B O A R D O F T R U S T E E S / 2 0 1 6 -1 7
John Nadolenco, Chair Jonathon Wolfson, Vice Chair Michael Murphy, Secretary Andrew Gengos, Chair / Finance Committee Halé Behzadi, Chair / Committee on Trustees, Delegate-at-Large Joseph Carieri, Delegate-at-Large Brian Glicklich, Delegate-at-Large Shelly Sumpter Gillyard, Chair / Advancement Committee, Delegate-at-Large
Tom Boone Seth Casden ’91 Jay DiMaggio, Chair / Buildings and Grounds Dirk Gates Jeremy Helfand Peggy Jones Kraig Kitchin Anne Leonetti Robert Lopata Susan Lotwin
Tom Moran Dick Robertson Jill Schecter Charles Schetter, Chair / Strategic Plan Committee Sarah Spano ’05 Robert Webster Brian Wynn ’85 David ZeBrack
L E T T E R F R O M T H E C H A I R M A N O F T H E B O A R D / 2 0 1 6 -1 7
John Nadolenco / Chair, Board of Trustees The future has arrived on Viewpoint’s campus.
for the innovation taking place on our campus. And we’re just getting started.
For many years, our School has focused on building. We built classrooms, libraries, pools and fields. We transformed our campus. While there will always be more building to do, last year marked an important shift from focusing on building to focusing on what happens inside those buildings.
The Board is fully committed to supporting the administration in this important endeavor. In that regard, I want to thank the trustees rotating off the Board who played such important roles in supporting this next chapter: Tom Boone, Joe Carieri, and Tom Moran. And I’m equally excited to welcome the new trustees who will carry our mission forward: Kafi Blumenfield, Tim Fish, David Kirschner, John Nelson, Thomas Tull, and Frank Watanabe. Our Board is stronger than ever.
In hiring Mark McKee as Head of School, we hired an educator to ensure that our already strong curriculum gets stronger and evolves where necessary. We’ve already seen results: ■
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Mark and his administration have worked closely with the faculty to establish a new direction for our academic program – one that is focused on innovation and developing inspired students and creative leaders. They have changed the teacher-review process to ensure that we have the best teachers who continue to develop professionally.
A heartfelt farewell.
They are making important changes to the School’s schedule and calendar, including moving final exams before the Winter Break! And in June, they hired a Chief Innovation Officer whose job will be to make sure that we have the most cutting-edge programs possible.
In large part because of these efforts, the word is out. Viewpoint is becoming known throughout Los Angeles and the country
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And as I, personally, rotate off the Board, a final word to a very special community. I’m mindful that the Board I helped lead will be remembered for overseeing the Head of School transition from Bob Dworkoski to Mark McKee. It’s been a terrific success by all accounts. To make it so took immense work from trustees, administrators, staff, parents and students – people who spent many selfless hours dedicated solely to doing what’s best for Viewpoint. I will always be proud of, and touched by, what we accomplished together. It was our finest hour. Yet I’m confident that our best days are still ahead.
V I E W P O I N T
S C H O O L
John Nadolenco Chair, Board of Trustees
Kafi Blumenfield / New Trustee
Tim Fish / New Trustee
Kafi Blumenfield, mother of Nia ’24 and incoming Third Grader Obi, was the Founding Executive Director for Discovery Cube Los Angeles, and is an active member of the boards of the James Irvine Foundation and the Tides Foundation, among others. She and her husband, LA City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, are delighted by their experience at Viewpoint and eager to become more involved. She explained, “My career has been spent supporting non-profit leaders, and my happiest moments are when I am of service. I am excited to lend my experience in strategic change at this moment in history of the School.”
Tim Fish is the Chief Innovation Officer for the National Association of Independent Schools. From 1998-2016, Tim was Associate Headmaster at McDonogh School in Maryland. He was also the founding president and CEO of the FolioCollaborative, a nonprofit community of more than 125 schools around the world. When asked why he decided to join Viewpoint’s board, Tim replied, “Mark McKee is a visionary leader, and I want to do everything I can to support the strong work that the School is doing to create a supportive and empowering learning environment. Viewpoint is one of our nation’s great schools. I am excited to join the team!”
David Kirschner / New Trustee
John Nelson / New Trustee
David Kirschner, grandparent of Sophia ’25, Mikah ’27, and Gavin ’29 Wolfson with his wife Liz, is a film and television producer and is currently head of his own production company, David Kirschner Productions. As the producer of such films as An American Tail, Hocus Pocus, and the Child’s Play films, David explained that his work is always an “exploration of childhood,” and in some way rooted in his own childhood experiences. David said, “I am proud as a grandparent to support an institution that I stand in awe of. Viewpoint is a place where children learn to be caring citizens of the world, and I am excited to do my part.”
John Nelson, father of Collin ’24 and Mia ’24, is the Co-Founder and CEO of SEED Beauty, the parent company for ColourPop Cosmetics, Kylie Cosmetics, and KKW Beauty. Headquartered in Oxnard, SEED Beauty incubates and launches new beauty brands. With a team of over 1,500, the business creates, produces and ships products direct to consumers. When asked why he joined Viewpoint’s Board, John explained, “From day one, my wife, Allison, and I recognized that Viewpoint was a special and unique environment. I am excited to contribute and enhance the School in any way that I can. I believe that Viewpoint’s best days are still ahead.”
Thomas Tull / New Trustee
Frank Watanabe / New Trustee
Thomas Tull, father of Connor ’28 and Christopher ’28 with his wife Alba, is currently the Chairman and Founder of Tulco and part of the Pittsburgh Steelers ownership group. He previously served as founder and CEO of Legendary Entertainment. He is a lecturer at the Harvard and Stanford Schools of Business and is an Entrepreneur-inResidence at Harvard. When asked why Viewpoint and why join the Board, Thomas replied, “We wanted our children to have a well-rounded experience that included a world-class education within a grounded community, and after much research Viewpoint hit those points for us. We felt that Viewpoint would foster intellectual curiosity and make learning a lifelong journey.”
Frank Watanabe, father of Jack ’19 and Andy ’24 with his wife Jaelee, is the COO of Kanan Therapeutics, a company that develops innovative pharmaceutical therapies. Frank also continues to serve as a Commander in the Naval Reserves. Frank attended an independent school in Indiana and wanted something similar for his sons. Frank is excited by the School’s new strategic direction and making plans for the future. In addition to his role on the Board, Frank is co-chairing the 2017-18 Viewpoint Fund with his wife Jaelee. He said, “I am honored to be able to contribute to writing the next chapter in Viewpoint’s history.”
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