An Announcement  from

The Head of School and Board of Trustees

December 15, 2020

 

Dear Members of the Board of Trustees of San Francisco University High School, 

 

Having the opportunity to lead San Francisco University High School continues to be the single greatest professional honor of my life. What originally drew me to UHS was our collective desire to grow and adapt as a school with a reputation for excellence without complacency in all areas of our programs and community. Even in the midst of this global pandemic, the work of preparing our students for the complex world they are entering remains deeply gratifying and inspiring.

 

However, as much as I am energized and challenged by the work, I am also looking ahead to the next chapter of my life after 40 years working in independent education. I am writing to let you know that I will be retiring at the end of the next school year (June 2022) having served as Head of School for nine years. Though it is still 18 months away, I want to give the Board all the time it needs to identify and choose the next Head of School to lead UHS through the next chapter in its history.

 

My husband John and I have devoted our lives to our family and to our respective careers in education. We are fortunate to have our health and a vibrant family that includes grandchildren who are growing up too fast. My Head of School responsibilities have been engaging and all-consuming and it is time for us to focus on family, travel, volunteerism, and our love for and engagement in the arts.

 

As I reflect on our work together, I have such a sense of pride in the foundation UHS has built on the development of our shared core values and vision for a transformational high school experience. Our Strategic Design boldly positions UHS to be a leader in shifting high school culture to one of challenge, balanced with support and care to inspire authentic engagement. It has been gratifying to acknowledge that UHS is not only in the conversation of educational reform, but leading it with a national reputation in independent schools for strategy, research and student wellness.

 

So much has changed at UHS since I arrived in 2013. During our time together, we have made significant headway in

• realizing many aspirations of our Equity and Community Statement,
  
  
• expanding access by increasing financial aid,
  
  
• securing Summerbridge as an essential part of UHS’s community, culture and public purpose,
  
  
• enhancing faculty compensation and financial support for professional development,
  
  
• significantly diversifying our faculty, staff and board of trustees,
  
  
• promoting multi-disciplinary curricular development and assessment innovation,
  
  
• realizing the potential of our signature mentoring program and
  
  
• opening Paul Goode Field – not just for UHS to have as a true home field, but to share with our nonprofit partners and neighbors throughout the city.

 

The vision that we, together, are realizing and continue to steward will provide a robust onramp for dedicated leadership of the school in the future. In the meantime, our work isn’t done. I look forward to tackling our self-study for the upcoming CAIS reaccreditation in 2021-22; completing the entitlement process for the California Street property that will unlock potential across our entire campus providing an integrated and state-of-the-art facilities for STEM education, community and athletics; continuing our fundraising momentum to realize that dream; nurturing and celebrating some sense of normalcy after COVID; and supporting a successful leadership transition.

 

The privilege to work with such a talented and committed team of faculty, staff and senior administration has been inspiring, humbling, and a lot of fun. I will always carry with me the deepest admiration and fondness I have for my UHS colleagues. I have also been so moved by the support, dedication and talent of the UHS Board of Trustees who are championing a dynamic strategic vision; heartily endorsing and participating in our journey toward a stronger, more equitable and inclusive community; and stewarding a campus master plan that will be the most significant (and transformational) capital project for the school since our opening in 1974.

 

Finally, I want you to know that my time at UHS has been especially enhanced by working with our UHS students who are curious, clever, passionate, resilient, playful, kind and dedicated. My admiration for their camaraderie and spirit despite unimagined setbacks during the past nine months is the single greatest treasure that I will carry into my retirement. They remain at the center of our work and at the center of my heart.

 

With deep appreciation, respect and affection for the entire UHS community,

Julia Russell Eells

Head of School

 

December 16, 2020

 

Dear UHS Faculty, Staff, Students, Families, Alumni, Trustees and Friends,

 

I write to announce that our Head of School Julia Eells has chosen to retire at the end of next school year in June 2022, having then served our community for nine incredible years. On behalf of the entire University High School Board of Trustees, I wish to convey our deepest gratitude to Julia for her outstanding service to our school and our community.

 

This time marks one of reflection and appreciation as we consider all that our school community has accomplished under Julia’s profound leadership. Under her guidance, our school has reached new heights through the development of a shared vision for a transformational high school experience, based upon our collective values of inquiry, care, integrity, agency and interconnection. Through this work, Julia has always been ever-focused and ensured that our school culture is student-centered, diverse and full of warmth, care and connection. We certainly see this every day in our mentoring program, a hallmark of this commitment. At the same time, Julia has ensured that our school strategy is based on research, data and sustainability.

 

In addition to our programs, our campus is now on a path of transformation because of Julia's leadership and her partnership with the Board of Trustees, with the opening of Paul Goode Field in 2017 and the current development of the school's property on California Street. Exemplifying Julia's commitment to our students’ wellness and our community, Paul Goode is not only a true home field for UHS athletics, but also affords our students with wellness through increased time given its proximity to the campus and community, and the sharing of the field with nonprofit partners and neighbors throughout the city.

 

We are also on the critical journey to fulfill our values as stated in our Equity and Community Statement developed under Julia’s leadership. These values include expanding financial aid at twice the rate of tuition increases for four consecutive years; securing Summerbridge as an essential part of UHS’s community, culture and public purpose; and, developing our faculty, staff, and board of trustees to achieve increased diversity, equity and inclusion.

 

And, throughout the challenges of the global pandemic faced this past year, Julia has been the deeply inspiring and trusted leader that we all have needed. Julia’s constant calm has provided stability and hope -- ensuring community safety, prioritizing mental and physical well-being and creating excellent online learning for our students.

 

Now, the UHS Board is entrusted with hiring our next Head of School and, with that, helping to set the path to our future. Initially, the Board will guide the search process, selecting a Search Committee and finalizing the selection of a search firm in the next few weeks. We intend the process to be as transparent, engaging, and open as possible to foster success. You will hear much more from the Board and the Search Committee about the search and how to become involved over the coming weeks and months. We believe that UHS is one of the most attractive opportunities for Head of School candidates in the Bay Area and beyond, and we expect to select a new leader from an impressive and highly qualified pool of candidates.

 

Together with the full Board of Trustees, I am extremely confident about our school's future. Julia will be at the helm until the end of the 2021-2022 school year continuing to direct our school as we search for and identify a new Head of School, and she will work to ensure a smooth leadership transition. Over the next 18 months, we will also create opportunities to celebrate Julia for her tremendous leadership and to thank her husband John for his partnership and service to our school. Until then, please join me in expressing thanks and appreciation to Julia for her incredible contributions to our school and our community.

 

Very truly yours,

Katie Albright (Ben Schatz ’18 & Ellie Schatz ’21)

Chair, Board of Trustees