Leadership
Meet Head of School Sarah Beck
Windward proudly welcomed Sarah Beck as our new Head of School, July 1, 2025. A dynamic and compassionate leader, Sarah brings a wealth of experience in both independent and public education, most recently serving as Interim Head of Upper School and Assistant Head of School for Academics at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia.
Throughout her career as a teacher, administrator, and curriculum innovator, Sarah has demonstrated a deep commitment to unlocking potential in students and educators alike. Known for her strategic insight, inclusive leadership, and intellectual curiosity, she embodies Windward’s mission to provide a dynamic, engaging education within a nurturing and inclusive community. Sarah is joined by her husband, Nico, and their son, Oscar, as they begin their journey as proud members of the Windward family.
Board of Trustees
Chair:
Michelle Alvarez Taub
Vice Chair:
Elliot Gordon '74
Alex Kwit
Secretary:
Alex Kwit
Officers:
Gareth Asten
Sarah Beck
Ann Gianopulos
Amy Eldon Turteltaub
Parent Guild Representative:
Kara Horowitz
Members:
Ted Fikre
Rose Helm
Steve Henning
Juliet Oh
Rich Pachulski
Chelsea Patterson
Viveca Paulin-Ferrell
Tyrone Powell
Anna Reyna
Raj Shourie
Steve Trilling
Erica Tukiainen '06
Ted Fikre
Rose Helm
Steve Henning
Juliet Oh
Rich Pachulski
Chelsea Patterson
Viveca Paulin-Ferrell
Tyrone Powell
Anna Reyna
Raj Shourie
Steve Trilling
Erica Tukiainen '06
Governance
At Windward, as in most independent schools, decision-making authority at the highest level resides in a volunteer Board of Trustees, whose membership often includes current parents. The Board is the guardian of the School’s mission. It is the Board’s responsibility to
ensure that the mission is relevant and vital to the community it serves and to monitor the
success of the school in fulfilling its mission.The Board does not intervene in the daily affairs of the School, such as curriculum development and faculty and staff personnel decisions.
ensure that the mission is relevant and vital to the community it serves and to monitor the
success of the school in fulfilling its mission.The Board does not intervene in the daily affairs of the School, such as curriculum development and faculty and staff personnel decisions.
Instead, the Board focuses on three areas critical to the success of any independent school:
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It selects, evaluates, and supports the Head of School, to whom it delegates authority to manage the School;
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It develops broad institutional policies that guide the Head of School in running the School;
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It is accountable for the financial well-being of the School. In the conduct of its official business, the Board acts only as a whole; individual Trustees, including the Board Chair, have no authority to act unless specifically authorized to do so by the Board acting as a whole.
