Head of School’s Notebook: First and Forever

April 26, 2024

As I endeavor to learn all I can about Cate, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed examining artifacts from our archives. Each photograph, article, or set of meeting minutes lends me some clue about how who we are today was informed by our past.

Most recently, I asked our archivist, Judy Savage, to help me find documents related to the decision to become a “co-ed” school. Among the many artifacts she shared were the board meeting minutes from May 1, 1980 documenting the vote to approve “The Definitive Plan for Coeducation”, a turning point for the School exactly 44 years ago. Coincidentally, I am 44 years old and I can’t help but smile as I think about how this decision not only changed the trajectory of the School, but also laid the foundation for my eventual arrival on the Mesa as the first female head of school.

While the vision and drive of the board and faculty to move towards coeducation are admirable, it is the alumnae (and their allies) who stepped foot onto the Mesa in the fall of 1981 and the years to follow who deserve equal recognition for their role as change agents. Gender parity is one of many moves Cate has taken towards inclusion, each one involving opening the doors wider to talented students from wide-ranging backgrounds, perspectives, and talents. Each decision to lower barriers to access has unequivocally enriched the experience of living, learning, and working at Cate, allowing many to claim to be a “first” here. This spirit of inclusivity was echoed during a recent panel discussion with visitors from Building Bridges, where Jules Nau, Director of Facilities & Master Planning, responded to a future educator of color about being the first or only in a room, saying, “Every time I enter a room I feel like I don’t belong in, I leave the door open behind me.” This sentiment perfectly captures the ethos at Cate, emphasizing a commitment to not only enter new spaces but also to ensure those paths remain accessible for others.

However, it is important to recognize that being a first is a bit like being the bow of a ship taking on the force of cutting through the water, sometimes thrilling and other times tiring. My own experience of being one of the “firsts” here at Cate drives me to be curious about the stories of fellow pioneers in our alumni/ae, faculty, and current student body.

As I reflect back on those who shaped the School over the past century, I find myself also looking ahead to our newest group of students joining us on the Mesa this fall as I wonder how Cate will be shaped by their presence and courage.

I’m so pleased that this group of incoming students is the most diverse group we’ve ever enrolled. Representing 4 countries, 15 states, and a variety of skills and interests including sports, music, language, art, fencing, chess, speech and debate, and more, the new class of Cate Rams are sure to chart their own distinct path..

The following conclusion to the  “headmaster’s report” from that May 1, 1980 meeting captures both the ambition and hope alive in the school at that time. As I write this, 44 years later, I share the same optimism and ambition as we strive to be the “finest boarding school in the west.” I am confident that our students have the great potential necessary to realize this vision, thanks to the trailblazing efforts of all those who were the firsts in their time here.