Today’s announcement comes after several months of work by the Board and Search Committee, reflecting on the state of the Day School, developing a leadership profile, interviewing applicants, and ultimately unanimously selecting Dr. Johnson. While most members of the community only met the two finalists for on-campus visits, you may be interested to know that St. Patrick’s received a great many applications from extremely well qualified individuals–a credit to our school, our values, and our reputation.

Jayme and her husband Keith will be moving back to the area from Dallas, where she serves as the Associate Head for Academic and Student Affairs at St. John’s Episcopal School, following four years as their Head of Lower School. Before heading to Dallas, Jayme held the leadership role of Director of Academic Technology at Village School in Pacific Palisades for more than a decade. She earned her B.A. and Ed.D. from California Lutheran University, as well as an M.A. in educational technology from Pepperdine University.

During our background research, colleagues and other educators have shared with us their experience of working with Jayme. In the view of one peer, “Jayme is an extraordinary leader with a passion for mentorship who is excellent with the students and respected by parents…very collaborative and always part of our strategic planning team.” Another described her as “a leader who is willing to roll up her sleeves and get the job done. She is always educating herself.” Perhaps most compelling, we heard about Jayme’s “mission-minded nature,” that she is “joyfully willing to step into the classroom,” and “motivated by students’ progress.” This feedback resonates with what we care most deeply about at St. Patrick’s – the children.

The Board of Trustees is delighted with the successful outcome of this search, and we are grateful to the members of this community for your ardent engagement throughout this process. On behalf of the Board, I would like to take the opportunity to thank my teammates on the Search Committee for the countless hours and thoughtful insight: Cecile Butters, Elain Cleary, Fr. George Daisa, Kimberly Hribal (Co-Chair), Candace Kelman, Patrick Millar, and Holly Sacks.

Below, please find a brief letter from Jayme to the St. Patrick’s community. With exceptional new leadership on the horizon after another year of superb leadership from our current Head of School, Nancy Whitson, the continuing dedication of our faculty and staff, and the earnest support of our families, the Board of Trustees looks forward to a bright future for St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School.

Cheers,
Michael Malecki
Chair, Board of Trustees