Dear Windward Community, 

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are excited to announce that Sarah Beck will be Windward School’s next Head of School, beginning July 1, 2025. After an exhaustive and comprehensive search process, the Board has unanimously approved Sarah’s appointment in this role and we can’t wait to welcome Sarah, her husband Nico, and their son Oscar to our Windward family.

Sarah comes to us from The Potomac School, an esteemed K-12 school in McLean, Va. Sarah is currently the Assistant Head of School for Academics and will be the Interim Head of Upper School for the upcoming school year. Prior to this, Sarah held various academic leadership positions at the Langley School in McLean, Va. including Assistant Head for Programs, Head of Lower School, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Director of Student Services. She began her career in education as a history teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools, where she also served as Director of Student Services, Academic Dean and Assistant Principal, and the Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator. Before pivoting to her dream career in education, Sarah gained invaluable experience in the business world, working as a consultant at Bain & Company and as a financial analyst at Sephora USA, developing skills that will assist in her role as Head of School. 

Sarah is an innovative educator who is committed to unlocking potential, purpose, and passion in students and educators. With her depth of knowledge, proven track record in strategic planning, voracious appetite for learning, and focus on fostering a culture of excellence and inclusivity, we are confident Windward will see continued success under Sarah’s leadership. Sarah uniquely combines an intellectual zeal with deep compassion and understanding – echoing Windward’s commitment to a dynamic, engaging education and a nurturing, inclusive community. >

We would like to thank every Windwardian who participated in this process. From the very first community survey in which you were asked to identify the traits that our next leader should have to the surveys you completed after each of the candidate visits, we have valued and integrated your input into our consideration; your thoughts were instrumental in helping the Head of School Search Committee assess the candidates and ultimately select Sarah. Our community indicated it wants a leader who, among other things, demonstrates a high level of integrity, is philosophically aligned with our mission and strategic plan goals, is a transparent communicator and relationship-builder, is a visionary leader, has strong administrative and teaching experience, respects and values student voice and expression, and has a growth mindset. In Sarah, we have found someone who demonstrates each of these traits in abundance.  

We are tremendously grateful for our Head of School Search Committee, Faculty and Staff Panel, Trustees, and every parent, student, alumni, and faculty and staff member who contributed to this search. Last, but certainly not least, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Tom Gilder for his extraordinary leadership and remarkable achievements in his 37 years as Head of School, and thank Tom in advance for the partnership he will create with Sarah to ensure a smooth transition over the next 13 months. With Tom’s guidance and strong support from the Board of Trustees and our community, we know that Sarah will preserve the legacy and culture of Windward while moving us forward consistent with the vision of Shirley Windward and Tom Gilder.

We encourage you to read Sarah’s letter and watch her video to the Windward community below. Welcome, Sarah!

With Gratitude,

Michelle Alvarez Taub and Elliot Gordon
Co-Chairs of the Head of School Search Committee

Alexander B. Kwit
Chair, Board of Trustees