Dear Friends:

We often talk about the BC mission, which is to prepare students for a life of critical, ethical and global thinking. As we live through a global pandemic, as we see people rise up across the globe to protest injustice and call for needed change, I can't help but think that the determined pursuit of our values will produce Berkeley Carroll students who are uniquely equipped to understand these challenges, both internally and externally, and respond with meaningful thoughts and actions. The value and need for a Berkeley Carroll education have never been greater.

It is with a mixture of pride and sadness that I write this final letter as the Chair of the Berkeley Carroll Board of Trustees. I've had the privilege of serving on this wonderful board for nine years and leading it for the past three and now it's time to hand over the reins to another. The Board will be in outstanding hands, as my Vice Chair for the past two years and friend, Chad Ruble, will succeed me as the Chair.

Chad, who has been a trustee for six years, and his wife, Ann, are the parents of two current Berkeley Carroll students, Lane '23 and Charles '24. He's a creative and energetic individual, and someone who is totally committed to the values and mission of our great school. I wish Chad all the best as he embarks upon this new endeavor, alongside Julie Kay, who will step into the Vice Chair role.

My association with BC goes back to 1995, when our daughter, Julie '10, entered the pre-K program. The world of independent schools was a foreign one to me. My educational experience was through the Brooklyn public schools and I was somewhat skeptical about a private school path for our daughter. From the very first moments, however, I came to appreciate the value of a BC education. Julie was nurtured emotionally, stimulated intellectually and at all times felt that she was part of a wonderful community. She also learned values and acquired an ethical perspective that is grounded in respect for others and an appreciation of our differences as people. When she graduated, I joined the BC board, in large part to make the opportunity that Julie experienced available to the broadest possible spectrum of New York City children.

My tenure as Chair has certainly been an eventful one. In my first year, it was marked by the comprehensive and successful national search for a new Head of School to succeed Bob Vitalo. In the following year, Bob's last one, we began the transition to our new Head, Dr. Lisa Waller.

This third and final year, which I had awaited with great anticipation, was to be Dr. Waller's first at BC. Both of us had assumed, perhaps naively because there is no longer such a thing as a "normal" school year, that Dr. Waller would ease into her role as this academic year unfolded and have time to observe and understand the unique culture of Berkeley Carroll from the inside.

Early on, her distinctive and impressive leadership style became apparent to our community. When she spoke — whether in communications to the entire community or in one-on-one encounters — her compassion, her intellectual rigor and her commitment to education, innovation, equity and justice, all came through loud and clear.

As the spring term emerged, Dr. Waller was confronted with a variety of unprecedented and, to a large extent, unpredictable challenges. Throughout she provided exemplary leadership to her administrative team, and a consistent, compassionate, and reassuring voice to our community. She has performed magnificently as our new Head and fulfilled the very high expectations that the Board and the community had for her. I know the road ahead will present both similar and new challenges but I also know that Berkeley Carroll has a leader who will guide us in an extraordinary way.

In the coming weeks as Dr. Waller and school administrators share programmatic plans for the fall, the Board, under Chad, will share plans for how we might together face the financial challenges that lie ahead for all of us.

I wish you all well and thank you for the unwavering support I've received from all of you.

Sincerely,

Joe Polizzotto