senior advancement officer search oakwood school · this corner of los angeles. a few blocks away,...

Head of School Search

To learn more about Oakwood School:

www.oakwoodschool.org

THE PLACE

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Oakwoodisavillage–onewherepeoplearebusilyengaged,happyintheirwork,andwheretheyallseemtoknowoneanother.CombiningthebigcityrealitythatisLosAngleswiththesmalltownfeelisquiteafeat,onethatOakwoodSchoolhasmastered.Ontheinside,thebustleisaudible,theoutputisvisible,andthecamaraderieispalpable.Outside,thehumofthecityisanever-presentreminderofthecreativecommunityandentertainmentindustrythatflourishinthiscornerofLosAngeles.

Afewblocksaway,theElementarySchoolisanoasisintheurbanlandscape.Spaciousandinviting,itsitsadjacenttoapublicpark,andreflectsthesameindustriousnessandjoyousspiritfoundontheuppercampus.WithitsnewStoryCenter,acentralplayyard,sciencelabsandstudiosforart,music,anddrama,itisanideallocaleforachildtogrowinwisdomandinconfidence.

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Neithercampusisimposing,botharecommunalandwarm.Oakwoodisaschoolwherethenextfive-million-dollargiftwouldmorelikelygotofinancialaidoranewprogramratherthantoanewbuilding;althoughthereareplanstobuildanewtheaterandmoreclassrooms,peopleandprogramsseemtocomefirst.Asoneseniorfacultymemberputsit,“ThisisaplaceIfeelgoodcomingto.”

LosAngelesitselfisthebackdroptoOakwood.Avast,sprawling,polyglotcityofneighborhoodswithpeoplefromeverycorneroftheearth,everylanguageandcuisineimaginable,itisacitywithculturalopportunitiestoovasttoenumerate,world-classuniversitiesandtop-flightprofessionalsportsteams,tosaynothingoftheentertainmentindustrywhosewriters,actors,producers,composers,andexecutivessendsomanychildrentothisparticularschool.

Senior Advancement Officer Search

OAKWOOD SCHOOL North Hollywood, California July 1, 2020 or until search is completed

Head of School Search The Common School

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Senior Advancement Officer Search Oakwood School

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FoundedbymenandwomensomeofwhomhadbeenblacklistedbyHollywoodduringtheMcCarthyeraofthe1950’s,Oakwoodistothisdaygroundedinprogressiveideals.Communityserviceopportunitiesaboundasstudents,teachers,andparentsalikearequicktoputtheirpoliticalsensibilitiestogooduse;and,notsurprisingly,socialjusticeispartofthecurriculumbeginningintheelementaryschool.Asanexample,theFourthGradeCaliforniahistorycourseistaughtfromthestandpointofthenativeCaliforniansandSpanishsettlerswhoweregraduallysubjugatedbywhiteAmerica’s“manifestdestiny.”Yes,thisisatrue-blueschoolinabluestate,aplacewhereparentsareseekinganimmersivecurriculumfortheirchildren,oneheavywithexperientialopportunitiesinthearts,sciencesandhumanities.TheundeniablephilosophicalappealoftheschoolformanyAngelenosbegetsacrowdedapplicantpool,asOakwoodisunquestionablytheschoolofchoiceformanyfamilies.

Notsurprisingly,suchfamiliesarelookingforaprogressiveeducationfortheirchildren,albeitonethatishighlyacademic.“Valueswithvigor”and“becomingthebestversionsofourselves”mightbeanaptwayofdescribinganOakwoodeducation.Thefacultyandadministrationaretruetotheschool’sphilosophicalunderpinnings–individualgrowth,activecommunallife,autonomyandresponsibility,fosteringasenseofcommunity–whileofferingafirst-rate,competitiveacademicprogramthatismarkedbyinnovativecurriculaandsoundpedagogy.

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Becauseoftheschool’s“villagefeel”anditssharedethosofcommitment,manyfaculty,administrators,andstaffmembersfinditaneasyplacetoloveandanearlyimpossibleplacetoleave.Onehasonlytolistentowhatissaid:“WeareallpartownersofOakwood,”oneteachersays,asanotherstates:“We’regiventhefreedomandresourcestodowhatwewant.”Parentsaredescribedbyteachersandadministratorsas“smart,knowledgeable,active,respectful,andgregarious.”Avisitorcantellthatstudentsandteachersknowandlikeeachother;theyallgobytheirfirstnames.Teachersandadministratorsareaccessible.“Playisinfusedintothisplace,”astudentsays,whileafacultymembercomments:“Thereisanoverallsenseofpassionhere.Thisismeaningfulwork.”“PeopleatOakwoodarenice,smart,anddown-to-earth.”

Oakwoodalumniidentifystronglywiththeirexperienceasstudents.Theyspeakfondlyofthesenseofcommunitythatpermeatesnotonlythephysicalspacebut,moremeaningfully,theirlives.“ThegermofwhatmakesOakwood‘Oakwood’hasn’tchanged,”ishowonegraduateputsit.Anothersays,“I’mholdingontoapieceofmylifethatIcherish.Oakwoodwasn’taschool;itwasavillage[where]thereisadeep,abidingsenseofcommunity.”Whileemphasizingthatsenseofcommunityandthelifelongfriendshipsandloveoflearningtheygainedasstudents,alumsalsorecognizethevaluestheyabsorbed:“Oakwoodtaughtmetoworkhard.IamsogratefulforthefoundationIgothere.”

THE PEOPLE


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THE STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY TheStatementofPhilosophyisalivingdocument–everywordisreviewedandmeasuredasitcontinuestoguideeveryfacetofschoollife.Onefacultymembercommentsthatthis“evolvingdocumentinfusestheworkthatwedoandthewaythatwedoit.”

Ateverylevelandacrossthecurriculum,Oakwood’smissionandphilosophyareevident.Whetherit’sthekindergartnerstalkingaboutthedifferencebetweenwantsandneeds,sixthgraderswritingpersuasiveessaysabouthumanrights,orhighschoolstudentsstudyingbiodiversitywithintropicaleco-systems,Oakwoodstudents“grapplewithideas”andhaveclassesthatinstillacommitmenttosocialjusticeandencouragestudentstobeactivelearnersandcitizens.

THE PROGRAM Atallagesandineverydiscipline,theOakwoodprogramisintentionalandbuildsonitself.StudentsatOakwoodvalueacurriculumthatislesstest-drivenandmoreexperientialthanwhattheirfriendsencounteratotherschools.Asoneofthemputsit,“Oakwoodkidsalwayswanttothinkandchallenge.”Theprogramis“richinthearts,sciences,andHumanitiesandchallengingtoastudent’screative,intellectual,andphysicalcapacities.”Anactivecommunallife,intellectualattainment,andincreasingautonomy“foroneanother,fortheenvironment,andforthelargerworld”aregoalsonceputforthbyOakwood’sfoundersthatremaininplacetoday.


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Foundedasaprogressiveschool,Oakwoodhaslongbeenknownforitsdevelopmentalandcreativeapproachtocurriculum.Onthisjoyfulcampus,students“learntolovelearning”inanatmospherethatiscollaborativeandsupportive.Theyareencouragedtobewriters,scientists,artists,mathematicians,andperformers.Theirteachersemphasizeindependenceandrisk-takinginalldisciplines–thisisnotacookiecutterschool.TheatmosphereattheElementarySchool“isnotcompetitiveatall”(afeatureclaimedbythehighschool


ELEMENTARY CAMPUS (Grades K-6)

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aswell).Studentsarewildlyenthusiasticbutnotmindlesslyso;theyarecriticalaswell.Inmath,theyarechallengedtofindasmanyanswersaspossibleandtolearntheroleofmathematicsinotherfields.Inalldisciplines,theyareactiveandproblemsolvers.Inthisintegratedcurriculum,thatemphasizesengagement,theirquestionsareencouragedandeveryperspectivevalued.Evidenceofthecommitmenttothewrittenwordandtoself-expressionisreflectedonthewallsofeveryclassroom.

Theartsareanessentialcomponentoftheholisticapproachtoeducationfortheseyoungstudents.Theylearntolistenandtomakemusic,theysinganddance,theyperform,andtheycreate.Asinallotheraspectsofthecurriculum,studentsareactiveparticipantsintheirlearningandareencouragedtodiscover.

Athleticsplayanimportantpartinthelifeoftheelementarystudents,beginningin5thgrade.Participationisvirtually100%forboysandgirls.Askanysixthgraderaboutthisyear’sboysbasketballteamthatwonthreeofthesixchampionshipsinleagueplayatarecentmulti-schooltournament.Allstudentshavefreeplayandphysicaleducation,programsthattakeadvantageofthenewgymandthespacesonthecampus.


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Oakwood School

SECONDARY CAMPUS (Grades 7-12)

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TheMiddleSchool’sprogram(Grades7-8)capitalizesontheenthusiasmsofthesestudentsandtheirfundamentalquestionsaboutidentityandtheirinterestinfairness.

Intheirtwo-yearsequenceofHumanities,aninterdisciplinaryEnglishandSocialStudiesprogram,theyexplorethroughhistoryandliteraturethe“causesandeffectsofsocialandpoliticalchange,”andfocusonindividualswhocanaffectchange.GeneralScience,anothertwo-yearsequenceincludesboththelifeandphysicalsciences.Inmathandworldlanguage,studentshaveopportunitiestostretchtheirskillsandadvanceasappropriate.

Theartssequenceinthemiddleschoolaffordseverychildtheopportunitytoexploredance,music,theater,visualarts,andhumanities.Along-standingpartnershipwiththeCaliforniaInstituteoftheArts(CalArts)allowsmiddleschoolstudentstotakeasecondvisualorperformingartscourse.Additionally,thereareelectivesformiddleschoolstudentsinthehumanities,coursesthatemphasizetheschool’sinterestindevelopingsociallyconsciousadults.Thesevariedofferingsinclude“AztectoAmerican”and“ComingofAgeinLA.”

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AllmiddleschoolstudentstakePEandparticipateinano-cutpolicysportsprogram,onethatproducesteamsthatcompetewellwiththeothermiddleschoolsinthearea.Manyoftheseteamsenjoysuccessaswitnessed

bythehighschoolgirls’basketballteamachievinga“firstinthehistoryofOakwood”CIFSouthernSectionchampionship.IntheSecondarySchool,overhalfthestudentsareonateam:15sports,19teamsincludingnotableteamsinboys’andgirls’volleyball,girls’basketball,andbothsoccersquads.Despiteafriendly,livelyatmosphere,thisisastronglyacademicschoolandstudentscommentontheunderlyingdichotomybetweentherelativelylow-keyatmosphereandtheacademicexpectations.


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Oakwood School

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Astrongliberalartsprograminalldisciplinesprovidesthefoundationforanextensiveelectiveprograminthehighschool(Grades9-12).Testscoresarenotthedriver,northefocusofdailyschoollife.AtOakwood,whatmatterstoeveryoneisthatstudentsdevelopthecapacitytothinkforthemselves,toexpressthemselvesandtoberespectfulofdifferentpointsofview.Thecourseworktacklescomplicatedanddifficultideasandsituations,developsinstudentsakindofhumaneintelligenceforoneanotherandaboutalargerworldthatchampionsinclusivity,multiculturalism,andsocialjusticeinthefaceofnationalretrenchment.Giveninevitablecritique,thereisnoreasontocompromise.Oneteacherexplainedthat,“Whiledevelopingtheircomputational,logical,andanalyticalskills,weencourageourstudentstobecomeactive,creativeproblemsolvers.”Inhistory,thecourses“stressthehistoricalsignificanceaswellasthepracticalapplicationsoftheconceptstaught.”Similarly,“Ourstudentslearntheroleofmathematicsinotherfieldsofstudy.”ComplementingtheAdvancedStudiescoursesareelectiveclassesineverydisciplinethatreflectOakwood’ssocialconsciousness.Asamplingincludes:CultureandValuesin20thCenturyAmerica;Disney-AHistoryofHappiness;andIntroductiontoRacialLiteracy.Additionally,thereareIndependentStudyopportunities,specialtopics,andextraclassesontopicsfromKafkatotheMusicofLadyGaga,andtheopportunitytostudylanguagesthatareoutsidethecurriculumincludeJapanese,Korean,andItalian.

BeforethetermsSTEMandSTEAMwerecoined,theconceptswereprevalentatOakwood.Thelong-standingRoboticsteamemphasizescreativity,hands-onexperiencesandproblem-solvingunderthedirectionofafacultymemberwhowasanearlyadopteranda

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believerinthedevelopmentofequipmentaswellasproduct.Sixthgradersbuildtheirownmicroscopesandupperschoolstudentsapplycomputermodeling,sketching,andgeometrytodesignandcreate.

Intheperformingandfinearts,theofferingsareexpansiveandbuildontheintroductoryrotationalcoursesofferedinthemiddleschool.Everybodycanfindawaytodance,perform,andcreateatOakwoodwhetherinthejazzbandorchamberorchestra,beginningstringsandwoodwind,ormusictheater.Thevibranttheaterprogrammakesmagicintheintimateblackboxtheater.Displaysofstudentceramics,oils,photographs,andsculpturescanbefoundaroundeverycornerandoneverywall.

ItshouldbenosurprisethatOakwoodstudentsturntheirpassionfortheartsintoacommunityserviceproject.CommunityYouthPartnership(CYP)offersweeklyfreemusic,dance,science,andvisualartsworkshopstoLosAngelesUnifiedSchoolDistrictstudentsintheSanFernandoValley,taughtexclusivelybyOakwoodStudentswhohaveshownaproficiencyinthesedisciplinesandaninterestincommunity-building.Oakwoodstudentsmusttakeaservice-learningcourseinconjunctionwiththeprogram.


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Oakwood’sImmersionProgramhasevolvedovergenerationsandinvolvesfaculty,parents,alumni,andfriendsoftheschool.Fortwoweeksfollowingtheconclusionofthefirsttrimester,studentsingrades7-12electtoattendanyoneofnearly40differentImmersioncourses,offering“unbelievableopportunitiesthatbalanceaseriousnessofpurposewithasenseofplay.”TheserangefromtraveltoChina,Spain,CostaRica,andOxford(tostudyhistory,ecology,theater,andhumanrights);tolocalofferings:CaliforniaDrought:TheGrapesofWrath;Non-TraditionalPublicArt;Screenplay:TheFirstTenPages;andStayingSafe(self-defense).Theseprogramsarenotonlygreatbondingopportunitiesforstudentsandteachersbutalsoareoftenaprecursortoastudent’scollegemajor,lifelongpassionorchosenprofession.

Atallgradelevels,parentsspeakofOakwood’scommitmenttoservice.“MystudentshavefoundtheirvoicesatOakwoodSchoolanddevelopedasocialconscience,”isatypicalcomment.ThehabitofserviceandthelifelongcommitmenttosocialjusticeoftenfindtheiroriginsintheElementarySchoolandarethenconfirmedintheaffinitygroups,alliances,interestgroups,andclubsattheSecondaryCampus.Feminism,GenderAllianceCoalition,Peace,Gardening,ThespianSociety,OakwoodArtAlliance-Thelistisseeminglyendlessforthealloftheseorganizationsbecausetheyareeasytocreate,arestudentgenerated,andaddresstheissuesoftheday.

THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Thefaculty,staff,administration,students,parents,andtrustees,recognizethatexcitingchangesareunderwaywiththeappointmentofJaimeDominguezasHeadofSchoolforthe2019-20academicyear,andallareinvestedinitssuccess.Areasidentifiedasopportunitiesare:

• Fundraising;theexpectationistoreinforceandgrowacultureofphilanthropythroughjoyfulpersonalinvolvementinfundraising;

• Effectivelyarticulatingandcraftingthestory-tellingabouttheexistingMasterPlanthatvisualizesthespacerequirementsofa21stCenturyeducationtwentyyearsfromnow;

• Embracingandprioritizingsocialchangeagents–“Imaginewhatcouldbedonewithjustaninchmoreintentionality.”

Inotherwords,opportunitiesaboundtomovetheprogramforward,andbuilduponthegreatlegacythathasbeenestablished.


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THE SENIOR ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

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Thesuccessfulcandidatewillbeanoutstandingleaderwhothinksstrategically,communicatesaclearandcompellingcaseforsupportoftheschool’smission,followsupondetails,anddevelopsandfostersateamenvironment.TheSeniorAdvancementOfficerwilladvancethemissionandvisionofOakwoodSchool,workprincipallyandcollaborativelywiththeHeadofSchoolandreportdirectlytotheHeadofSchool.ThecandidatewillalsoneedtoworkwiththeBoard,thesenioradministrativeteam,andtheAdvancementOffice.TheSeniorAdvancementOfficerneedstobearealteamplayerwithexcellentalignmentwiththeHeadofSchoolandtheDirectorofAdvancement.Inadditiontofindingfinancialresourcestostrengthenfinancialsustainability,therearenon-monetarygoalsaswell:extendingtheimpactoftheschool,creatinggoodwillinthecommunity,strengtheningtheschool’sexcellenceandreputationandadvancingrelationships.

KEYRESPONSIBILITIESANDDUTIES

• Leadtheeffort,withhis/herexpertiseandexperience,inacapitalcampaign;

• Haveapersonalportfolioof75-125majorgiftprospectsandhelpdirectothermajorgiftprospectmanagersintheirwork;

• Workasmemberofanadministrativeteamwithshort-andlong-termstrategicplanningandoverallorganizationcapacity-buildingactivities;

• Serveasamentor/coachfortheDirectorofAdvancement;

• WorkcloselywithHeadofSchool,DirectorofAdvancement,andBoardtodevelopandimplementacomprehensivefundraisingstrategytomaximizegiftsupport;

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• StrengthenannualperformancemeasurestoevaluatetheeffectivenessofallAdvancementactivities;

• Furtherdevelopacomprehensivestrategythatutilizesmajorgifts,AnnualFund,eventsponsorshipandunderwriting,alumnirelations,plannedgiving,andschoolfundraisingeventstosuccessfullyachieverevenuetargets;

• Effectivelycultivate,solicit,andstewardaportfolioofmajorgiftprospectswiththeabilitytomakefive-toseven-figuregiftsinsupportofidentifiedneeds;

• Buildonexistingstewardshipprogramwithalumnitodevelopandexpandalumnirelationsandtoexpandthedonorbaseandcultivatedeeperties;

• BeanintegralpartnerintheAnnualFunddrivetomaximizerevenue;

• DevelopandexpandPlannedGivingprogramtoincreaseendowmentfunds;

• Anticipateandplanforfundraisinginsupportofcapitalneeds.


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QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’sdegreerequired.Master’sdegreeandCFREpreferred

• Five+yearsofexperienceinthenonprofitsectorandinfundraising

• Provensuccessindirectlysolicitingandclosingcharitablegifts

• Excellentverbalandwrittencommunicationskills

• Experienceworkingwithandmotivatingvolunteersandstaffmembers

• Outstandingknowledgeoffundraisingdatasoftwareanddatabasemanagementsoftware

• Acreativethinker,learner,opentonewideas;

• Inalignmentwithpushingtheschool’sdiversity-equity-inclusioninitiatives;

• Self-confident,charismatic,strategic,visionary;

• Approachable,accessibleandagoodlistener;

• QuicktoembraceOakwood’shistoryandsenseofexceptionalism;

• Comfortableandadeptatdealingwithparents,students,teachers,politicians,andpress;andCosmopolitanbutdown-to-earth.

• Attentivetodetail,self-starter;

• Thepersonality,energy,intellectualintegrity,warmthandleadershipabilitytoinspireaschoolcommunity;positive,passionate,can-dospirit;unbridledcuriosity,relentlessoptimism,andboundlessenergy

• Eagernesstoworkhardasbothleaderandteammember;

• AcollaborativespiritthatwillallowforcloseworkandpartnershipwiththeHeadofSchoolandDirectorofAdvancement;

• Provensuccesswithandaffinityforadiversepopulation;

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• Abilitytomeetdeadlineswithincontextofacomplexoffice/schoolcalendar;

• Abilitytodealconfidentially,diplomaticallyandcomfortablywithadiversecommunityofparents,students,alumni,andfaculty/staffandhavethepresence,demeanor,andcommunicationskillsnecessarytorepresentOakwoodeffectively;excellentresponsivenesstoallconstituencies;

• Highexecutivefunctioningskills:highdegreeoforganization,effectivenessatmulti-tasking,calmnessunderpressurewithsenseofhumor;

• Demonstratedsuccessworkingwithavolunteerboard;

• Demonstrablestrengthsindealingwithplanning,operations,budgeting,andsuccesscompletingcomplex,detailedprojects;

• Knowledgeandpracticalexperiencewithhighlyprofessionalcommunicationpieces:AnnualReports,newsletters,electroniccommunications.

AndtheSeniorAdvancementOfficershouldtakethistoheart:“Whoweareshouldn’tchange.Howwedothingsshould.”Thesuccessfulcandidatewillreceiveacompensationpackagethatincludesahighlycompetitivesalaryplusgeneroushealthandretirementbenefits.

WorkEnvironmentandComplexityDutiesandtasksinthispositionarevariedandcomplex.Thepositionworksonwholeproblemsandprojects.Thispositionrequiresahighdegreeofcollaboration.Thispositionoperatesinaprofessionalschoolenvironment.Thefunctionsofthispositionareperformedinatypicalofficeenvironmentwithnoknownhazards.

PhysicalDemandsThephysicaldemandsdescribedherearerepresentativeofthosethatmustbemetbyanemployeetosuccessfullyperformtheessentialfunctionsofthisposition,suchastheabilitytosee,hear,speakandunderstandEnglishanduseacomputer.Thispositionisactiveandrequiresstandingandwalking,includingstairs.

TravelOccasionaltravelisexpectedinthisposition.


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OakwoodSchoolisanequalopportunityemployeranddoesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofsex,race,age,nationalorigin,ethnic,background,disabilityoranyothercharacteristicprotectedbylaw.Thesuccessfulcandidatewillreceiveacompensationpackagethatincludesahighlycompetitivesalaryplusgeneroushealthandretirementbenefits.

BackgroundCheckPriortosubmittingyourresumeforthisposition,pleasereaditforaccuracy.RG175verifiesacademiccredentialsforitscandidatesandconductsathoroughreviewofcandidates’socialmediapresence.OakwoodSchoolwillconductthoroughbackgroundcheckspriortofinalizinganoffer.

ProspectiveCandidatesmayapplyonlineathttps://rg175.com/candidate/signup

Thisapplicationincludesaletterdetailingyourinterestandsuitabilityintheposition,anupdatedcurriculumvitaeorresume,andacopyoforiginalwritingonanysubjectofinterestthatcanbewrittenforthisexerciseorprovidedfromsomethingwrittenpreviously.

Questionsmaybedirectedto:JamesE.Pattison,[email protected]


FAST FACTS ABOUT OAKWOOD Enrollment: ElementarySchool–300(K-6)

MiddleSchool–170(7-8)SecondarySchool–350(9-12)

StudentsofColor: 33%attheElementarySchool,39%attheSecondarycampusTuitionRange(2020-2021): $37,080(Elementary)to$43,480(Secondary)FinancialAidBenefits: 17%ofthestudentbodyOperatingBudget: $40,000,000Endowment: $30,000,000AnnualGiving: $2,200,000NumberofFaculty: 120TotalNumberofEmployees:191

APPLICATION PROCESS

senior advancement officer search oakwood school · this corner of los angeles. a few blocks away,...

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