People & Contacts

List of 5 items.

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  Andrew Wooden, Interim Head of School

  Andrew Wooden has devoted his career to working in independent schools, spending more than 40 years in a wide range of positions including teacher, coach, dean of admissions, and interim as well as permanent head of school.

   

  Most recently, Andrew served as head of school at Marymount of Santa Barbara, leading the school to record-high enrollment and tripling the size of its endowment over his seven-year tenure. Previously, Andrew was interim head of school at Saint James’ Episcopal School in Los Angeles, leading the school during a period of transition. Prior to that role, he served as assistant head of school and head of school at Bosque School in Albuquerque, where he helped develop the city’s newest independent school into a highly respected college preparatory school with an emphasis on environmental science and community service.

   

  Previously, Andrew spent 12 years at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut, serving as director of admission and financial aid and a member of the Senior Deans Council, among other roles. Andrew currently serves as a board member of the California Association of Independent Schools and vice chair of ASSIST Scholars, which helps enable academically talented international students to attend American independent schools.

   

  Andrew earned a master’s degree from Yale Divinity School, an honorary doctorate from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, and he spent a sabbatical year at Yale studying education and leadership. He earned a B.A. from the University of Maine and graduated from Williston Northampton School in Massachusetts. Andrew grew up in Maine and has been married to his wife Molly for more than 30 years. He is an avid sailor and squash player.

  
  Andrew may be reached at (818) 783-1610 ext 701 or by email at awooden@buckley.org.
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  Ron Kim, Interim Assistant Head of School

  Raised in LA, Ron spent most of his career back East. For the past year, he’s been at BASIS Independent McLean in Virginia, first as the associate head of school, and then as the head of school. Prior to that, he spent 23 years at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire—as a history teacher, associate dean of faculty, dean of faculty, and assistant principal, charged specifically with recruiting teachers of color and managing the hiring, evaluation, and duties of the faculty. At Exeter, he also served on the Equity and Diversity Steering Committee and on its Principal Search Committee. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from UC Berkeley and earned his master’s at the University of Chicago. Ron is a man of many interests—water polo player, published author, basketball coach, Bruce Springsteen devotee, wine enthusiast, and Dodger fan. After many years back east, he is excited about being back in Southern California.

  
  

  Ron may be reached at (818) 783-1610 ext 702 or by email at rkim@buckley.org.
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  Alexis Stern, Interim Head of Upper School

  Alexis came to Buckley in the fall of 2015 as the social science department chair and immediately became a booster for Griffin athletics, a member of the Critical Friends group, and the founder of Buckley’s Teacher Rounds, which allows faculty across disciplines and grade levels to reflect and collaborate on teaching and learning practices. Before joining Buckley, Alexis worked for Boston Public Schools training district administrators on how to evaluate and support teachers, and as an advisor in the Teacher Education Program at Harvard University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Texas and a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She also spent several years as a teacher in Texas, where she taught at Bishop Dunne Catholic School, Newman Smith High School, and served as the director of the Richardson Arts, Law & Sciences Magnet. She was named Secondary Teacher of the Year for the Richardson Independent School District in 2014.

  
  Alexis may be reached at (818) 783-1610 ext 730 or by email at astern@buckley.org.
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  Neal Roden, Head of Middle School

  A Buckley veteran of more than 20 years, Neal Roden was instrumental in the formation of Buckley’s Middle School, which he has led since 1991. Neal joined Buckley as a teacher in the Lower School and taught first through twelfth grade at schools in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania prior to joining Buckley. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Haverford College. Neal currently serves on the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council and on the Board of Trustees of the Hollywood Schoolhouse.
  
  Neal may be reached at (818) 783-1610 ext 444 or by email at nroden@buckley.org.
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  Adrienne Parsons, Head of Lower School

  Adrienne Parsons began as a second-grade teacher in Buckley’s Lower School in 1988. She was named assistant principal in 1993, and she directed the Buckley Preschool from 1997 through 2004. In 2001, she became principal of the Lower School. Adrienne holds a bachelor's degree in education from Northwestern University and a master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. For six years she served on the school board of Good Shepherd School in Beverly Hills. She now serves on the Culver City Unified School District Tri-Selpa Committee.
  

  
  Adrienne may be reached at (818) 783-1610 ext 760 or by email at aparsons@buckley.org.