As the vibrancy of spring unfolds, our campuses and children are overflowing with energy and excitement. Many of us are yearning for a reconnection to each other and to the gatherings, celebrations and festivals that connect us to one another, to the seasons and to our school. Springtime is always filled with possibilities and in that light, the Board of Trustees has some exciting updates to share with you as we plan for our future together.
After months of analysis and reflection, the board along with faculty and staff have decided to restructure the leadership at OVWS. We have posted and are interviewing candidates for a Pedagogical Director position. This person, alongside Madelief Becherer as our Administrative Director, will lead our school forward.
An ongoing inventory of our strengths and our weaknesses has brought us to the conclusion that our organization will benefit from a more robust leadership team. The Administrative Director will continue to focus on administrative leadership, operations, financial and legal matters. The Pedagogical Director will focus on the overarching pedagogy of our school and programs, faculty support and mentoring and parent education. Together, they will engage in strategic planning and holding a holistic view of our school, as well as development, human resources and outreach. It is our belief that this new structure will enable us to be more nimble in making decisions and more cohesive as an organization, across and within our programs. Our hope is that these changes will allow for a stronger holding of students, families, faculty and staff.
This is a bittersweet time at Orchard Valley, as we say goodbye to some faculty and staff and welcome new people to our school. Cathie Ely, Jane Hill, Lindsey Benton, Kate Camilletti, Kelly Davis, Dana Cudney and Georgeanne Baker have dedicated a combined almost 60 years of tireless service to Orchard Valley. They have shared with countless children, families and colleagues their passions, expertise and love over the years and we are incredibly grateful. Each of them will live on in the soul of our school and we wish them well on their new adventures.
Hiring is underway to fill new and vacant positions, both on our administrative team and faculty. Under this new leadership structure, we will have both the Administrative Director and the Pedagogical Director in addition to a Front Office Manager, a Facilities Manager, an Admissions Director, a Marketing Director and a Registrar. We recognize that the administrative effort to run three different programs with different requirements, staffing, calendars and hours requires a more fortified team and we are very hopeful that we are putting the people in place to support our programs, and in turn, our children, families and faculty. In conjunction with administrative support, we are adding Music and Movement back into the grades program. Hiring for all of these positions is well underway and we are very excited as we welcome new faculty and staff and begin living into this new way of running our school.
Our new Facilities Manager, Tom Beck, has been working tirelessly along with faculty, staff and volunteers to tend to the land and buildings of Orchard Valley, including the animal paddocks and pastures, farmhouse fencing and windows and general maintenance. We are dedicated to pouring love into the land and buildings that support our work, making a beautiful space for all of us to play and work.
Please reach out to any member of the board with questions, ideas or concerns. We are always happy to hear from and connect with you.
With gratitude,
OVWS Board of Trustees,
Anna Rankin
Paule Bezaire
Don Haddox
Brian Basor
Michael Chartrand
Evan Premo
Jada Berg
Michelle Gullage
Christa Therrien
Madelief Becherer
