Dear Latin Community,
I have let Latin's Board Chair, David Koo, know that the 2021-22 school year will be my eleventh and final year as Latin's Head of School.
The past 10 years have been the most rewarding of my career. The work at Latin continues to be productive and exhilarating. As a community, we have accomplished so much together. From endowment growth, to advancement of critical conversations about our changing academic and socio-cultural landscape, to acquiring additional property and renovating learning spaces, our school is the strongest it has ever been. We successfully navigated our way through a global pandemic and maintained Latin's position as a national leader in independent school education. Latin is poised and ready for its next stage of development with the fresh perspective of a new leader.
One of the things that has impressed me most about Latin is the passion and dedication of all members of this community to make this the very best school possible. I have benefitted personally and professionally from the contributions, partnership and collegiality of our extraordinary students, teachers, parents and alumni. They have encouraged us to be indefatigable in our focus on what needs to be done to provide the best educational environment for all of our students. I am particularly grateful to Latin's administrative team, David Koo, and our exceptional Board of Trustees for their unwavering support as we have faced unprecedented challenges together. I am further inspired by their leadership as they begin the transition to find and install the next Head of School during this pivotal time in the school's history.
I will really miss our Latin students. They have had to grapple with such complex, often difficult experiences over the last year and a half, and, from the youngest to the oldest, they are doing their best to remain strong, determined and joyful. I look forward to seeing what positive things this next year will bring for them. Maintaining an innovative, thriving learning community while caring deeply for our students' well-being is our ultimate goal at Latin.
When I arrived at Latin in 2011, I had no idea that it would change my life in such profound and lasting ways. Lifelong friendships, creative colleagues, a supportive community and numerous opportunities for professional growth have made me a better school leader and person—and also make this transition, at unpredictable moments, emotionally difficult. The outstanding faculty and staff at Latin have helped to make my daughters who they are today, and I will forever be grateful.
While my plans for this next phase of my career are not yet in place, I am looking ahead with confidence, optimism and a healthy dose of cautious excitement. Being closer to family after a year of such tragic loss is a top priority as I begin to take stock of my personal needs and professional goals. I am firmly committed to working hard, advancing the mission of the school and ensuring that my last year as Head of School is filled with the best work I can offer. My love for Latin will be everlasting. Once a Roman always a Roman.
Many thanks for your support and understanding.
With appreciation,
Randall Dunn Head of School
July 29, 2021
Dear Latin Community,
I hope you are all enjoying the summer and this important news finds you all well. Randall Dunn has made the decision that this upcoming school year will be his last leading Latin as our Head of School. Randall's choice is driven by his desire to relocate to the east coast to be closer to his family. I respect and accept Randall's decision. I greatly value our strong relationship and continue to fully support Randall and his unwavering commitment to lead Latin successfully this school year. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire Latin community, I want to express sincere gratitude and thanks to Randall for his dedicated leadership of Latin.
Since Randall's arrival in 2011, Latin has faced great triumphs and significant challenges. From the celebration of our 125th anniversary, to the opening of state-of the-art science center, the achievement of a $50M endowment campaign and the launch and implementation of two strategic plans, Randall has displayed the most critical characteristic of a leader--to thoughtfully meet the needs of today's Latin students while also ensuring the vitality of the school for generations of students to come.
One of the Board's fundamental responsibilities is to support our Head of School, and when the time comes, to hire our next leader. We have formed a Head of School Search Committee composed of the members below and I thank all of them in advance for their significant commitment to this important work. We will engage a search firm consultant and will communicate with you more information on the search process including your opportunity to participate as we move forward.
While the search for Latin's next leader will be paramount to our work this year, it will not interfere with our forward momentum on the many things that keep Latin extraordinary. I look forward to working closely with Randall throughout the year on the strategic projects that fulfill the promise of our vision: to make learning personal, inclusive and inquiry-based for every student.
This transition will be a significant one for Latin. However, we will face it with the same resilience and authenticity as we have so many before and I am confident we will succeed.
Thank you in advance for your support through this time and for your commitment to Latin.
David J. Koo Chair, Board of Trustees
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