Leadership
Board of Trustees
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 of Trustees does not intervene in the daily affairs of the School, such as curriculum development and hiring, evaluating, or firing of faculty members and staff.
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.
Board of Trustees 2024-2025
Chair
Alex Kwit
Secretary:
Tom Gilder
Officers:
Gareth Asten
Elliot Gordon '74
Michelle Taub
Parent Guild Representative:
Sheri Green
Members:
Amy Eldon Turteltaub
Ted Fikre
Ann Gianopulos
Rose Helm
Steve Henning
Jordan Kaplan
Heather Mitchell
Juliet Oh
Rich Pachulski
Chelsea Patterson
Viveca Paulin-Ferrell
Colin Rose
Andrew Schwartzberg
Raj Shourie
Steve Trilling
Erica Tukiainen '06
Perrie Weiner
Windward School statement on diversity
Approved by the Windward Board of Trustees May 2002
Windward School’s commitment to diversity is an integral part of its educational fabric, inextricably linked to the mission of the School. Windward School is determined to create a welcoming community that embraces diversity and encourages students to develop a deep understanding and appreciation of the diverse world they will inherit. Windward School is located in Los Angeles, a sophisticated metropolitan area with a rich, diverse history. Therefore, Windward School students, parents, and employees must appreciate the contributions of peoples of varying ethnic, economic, religious, and racial backgrounds, as well as people of varying physical ability and sexual orientation. Windward School expects all members of the community to be committed to an inclusive school community that values diversity and respects differences. By joyfully accepting one’s participation in a diverse world, Windward students can more easily adjust to working, living, and learning with people in other parts of our state, nation, and world. Windward School seeks diversity not as an end in and of itself, but as a means to producing future leaders of our society. Students immersed in a diverse family of learners, who go on to become the community leaders of tomorrow, will surely help to reduce the gap between the economically advantaged and disadvantaged. They will also help to promote equal access to education and work opportunities for all peoples and help to establish mutually beneficial ties with peoples of other countries.
At all times, Windward School strives to
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Appreciate and celebrate the origin and individuality of each member of the school community.
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Respect the innate dignity of each person, which is reflected in the school’s curriculum and co-curriculum.
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Instill in its students a clear sense of self and a clear understanding of their present and future responsibilities as educated members of our global community.
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Imbue students with the notion that they learn, work, live, and play in a world populated by individuals and groups of many races, ethnicities, religions, and resources, as well as varied learning styles, physical abilities, and sexual orientations.
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Offer an inclusive, multicultural curriculum that nurtures independence and individual growth and helps prepare each student to continue in higher education.
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Encourage every member of the community to actively participate in respectful and inclusive social interaction.
We hope that as a result of Windward’s commitment to diversity, our graduates regard learning as a lifetime process and strive to enhance their intellectual, moral, and ethical reasoning while fostering respect for themselves and others.