Leadership and Strategic Priorities

Cheryl Anderson
Mac Armstrong '93
Doug Arthur '99
Jennifer Beamer
Juli Oh Browne
Kelly Capen Douglas
Abby Feldman
Rev. Dr. Mark Hargreaves
Justin Kass
Dan Keefe '90
Eric Kleinbub '95
Chris McGuinness
Melissa Alioto Murfey '97
Scott Murfey '95
Tim O'Donovan
Sharon Peng
Colleen Peterson
Sonia Ramamoorthy
Mike Ryan
Teresa Sekiguchi
Tyler Seltzer
The Rt. Rev. Susan Brown Snook
Taylor Stockdale
Janice Upton
José Vallejo '04
Christy Pharr Wilson '67
Keith Wyer '95

Board of Trustees Bios

Honorary Lifetime Trustees

David Bagley
Brad Geier
Annie Wolterstoff Love '65
Betsy Manchester
Anne McCarthy
Gretchen Stroschein Thomson '59
Susan Fleet Welsch '63

The Bishop’s Board of Trustees holds the School “in trust” for future generations and is the highest-level decision-making authority. The board uses the School’s mission statement and strategic goals as guideposts for board decisions. Board business is conducted in accordance with approved bylaws, last revised in April 2018.

The board delegates responsibility for managing day-to-day operations to the head of school and does not intervene in the daily affairs of the School, such as curriculum development, admissions or personnel. Instead, the board focuses on three areas critical to the success of any independent school:

adopting a clear statement of Bishop’s mission and vision with particular focus on long-range and strategic issues;
selecting, evaluating and supporting the head of school who is charged with the management of the School; and
being accountable for the financial, legal and reputational well-being of the School.

The volunteer board is comprised of current parents, alumni, parents of alumni and community members. The head of school is an ex-officio member of the board. A significant portion of the board’s work is done through its eight committees that focus on fiduciary, strategic and advancement initiatives for the long-term health of the School.

In the conduct of its official business, the board acts only as a whole; individual trustees, including the board president, have no authority to act unless specifically authorized to do so by the board acting as a whole.

Trustees are asked to serve up to two three-year terms and serve on two committees. The Governance Committee continually identifies and evaluates trustee candidates from the parent, alumni and wider communities to ensure diversity of experience, perspective and skills. Members of the Governance Committee meet with candidates and speak with those who know them to determine their strengths, experience serving on previous boards, alignment with the mission and interest in sharing their time, talent and treasure. The committee makes recommendations of highly-qualified candidates to the board, which elects trustees each April for the following school year.

From time to time, ad hoc committees or task forces may be formed to address specific issues or projects (for example, strategic planning).

Committees

Advancement

All members of the Board share responsibility for the success of the Advancement program.

The Advancement Committee recommends development strategy and policy to the Board of Trustees in keeping with the School’s mission, purpose and strategic plan. Specific responsibilities include: annual giving; financial aid funding; auction; capital and endowment campaigns; alumni and parent relations (including parents of students and alumni); special events; planned giving; and stewardship to enhance our culture of philanthropy and school traditions. These responsibilities may be individually staged or coordinated within an overall comprehensive campaign.

Committee Chair: Juli Oh Browne

Audit and Risk Management

The Audit and Risk Committee assists the Board of Trustees in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.

The committee’s role includes a particular focus on the qualitative aspects of financial reporting and on organization processes for the management of risk, and for compliance with significant applicable tax, legal, ethical and regulatory requirements. The role of the committee also includes coordination with other committees of the Board, and the maintenance of strong and positive working relationships with the administration of the school, the external auditors, counsel to the school and any advisors to the committee.

Committee Chair: Sonia Ramamoorthy

Executive

The Executive Committee consists of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Head of School, COO/CFO and Committee Chairs. The Executive Committee coordinates the work of the Board, serves as a sounding board for the Head and the Board President, and makes recommendations to the full Board on important issues. The committee assists in planning Board meeting agendas and monitors adherence to the school’s mission, long-term strategic and annual goals.

Committee Chair: Mac Armstrong '93

Facilities

The Facilities Committee advises on the sustainable maintenance of the site to support program.

It makes recommendations from time to time to the Board as to the needs and priorities of new facilities or use and maintenance of existing facilities.
It periodically reports to the Board on the physical condition of the present plant.
It helps in developing and maintaining a campus master plan and in developing strategies for acquisition of properties adjacent to the School.
It provides recommendations to the Finance and Investment Committee on short-term and long-term facility needs, costs, time schedules and priorities for use in establishing budgets.

Committee Chair: Keith Wyer '95

Finance and Investment

The Board of Trustees has primary responsibility for the long-term fiscal health of the school. The Finance and Investment Committee is responsible for the following:

Provides prudent oversight of the financial operations of the school, to review the fiscal impact of proposed new Board initiatives, and to make recommendations to the Board on financial decisions
Preparation, in conjunction with the Head of School, of the annual budget and for its submission to the Board
Review of the quarterly and annual financial statements. Review of the complete audit of the School’s finances by outside auditors
The prudent investment and care of the School’s assets, within the guidelines established by the Board
Monitoring compliance with any loan or bond covenants

Committee Chair: Teresa Sekiguchi

Governance

The Governance Committee ensures that the Board of Trustees provides effective governance for the school.

Monitors the overall health of the Board and Board relationships
Establishes criteria and Board needs for new Trustees and continually looks for and develops a list of potential Trustees.
Responsible for presenting recommendations to the full Board for filling vacancies on the Board, for nominating a slate of officers for the Board’s consideration each year, and for advising the President regarding selection of Standing Committee chairs.
Responsible for orientation of new Trustees and for identifying and providing Board education
Conducts an annual self-assessment of the Board.
Ensures that the Bylaws accurately reflect the structure and method of operation of the school, meet current legal standards and recommends any revisions to the Board.
Is responsible for succession of the Board President
A subcommittee of the Governance Committee evaluates the performance of the Head of School annually and reviews and establishes his or her compensation.

Committee Chair: Jennifer Beamer

Strategic Oversight

Student Life, Diversity and Globalization

The Student Life, Diversity and Globalization Committee provides oversight of the school’s efforts to achieve and sustain a diverse school community, to serve the whole student, to advance character development and leadership skills, and to include a meaningful global education element as part of the school’s overall program. The committee makes such recommendations as necessary to the Board, and acts in an advisory capacity to the Head of School.

Committee Chair: Kelly Douglas

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