Dear Member of the Independent School Alliance Community,

 

It has been a great privilege and honor to serve the Alliance community for the past five years. Although it was an incredibly difficult decision to end my tenure at the Alliance, the organization is strong which gives me confidence that it will continue to serve its vital mission well into the future. As another school year ends and I conclude my term as the executive director, I am reflective on all that has been accomplished, together, particularly within this last year. 

 

My team and I began the year with several goals to advance and elevate the mission of the Alliance by focusing on our students, families, school partnerships, staff, and the broader community. During the 2021-2022 school year, the Alliance vetted, counseled, and advocated for the newest cohort of Alliance candidates. Our team worked closely with admitted students and families and provided more than nine months of support to help them to prepare and navigate through the independent school admissions process. Thank you to our volunteers, guest speakers, and translators including Mark Mitchell, Zulma Leiva, Elizabeth Chimalpopoca.

 

I am most proud of the incredibly talented young people who have accessed life-changing educational opportunities at some of the nation’s most rigorous independent schools. Without the Alliance, many of our students would have been overlooked and possibly left behind. At a time when social and economic mobility has declined in many communities of color, these young people are firmly on the path to future leadership. Thanks to the support of our steadfast board of directors and the loyalty of the entire Alliance family, we have successfully advanced the mission to facilitate educational access for underrepresented students of color despite having faced some of the greatest challenges our generation has ever seen. 

 

In addition to our core focus of admissions support, the Alliance also held an amazing virtual Across Colors Diversity Conference (ACDC) that supported and featured students, families, independent school educators, and other organizations. The conference highlight included Nikole Hannah-Jones and Clint Smith as keynote speakers for the conference theme of “Generating Energy for Change,” which challenged attendees to amplify the voice of truth and cultivate activism. Thank you to our ACDC co-chairs for their leadership in organizing and planning a phenomenal virtual conference. We appreciate you Janine Jones, Jeanine Kay, Kirsten Albrecht, and Kelly Gorman!

 

Lastly, during the fourth and final quarter of this school year, our team continued to support our families with school enrollment and updated our systems in preparation for the next cohort of students and families and the executive leadership transition. We also planned and executed our first in-person fundraiser in over two years! At our Impact Awards Dinner, we celebrated graduating seniors, acknowledged several impactful individuals, and honored philanthropic giant, Nina Shaw. Together, we increased awareness and raised funds to increase educational access in independent schools. The Impact Awards Dinner was thoughtfully planned and executed. Great job Mira Lee, Monica Mange Johnson, and Tiffany Alexander Aldridge!

 

As I reflect on my last year with the Alliance, I am grateful to everyone who came together to make this a successful year: our talented students who work tirelessly to excel academically; our parents who support our students and the Alliance every step of the way; our alums whose incredible accomplishments inspire me every day and pave the way for others to follow in their footsteps; my incomparable colleagues who work selflessly to ensure that zip codes don't determine life outcomes; our member school partners who wonderfully provide the education, financial support, and opportunities to help make educational dreams come true; and the Alliance’s unbelievably generous, giving, and wise board of directors who enable us to do this critical work. I would particularly like to thank the board chairs who I have been so fortunate to partner with these last 5 years: Bob Riddle, Jeffrey Clifford, and Mark McKee. I am so grateful to every member of the Alliance community for your partnership. It has meant the world to me. The momentum we have created positions us nicely to increase impact as we continue to build a diverse pipeline of future leaders.

 

There are no words that can express how sincerely grateful I am for the privilege of working with the Alliance. This organization has been my family and home for the last five years. As a lifelong learner and educator, I have been heartened and humbled by the outpouring of support during trying times for our organization, and I have marveled at the dedication of countless people, many who have gone unnamed. So, thank you to every Alliance supporter from every affiliation. We could not have done this without you. 

 

Above all, I share my gratitude for the opportunity to have served the Alliance community over the past five years. I will remain an Alliance supporter and staunch advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in our schools and in society as a whole. 

 

With heartfelt thanks,