Announcing additional changes in the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) for 2025-2026

Dear Faculty and Staff, 

I hope that the last week of the school year has started off on a positive note for you! This final week of school brings different emotions: enjoying end-of-year celebrations and performances, saying goodbye to our students, colleagues, and parents, and, of course, looking ahead to the summer with anticipation. In addition, the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) uses this time to reflect on the year and to plan ahead for the following school year.  

Today, I wish to let you know of anticipated changes in the SLT for the 2025-2026 school year.  In addition to launching a search for a high school principal to start at SSIS in the 2025-2026 school year, we will also be conducting searches to replace two additional long-term members of the SLT: David Chadwell and Katie-Rigney Zimmermann. I am incredibly grateful to both of them for their contributions to SSIS, and we will do our best to find replacements who will continue their legacies at SSIS.

Director of Admissions, Marketing, and Communications: Katie Rigney-Zimmermann 

Throughout her 14 years at SSIS, Katie has made significant contributions as the Director of Admissions, Marketing & Communications and as an incredibly active member of the SSIS community. Under her leadership, the school’s enrollment has nearly doubled, growing from 757 to a planned 1455 students for next year. Katie has shown great dedication to community building, establishing Parent Coffees, PTA clubs, and internships, which have significantly increased parent engagement and community ties. 

Over the years, she launched two websites, two enrollment systems, parent and faculty portals, a school-wide newsletter, annual reports, and a school magazine, enhancing communication and engagement within the school community. Additionally, she led student clubs, including Dragon Tales and Bliss 4 Youth, and ran Girl Scouts to further enrich the student experience at SSIS. 

Katie also represented SSIS well in the EARCOS region and the international community by fostering collaboration and professional development. Stefan, Katie, and their five children have been significant contributors to the SSIS community. We congratulate Katie on the graduation of her fifth child, Helia, this year and look forward to seeing what new adventures lie ahead in 2025.

On a practical level, we are considering restructuring the Admissions, Marketing, and Communication Department, so the development of that job announcement will take more time. 

Associate Head of School for Teaching & Learning: David Chadwell

As the Associate Head of School for Teaching and Learning, David has been instrumental in establishing systems, articulating policies and procedures, and overseeing the adoption of new curricula. He has been particularly gifted in identifying, collecting, analyzing, presenting, and utilizing data in decision-making, and he has fostered a data-driven culture at SSIS. His novel and inclusive WASC process, ensuring the involvement of all stakeholders and comprehensive engagement, will continue as we anticipate his orchestration of the WASC visit in the Fall. 

Under his leadership, the Teaching and Learning Office was established, including additional school-wide positions and the development of an extensive middle-level leader structure (PDLs and IDLs), significantly improving program coordination and support across all divisions. David has also overseen the development and preparation of standards-based teaching and learning and coordinated the development of the strategic plan. His contributions have greatly enhanced SSIS, and he will leave the Teaching and Learning Office in excellent shape in June 2025 when he heads off to his next leadership position.

Beginning in 2025-2026, this role will be redefined as Director of Teaching and Learning, and Carney Sandoe will lead the search. I am grateful to the representatives from across the school who are participating in the search committee (Co-chairs Catriona & Dan Kerr, Members Jake West, Jacob Humes, Najela Hammond, Trinh Lu, Melanie Sylvester, Chad McGartlin, Tom Lupton, Don McNamee, Tatiana Kladova, Tuck Barrows, and Lennox Meldrum).

We will keep you informed of the progress of our leadership searches along the way. I am very grateful for the many committee members who are giving their time and attention to ensuring that we continue bringing the highest-quality educators and leaders into our community. 

All good wishes, 

Catriona