lauren Superstein• Shanghua Teng and Diana Williams•
Chris and Heather Thorne
Magdalena and Jay Tucker
Tyagi Family •
von Firley-Butler Family • Jen Wang
Caryn and Matt Weghorst•
Ayelet Weinerman•
Susan and Richard Wishner
•
Sharona Yashar and Ramin Tabibiazar•
Alan Zachary and Jenny Ashman, in memory of Mrs. Roz Goldberg•• Jeff and Carrie Zuckerman
annual giving donors
Trustees
Erez and Juyun Barnavon•
Anna and Kristian Beloff •
Cynthia Carrasco
Kourosh and Delara Ghassemieh•
Jackie Hayes and Jeffy Branion
Heidi Hendrix and Ken Wimer
Yassi and Justin Lancer•
Ginh and Mark Landecker•
The Massey Family
Alan Mirman, in memory of Nancy Mirman• Amie and Asif Satchu
Karen and Ben Sherwood•
Jerra and Paddy Spence•
Jason and Syreta Travis•
Jewels and Kiko Washington•
Odetta Watkins•
Alex and Wendy Wuo•
Parents
Anonymous
Theresa and Eric Abelson•
Ajmera Family •
Sezin and Olcay Aksoy •
The Alber/Zhou Family, in memory of Xin Wu and Anze Zhou•
The Alcantar Family •
Steve and Mary Altiere
Sara and Mazdak Amiri Vaezpour
Kristan Andrews•
Anousheh Family
Manish and Geetika Antani, in memory of Arum Upadhyaya
Lina and Tom Ara
David and Lital Aschkenasy • Nathaniel and Anina Bach
Bahri Family
Erez and Juyun Barnavon•
The Barnes Family, in memory of Dr. Louis J. Barnes Jr.
Adriana Basurco
Julia Bedanova and Widmar Hernandez
Peter Beerel and Janet Martin•
Anna and Kristian Beloff • The Bersch Crain Family
Amar Bhattacharyya Family
Daven Bhavsar and Sabrina Lemmens
Chad Billmyer and Jason Hendler• The Boasberg Family, in memory of Jack Mishkin• The Bonnici Family
Rahsan and Napiera Boykin
Brady Family •
Christina and Tom Cadwell
Marc and Christina Cahill
Mary Beth Carosello
Cynthia Carrasco
Peter Castro and Sophia Chang
Tina Chang and Hubert Chen
Chao and Narayan Families•
John Cho and Kerri Higuchi
Purna and Rajesh Chopra
Clarice and Hubert Chu
Tammy and Steven Chu
Stephen and Jennifer Cleare
Crystal and Andrew Cohen
Matt Corman and Dawn Urbont
Crawford Tiemann Family
The Davidov Family •
Demsky/Moore Family
Adam and Tiffany Diament•
Dr. and Mrs. John and Ursula Diaz
Sabine Dreher and Robert Amin•
Nicole and Thomas Duncan
Julie and Robert Edelstein•
The Ellice-Paul Family
Ara A Elliott
Darren and Susy Enenstein
Grace Esquibel and Brian Ranade
Euh Family
Maliha and Adam Fakhri•
The Farag Family •
Debby and Adam Fenner•
Peter Ferrie and Ling-Li Dong
Fine Family
Joseph Fishkin and Cary Franklin
Freeman Family •
Li and Alvin Fu••
Constance Fung and Hawkin Woo
Asma and Irfan Furniturewala
The Gallow Family
Dr. Irina Ganelis and Mr. Alex Ganelis•
Sharon and Andy Gavin•
Talia Geffen and Mathew Arnold, in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Mirman•
Kourosh and Delara Ghassemieh•
Ruth Glass and Leor Hackel•
Akane Glaze
Yi Gong and Mingtian Zhao
Elvia Gonzalez•
Allison Gorelik and Aaron Fishman
Ross and Danielle Greenberg •
Heidi and Lawrence Grey •
Griego Anderson Family •
Rachelle and Michael Guerin
The Haas Family •
Julie Haffner and Patrick Prickett•
Haider-Fischer Family •
Amy Harkin and Steven Goodrich• Harvilicz Family
The Hayes Family •
Jackie Hayes and Jeffy Branion
Bobbie and Sandy Heck••
Drs. Wendy and Ivan Ho•
•
Hong Family
Johnny and Wendy Hou
Alexandra and Lawrence Hughes•
Salman and Alya Hussain, in honor of Dan Vorenberg
Allie and Don Isaac
Imani and Johnathon Jackson
Dr. Tenika Jackson
Jacobs Family
The Jahromi Family
Sarina and Robert Jarchi
Sousan Karimi and Franklin Sedarat•
The Kay Family • Kazerouni Family
Christine and Michael Kim
The Kim Family
Linda Kim and Stephen Liu
The Knott Family •
Michael and Edita Kremerman•
Billy and Joanna Ku
Kumar Family •
Veronika Kurshinskaya and Jean Sherlock
The Lacob Family
Yassi and Justin Lancer
•
Ginh and Mark Landecker•
An Le and Doron Azrialy
Lee and Spencer Family •
Sora Lee and Jeremy Zhu
Susan and Brendan Lee•
Synthia Lee and Howard Liu•
Raphael Lei and Misha Suksnguan
The Leung Family •
Janna Levenstein and Kieran McKiernan•
Amy and Steve Levin•
Brian Levine and Christen Sewell•
•
Adam and Alexandra Lewinson, in memory of I.M. Lewinson•
Jia Li and Jacky Xi
Kun Li and Wei Lin
Douglas Lichtman and Inessa Grinberg •
Liu Family
Bridget and Ty London
The Lubbe and Hill Family
Rob Lufkin and Jenny Li•
Dan Lukas and Anne Jarmain•
Kara and Richard Luna•
Lili Ma and Yi Li
Newsha Malakzad
Leslie and Brett Marley •
Kesha Martin•
Jeff and Robyn Maynard•
Eve McCabe and Jonathon Stewart•
The McKeown Family •
Elle and Marc Menowitz•
The Merrill Family •
Alya and Gary Michelson
Mia and Gabe Miller
Gian Molero•
The Morgan Family
Heather Morris and Mike Cohen
Robyn Murgio and Christopher Miller•
Kimberly and Guy Nachtomi
Susan Napier and Alex Berger
Pavitra Krishnaswamy and Adit Narasimha
Jonathan and Jenni Nassos, in memory of Dr. Tassos P. Nassos• Elisia Nettles
The O’Connor Family •
The O’Dell Family
Tommy and Codie Oliver
Ariel Osterweis and Églantine Colon
Kat and Albert Page
Morgan and Matt Paget
Sun and Prasad Parmeshwaran•
Ram Parvataneni and Debika Bhattacharya
Vincent Passeri and Andrea Lieberman•
Kelly and Alex Pekar•
Marina and Stephen Pellico•
Jamie and Josh Phillips•
The Polynice Family
Postrozny Family
The Powell Family
Marc and Leanna Primiani•
Lin Qi and Bo Feng
Patrick Quinlan•
Deron and Cora Quon•• Amir and Irram Rao•
Rastegar Family •
Rice-Williams Family
Richardson Galtt Family
The Romano Steinberg Family • Anastasia Romantsova and Mark Garber
The Rowell Family
Rushfield Family
The Sampath Family • Magdalena and Gaurav Sant
Amie and Asif Satchu
Alyson and Matthew Schonholz
Thomas J Scoville and Elena Figueroa
Suzanne and Brian Selmo•
Dr. Jin Seung and Ms. Grace Yim
Shang’s Family
Karen and Ben Sherwood•
Steven and Tiffani Shin•
Igor Shlimovich and Larissa Markevich•
Rachel Silverstein and David Dozoretz, in memory of Ellen Silverstein
Matthew and Courtney Simmons
Simon Family
David Simonds
Kerry and Kevin Sinclair••
The Smutny Family •
The Song Family
Aarthi Sowrirajan and Vamsi Adusumilli
Jerra and Paddy Spence•
Douglas and Margaret Spencer•
Stafford Chen Family
Katy and Justin Stark
The Stein Family
Sternberg-Hilton Family, in memory of Valentino
Harry Suh and Patty Koh Zhiyong Sun and Cindy Ke•
The Sunder Family •
Matilda and Stephen Sung
Sunwoo Family
Lauren Superstein•
Tom Swan and Joe Townley
Shanghua Teng and Diana Williams•
Chris and Heather Thorne
Christa and James Tillman
Neetu and Neil Tolaney
Jason and Syreta Travis•
Steve Tsoneff and Jessica Siegel
Magdalena and Jay Tucker
Tyagi Family •
Nu Usaha and Larry Furst•
von Firley-Butler Family •
Ben Wang and Ady He
Jen Wang
Jia Wang and Lusheng Ji
Peter and Angel Wang Family
Xin Wang and Xian Zhang
Jewels and Kiko Washington•
Wegge Family •
Caryn and Matt Weghorst•
Junjie Wei and Xiao Bao
Ayelet Weinerman•
Caitlin Wu and Tao Qu
Saien and George Wu
Alex and Wendy Wuo•
Idalia and Rami Yacoub
Rong Yan and Yan Liu•
Dr. Herbert Yang and Mrs. Grace Katharine Young
David and Connie Yao
Sharona Yashar and Ramin Tabibiazar•
Lucas Zhang Family
Jessica Zhao and Alan Zhang
The Zhao Family •
Jie Zheng and Steve Zhao
Jeff and Carrie Zuckerman
Alumni
Anonymous
Annie Abrams
Meeryo Christa Ahn C
Andrew Arnold
Ashley Berman
Andrew Bloomgarden•
Jessica Chase Spaly
Dana Chidekel
Marcus Collins
William Cortez-Moore
Yoni Dobie-Geffen, in memory of Dr. Norman and Beverly Mirman
Fribourg Family
Li and Alvin Fu•
Hannah Gardner Sherwindt
Talia Geffen and Mathew Arnold, in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Mirman
Ruth Glass and Leor Hackel
Ross and Danielle Greenberg
Allison Gutwillinger
Jeffrey Hartsough•
Bobbie and Sandy Heck•
Daniel Hong
T. Evans Knight
Katherine J. Kuchenbecker, in honor of Mrs. Cave
Marc Adam Lebovitz•
Audrey Lee•
Brian Levine and Christen Sewell•
Sirie Palmos
Deron and Cora Quon•
Ora Rosenbaum
Ethan Sawyer•
Alastair Shearman
Devin Sidell
Kerry and Kevin Sinclair
•
The Smiths – Slade ‘98, Reagan ‘00, Connolly ‘02, Kaelyn Smith
Smutny ‘30
The Smutny Family
Alan Zachary and Jenny Ashman, in memory of Mrs. Roz Goldberg•
The Kennair-Miller Family •
Norah T. Wang’s Family
Faculty & Staff
Anonymous
Alberto Avendano
Brad Barry •
Rick and Karina Benfield
Amel Berg •
Emily Blackwell
Lauren Bouchereau
Amanda Brooks
Angela Brown•
Coach Carlos
Mary Beth Carosello
Tyler Cassidy
Lizeth Castellon
Cesar Chavez
Alec Colantonio-Ray •
Michael Coleman•
Sean Collins
Ray Cunningham
Simon Darcy •
Debra Davis
Cristian De Leon
Ericka Dean
Justin H. Dove
Alyssa Eamnarangkool
Ara A Elliott
James Fonteneaux•
Allen Foster•
Tommy John Gaio
Aida Gharapetian•
Jacqueline Gottlieb
Dr. Benjamin Gross
Michelle Guzman
John Haas
Tanya Haghnazarian
Rae Hall
Aliseea Harwood
Kim Henry
Jared Hubbard
Tri Huynh
Imani and Johnathon Jackson
Noah Kaufman•
Parents of Alumni
Anonymous
Michele Andelson, in honor of Henry (Fourth) and Benjamin (First) and in memory of their “Papa”
Arlen H. Andelson
AnnaLea and Evan Arnold
The Berenji Family
Saul and Jann Berman•
Marc and Yu-Tsun Brown•
The Cha Family
Chen Family
Sandra Ferrari Disner Fribourg Family •
Dr. and Mrs. David M. Fung •
Lois Grace Golde•
David and Susan Heckerman•
Heidi Hendrix and Ken Wimer
Hinman Moody Family, in honor of Mirman’s 60th year
Michael and Lynn Kaufman•
Nicolás Kello•
Grace Kelly
Toy and Marc Kelly •
Julie Leavitt•
The Leung Family •
Aileen Level
Matt Lewis
Kun Li and Wei Lin
Liu Family
Jocelyn Lopez
Mr. Lueder•
Kara and Richard Luna•
Kevin Lynch•
Mr. M
Coach Leo Matos
Jeff and Robyn Maynard•
Madison Means
Paige Merrill•
Gian Molero•
Victor Molina
Dámaris Morán-Zuloaga
Andrew Peterson
Lauralie Pow
Robin Raval•
Karyn Raz
Jasmine Rice
Reggie Rios•
Marissa Rohan
John Schmitt
Mary Sebunya
Rita Anne Smith•
Monica Sone
Adam Tabeling
Karika Thompson
Serenah Truong
The Urbschat-Cho Family
Dan Vorenberg •
Alyssa Wray •
Claudíette Wright-Bey •
Shiqing Yin•
Cyrus Yun
Ryan Zary
Grandparents & Friends
Anonymous
Michele Andelson, in honor of Henry (Fourth) and Benjamin (First), and in memory of their “Papa” Arlen H. Andelson
Margaret and Danilo Bach
Susan Berger
Darlene Boyd
Jesse Cruz
Dr. and Mrs. David M. Fung •
Margaret Hilton Paulson, in honor of Alan and Leslie Mirman
Wai Mei Lee and Clifton Ma
Jade and William Liu
Leslie Mirman Geffen, in memory of Norman and Beverly Mirman•
Dr. Madison Richardson
The Smiths – Slade ‘98, Reagan ‘00, Connolly ‘02, Kaelyn Smith Smutny ‘30
Velma D. King, in memory of Vanessa S. King and in honor of William D. King
Gayla Kraetsch-Hartsough and Jeffrey Hartsough•
Janet Kwuon
Carol and Gerold Libby
David H Lockman
Julie and Giulio Maresca
The Massey Family
Meer Family, in memory of Daniel Meer and in honor of Elana Meer
Alan Mirman, in memory of Nancy Mirman• Leslie Mirman Geffen, in memory of Norman and Beverly Mirman• Montanez Garay Family
Eliseo and Elsa Montenegro, in honor of Edson and Bryan Montenegro
Stephen R and Kathleen L Morgan• Petrus Family •
Barbara and Jeffrey Rosenbaum
Alison and Larry Rosenthal
Nadine and Edward Rosenthal•
Derek Schneider and Wisdom Lu•
M. Rahim Shayegan and Shiva Falsafi
Mary Sidell•
Jim Sington and Susan Murdock• The Smiths – Slade ‘98, Reagan ‘00, Connolly ‘02, Kaelyn Smith
Smutny ‘30
The Stubbeman/Fan Family •
The Taniguchi Family
Lauren and Bobby Turner• Odetta Watkins•
Kate and Modi Wiczyk•
William and Sonia Pindler Family Foundation•
Marguerite and Patrick Sung
Susan and Richard Wishner
•
Businesses & Foundations
Air Lease Corporation•
AmazonSmile•
American Endowment Foundation
Apple Inc.••
Arian Foundation
Asset Consulting Group LLC
Ayco Charitable Foundation
Bank of America•
Boeing •
ByteDance•
Coinbase•
The Diadames•
Eion Technologies Inc.
Electronic Arts•
Ericsson•
Fidelity Charitable
Fuller Foundation
Gen
Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund
Google Inc.••
The Hartford Financial Services Group•
Izzard Corporation
JP Morgan Charitable Giving Fund
Michelson Medical Research Foundation
Million Dollar Baby Co.•
The M.R. Metzger Family Foundation•
National Philanthropic Trust
NBC Universal•
Netflix••
Nordstrom•
Norton LifeLock•
Parent Service League•
Riot Games•
Schwab Charitable
TIAA-CREF Financial••
Vanguard Charitable
The Walt Disney Company
••
William and Sonia Pindler
Family Foundation•
The Wonderful Company
••
restricted giving
Mirman School makes every effort to publish all names and information in this report accurately, and in line with the expressed wishes of our donors. If we’ve fallen short in this pursuit, please contact Noah Kaufman at nkaufman@mirman.org so that we may correct our records.
STACY PHILLIPS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND
This fund supports female students at Mirman School who come from under-resourced singleparent households.
Jocelyn Tetel
Emily Rosenthal • Clara Slifkin
Howard Knee Stacy Phillips•
DR. NORMAN J. AND BEVERLY M. MIRMAN ENDOWED MEMORIAL FUND
Established in honor of the founders of Mirman School, the Dr. Norman J. and Beverly M. Mirman Endowed Memorial Fund reflects the Mirman’s commitment to developing the campus as a beautiful natural setting which inspires the intellectual, creative, physical, and emotional growth of students. This endowment provides necessary funds for the continued beautification and enhancement of the physical campus as an extension of the school’s educational space and mission.
Alan Mirman, in memory of Nancy Mirman •
NANCY MIRMAN MEMORIAL FUND
Nancy Mirman was deeply involved in The Mirman School community for 15 years while her three boys were Mirman students. Beyond the role of a devoted and loving mother, she was active as room parent and trip chaperone, volunteer PSL Treasurer for many years, and coordinator of “Stop ‘n’ Nosh” class fundraising. Nancy lived the ideals of nurturance and education that are central to the Mirman mission. Support for these ideals continues today through gifts to the Nancy Mirman Memorial Fund, benefiting our Tuition Assistance program, providing access and opportunity, and enriching the community to which Nancy lovingly dedicated her time, talent, and care.
Alan Mirman, in memory of Nancy Mirman • Aaron and Laura Mirman-Heslin •
GIFT-IN-KIND
In addition to financial support Mirman School receives gifts of goods and services on an annual basis. We thank the following donors of gift-in-kind donations during the 2022–2023 academic year:
Anonymous
Erez and Juyun Barnavon • Michelle Chan and Michael Han
Tammy and Steven Chu
Nicole and Thomas Duncan
Julie and Robert Edelstein
• Darren and Susy Enenstein Euh Family
Maliha and Adam Fakhri • Fine Family
Freeman Family •
Amy Harkin and Steven Goodrich • The Knott Family •
Synthia Lee and Howard Liu • The Leung Family •
Maximo’s Mom and LA Lunch Lady
Elle and Marc Menowitz • Mia and Gabe Miller
Robyn Murgio and Christopher Miller • Jonathan and Jenni Nassos• Vincent Passeri and Andrea Lieberman • Marina and Stephen Pellico • Deron and Cora Quon
• • Suzanne and Brian Selmo • Shang’s Family
Rachel Silverstein and David Dozoretz
Harry Suh and Patty Koh
The Sunder Family • Christa and James Tillman
Norah T. Wang’s Family Caryn and Matt Weghorst•
matriculation
MIRMAN SCHOOL STUDENTS ENTERED THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS IN 2023–2024
The Bloke School
Brentwood School
The Buckley School
Campbell Hall
Cate School
Choate Rosemary Hall
Crossroads School
Harvard-Westlake School
Loyola High School
Marlborough School
Notre Dame High School
Polytechnic School
The Rivers School
Saint Mary’s Hall
Viewpoint School
Webb School
MIRMAN SCHOOL ALUMNI ENTERED THE FOLLOWING COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES IN 2023–2024
Colby College (1)
Cornell University (1)
CSULA Early Entrance Program (1)
Davidson College (1)
Duke University (1)
Emerson College (1)
Emory University (1)
Georgetown University (2)
Harvard University (3)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1)
McGill University (1)
New York University (1)
Princeton University (1)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2)
Southern Methodist University (1)
Tufts University (1)
University of California, Davis (1)
University of California, Los Angeles (3)
University of Chicago (1)
University of Michigan (1)
University of Pennsylvania (1)
University of Virginia (1)
University of Washington (1)
Vassar College (1)
Washington University, St. Louis (1)
Wellesley College (1)
Wesleyan University (1)
Yale University (3)
99 % participation
annual giving participation
IN THE 2022–2023 SCHOOL YEAR , Mirman School achieved an industry-leading 99% parent participation rate, with 100% of our Board of Trustees and employees also contributing to the Annual Giving campaign. It is through the work of our dedicated volunteers and the support of our community that Mirman School is able to uphold the vision of our founders and to achieve our unique mission and goals.
Mirman School greatly appreciates the generosity of the parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, employees, Trustees, and friends who devoted their time, effort, and resources to the school.
volunteers & leadership areas of support
This chart illustrates the distribution of directed support as a percentage of total Annual Giving donations received.
DURING THE 2022–2023 school year, donors to Mirman School were given the option of directing their annual gifts toward four different areas of support: the area of greatest need, tuition assistance, academic programs, and faculty development. The majority of donors chose to designate their gifts to the area of greatest need, allowing the school to allocate funds where they will make the most impact.
ANNUAL GIVING VOLUNTEERS 2022–2023
CHAIR
Yassi Lancer
LOWER SCHOOL CHAIR
Irina Ganelis
Steve Levin
UPPER SCHOOL CHAIR
Joshua Glazer
TEAM LEADERS
Julie Edelstein
Debby Fenner
Delara Ghassemieh
Ginh Landecker
Stephen O’Connor
Paddy Spence
Doug Spencer
Katy Stark
Neetu Tolaney
Sarah Urcis
PSL PRESIDENT
Celina Meites
PSL VICE PRESIDENT
Caryn Weghorst
We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the dedication and generosity of all our volunteers, in all its forms. Thank you for partnering with us in pursuit of our mission and goals.
COORDINATORS
David Aschkenasy
Juyun Barnavon
Julia Bedanova
Yamit Betesh
Jonah Cohen
Laura Davidov
John Diaz
Ursula Diaz
Maliha Fakhri
Miranda Farag
Li Fu Kourosh Ghassemieh
Allyson Haas
Anna Huang
Christine Kim
Michael Kim
Jamie Kornberg Phillips
Lorrelei Lindland
Yan Liu
Gabe Miller
Mia Miller
Kimberly Nachtomi
Bahareh Navai
Jordan Paul
Kelly Pekar
Cora Quon
Irram Rao
Amy Rice
Doug Rowell
Paloma Rowell
Tiffani Shin
Morgan Simonds
Kerry Sinclair
Margaret Spencer
Adrien Theuer
Christa Tillman
Dawn Urbont
Justin Urcis
Matt Weghorst
Diana Williams
Tasha Willis
Jasmine Zhou
MIRMAN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP 2022–2023
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Erez Barnavon
Anna Beloff
Cynthia Carrasco
Kourosh Ghassemieh
Jackie Hayes
Heidi Hendrix
Justin Lancer
Mark Landecker
Davina Massey
Alan Mirman
Asif Satchu
Karen Sherwood
Paddy Spence
Jason Travis
Dan Vorenberg, ex officio
Kiko Washington, Chair
Odetta Watkins
Alex Wuo
EXECUTIVE SENIOR ADMINISTRATORS
Dan Vorenberg
Head of School
Brad Barry
Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management
Rick Benfield
C hief Financial Officer
Angela Brown
Director of Athletics
Ray Cunningham Head of Upper School
Ericka Dean
Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Community
Tommy Gaio
Director of Technology
Noah Kaufman
Director of Advancement
Stephanie Leung
Assistant Head of School and Head of Lower School
OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT
Noah Kaufman
Director of Advancement
Karika Thompson
Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations
Grace Kelly
Director of Marketing and Communications
Alec Colantonio-Ray
Data and Advancement Coordinator
OPERATING REVENUE
OPERATING EXPENSES
FINANCE COMMITTEE
2022–2023
Justin Lancer, Chair
Erez Barnavon
Anna Beloff
Kourosh Ghassemieh
Mark Landecker
Asif Satchu
ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE 2022–2023
Heidi Hendrix, Co-Chair
Davina Massey, Co-Chair
Alan Mirman
Paddy Spence
Jason Travis
Yassi Lancer•
•Non-Trustee Member
Please make your gift or pledge today!
mirman.org/makeagift
why we give
AS A PROUD PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN attending Mirman and with the added connection of my husband being an alumnus, supporting Annual Giving is not just a responsibility, but a heartfelt commitment. We participate in and support Annual Giving because we want to ensure our children and all the students at Mirman have access to the best resources, opportunities, and a nurturing learning environment to cultivate their boundless potential. Annual Giving allows us to come together as a community to invest in the future of our children and create a better tomorrow.
Cora Quon, on behalf of the Quon Family
OUR FAMILY HAS COMMITTED to making Mirman a meaningful philanthropic priority because we fundamentally believe in the “power of Mirman,” and specifically the nurturing and challenging of young highly gifted minds to reach their full potential. Mirman provides an environment that fosters intellectual curiosity, encourages critical thinking, and tailors education to the unique needs of students in a custom and adaptive manner. By contributing annually, our hope is that we are not only investing in the future of our children, but also in the betterment of society as a whole. For us, Mirman represents a culture of excellence, balanced learning and a deep sense of community so our family feels right at home.
