Cal-ISBOA News

October 6, 2025

Staff was pleased to be able to visit Presentation High School in San Jose while in town for the 2025 Board Retreat and Fall Meeting a few weeks ago. Human Resources Director Michelle Miller and HR Specialist Monica DePalmo treated our staff to a rich tour of Presentation High School's scenic campus. Serving young women, Presentation (or “Pres” as it is affectionately known) encourages students to follow their interests and try new extracurriculars like robotics. Students build skill and confidence by overcoming challenges in their extracurriculars, which ultimately supports their academic success as well. Their robust staff includes over 70 coaches who provide specialized training in 14 different sports as well as dance, which many students come to Pres specifically to study. Faculty and staff work in classrooms, offices, and large common spaces that are intentionally close together to support continuous collaboration. We were honored to hear directly from alumni about how their time at Pres created an inspired foundation for their forward journeys.

Thank you again to Michelle and Monica for their hospitality!

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September 29, 2025

Staff was pleased to be able to visit Hillbrook School in San Jose a couple weeks ago while in town for the 2025 Board Retreat and Fall Meeting. Chief Financial Officer Margaret Randazzo gave us an incredible tour of Hillbrook’s brand-new Upper Campus in downtown San Jose, as well as their original Lower Campus in Los Gatos, where the Hillbrook magic began almost 100 years ago. From the updated furnishings and original windows in their fully renovated historic buildings downtown, to the cozy Village of Friendly Relations cabins sprinkled across their Los Gatos campus, every detail is intentionally executed to support students wherever they are in their journey. Thanks again to Margaret for a wonderful tour!

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September 18, 2025

Last week, our Board of Directors gathered for the annual Cal-ISBOA Board Retreat and Fall Meeting at the beautiful Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose. President Nicole Pennington and Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi planned a productive and fun retreat agenda, balancing critical conversations and decision-making with enriching teambuilding activities. Not only did our Board undertake the essential work of moving our ambitious 2025-2028 Strategic Plan into the implementation phase, but our talented Board Members all ESCAPED from The Escape Game's interactive rooms by working together. Being together for this retreat allowed our leadership team to develop a strong foundation for their collaboration throughout the year. We are looking forward to a wonderful year together serving the Cal-ISBOA membership!

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September 11, 2025

It is always a treat for Cal-ISBOA staff to visit our member schools in person! While in Los Angeles last month, Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi was graciously hosted by Chief Finance and Operating Officer Manuel Pardo and Chief Human Resources Officer Heather Kruse for an inspiring tour of Viewpoint School in Calabasas. Located in a beautiful canyon on Mulholland Drive, Viewpoint has a 43-acre campus that spans one whole mile from one end to the other. This single campus hosts four state-of-the-art schools serving PK through High School for a variety of academic and extracurricular activities. The warm camaraderie among the school team and the dedication to exceptional facilities was evident at every turn. Thank you again to Manuel and Heather for their hospitality!

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September 5, 2025

I hope this message finds you well and that the return to campus has been a smooth and uplifting transition as you welcome students, families, and colleagues into a new school year.

This time of year, I’m often asked, “Did you enjoy your summer break?” I always smile at the question, knowing that for those of us in Business, Operations, Facilities, and Human Resources, summer looks a little different. While many are wrapping up vacations, we’ve been deep in audits, campus improvements, summer programs, and the ever-important work of hiring and onboarding.

Back-to-school brings a special kind of reward: we finally get to see the “why” behind our efforts. The joy and energy that students bring back to campus is a powerful reminder of our purpose. Watching teachers ignite curiosity and creativity in their classrooms fills me with renewed appreciation. I hope it fills you with the same sense of pride and purpose.

As we all settle into the rhythm of the year, I encourage you to take a moment to walk your campus. Look around at the vibrant programs, bustling classrooms, and meaningful experiences that your work makes possible. While you're taking care of your school, remember to take care of yourself, too. What brings you joy? What would make your day just a bit easier? What goals—personal or professional—are you holding space for this year? If you haven’t had time to reflect, I encourage you to begin.

At Cal-ISBOA, the Board and staff are excited to continue serving our Independent School community this year. Whether it’s through regional meetups, our mentor program, Zoom groups, or informal connections, we hope you’ll find opportunities to engage, grow, and feel supported.

Thank you for the dedication, care, and heart you bring to your school, and thank you for being a valued part of the Cal-ISBOA community.

Wishing you a joyful and meaningful start to the school year,

Nicole Pennington
Cal-ISBOA Board President
Business and Development Officer, Los Encinos School

September 2, 2025

Visiting our unique member schools in person is essential to our continued learning about your needs as Cal-ISBOA members. Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi was graciously hosted by Rich Harper (Business Manager) for a tour of The Country School (TCS) in Los Angeles last month. Offering progressive education from PK to 8th grade, TCS puts holistic learning and an inclusive culture center stage, equipping their students to make a positive, lasting impact. Boldly departing from traditional paradigms, all TCS students practice daily meditation, and TCS has a No Homework Policy for PK through 4th grade, emphasizing the importance of play, exploration, and multisensory learning to early development.

Thanks again to Rich for sharing his school with us!

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August 25, 2025

Right: Scarlett Vanyi (Cal-ISBOA), left, with Ann Grimmett (Saint Mark's School).

When wildfire struck Los Angeles this past January, the impacts on our independent school community were devastating, especially for Saint Mark’s School. Earlier this month, Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi had the opportunity to visit Saint Mark’s School’s temporary campus, where CFO Ann Grimmett showed her around and shared how they have navigated this challenging time. Saint Mark’s School’s staff and faculty quickly sprung into action, and in just eight weeks, they partnered with another local school to erect a temporary campus with spaces to accommodate all of their classrooms, each program, and a play structure.

Saint Mark’s School demonstrated incredible leadership and resilience, ensuring students could return to their classes as soon as possible. We stand with all our schools in celebrating the tenacity of Saint Mark’s and other schools affected by wildfires and other disasters, and in honoring our shared commitment to the students of California!

August 19, 2025

A huge thank you to Buckley School CFO and 2025 MACI Award Recipient Lisa Turchan for hosting a So Long Summer Soirée in Los Angeles last week to bring Cal-ISBOA colleagues together! Executive Director Scarlett Vanyi was delighted to be able to join the many members who were in attendance to welcome NBOA President & CEO Jeff Shields and Executive Vice President James Palmieri, who were visiting from the East Coast.

Guests were transported into an enchanted garden when they passed through the tall doors to Lisa’s beautiful patio where our gracious hostess offered delicious homemade refreshments. The Soirée was the perfect opportunity for SoCal members to reconnect and share stories of their summer vacations and projects. Thank you to Lisa for her kind hospitality!

Regional gatherings like this provide casual and memorable opportunities to connect in person and nurture our special Cal-ISBOA community spirit throughout the year. Please let us know if you’d like to host a regional gathering in your city!

August 12, 2025

We are pleased to present our first-ever Back-to-School Service Provider Directory for Indy School professionals in California, just in time for any vendor decisions you need to make as the school year starts this fall.

These Cal-ISBOA sponsors and partners can be counted upon to provide top-notch service, and many offer discounts or other special deals to Cal-ISBOA members. They understand the independent school industry and the California reality, and some of your friends and colleagues are already doing business with them.

Check out the Back-to-School Service Provider Directory, and see what our trusted service providers can do for you! Be sure to tell them you are a Cal-ISBOA member.

July 29, 2025

Earlier this month, Emily Hilldore (DOFO) gave the Cal-ISBOA staff a wonderful tour of the San Francisco Waldorf School, where every inch of class space is used every hour of the day during the academic year. A lushly forested respite just steps away from the concrete landscape of the big city, the High School campus features gardening spaces and its own small hive of bees for hands-on student learning with nature. Integrating art, math, and science at every opportunity, the Waldorf School has its own weaving studio full of looms and partially finished student textile projects, whose patterns were devised using the geometric patterns and formulas students learn in their math classes.

We thank Emily and the San Francisco Waldorf School for hosting us at your beautiful campus! 

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