SCHOOL
Dunn School Mission to educate the whole student to their fullest potential, for a lifetime of learning and leadership. Core values Emotional Wellness, Physical Readiness, Intellectual Growth, Social Responsibility, Moral Courage
Administrative Leadership Head of School Mike Beck Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jay Conger Chief Financial Officer Chad Stacy Dean of Middle School Simon Sweeney Assistant Head of School Gene Vachon
Advancement Team Director of Marketing and Communications Jen DuBois Director of Philanthropy LynnRae Dunn Director of Development Jennifer Freed Director of Admissions and Advancement Mike McKee Director of Alumni Relations: Tim Weir
Annual Report Publication Team Editor: Jen DuBois Design: anotherbenjohnson Writers: Mike Beck, Ulises Castenada, Jay Conger, Jen DuBois, LynnRae Dunn, Mike McKee, Chad Stacy, Simon Sweeney, Liz Tyng, Tim Weir
Contact Dunn 2555 W. Highway 154 Los Olivos, CA 93441 805-688-6471 www.dunnschool.org Send address changes and correspondence to: communications@dunnschool.org dunnschool dunn_school TheDunnSchool
From the Head of School Dear Dunn School Community, As I enter my thirteenth and final year as Head of Dunn School, I am humbled by the wonderful support of the community; the parents, guardians, alumni, students, faculty, and staff! While the 2019-2020 school year ended with the unexpected arrival of a global pandemic, the Dunn community continued to express its generous support in giving of personal resources ranging from their time, talent, and treasure! With our faculty and staff quickly appreciating the unknown and unknowable attributes of COVID-19, each colleague became a source of inspiration, demonstrating to our children their ability to be innovative, their perseverance in the face of uncertainty, and their ability to maintain a sense of humor despite the global chaos! At the height of the pandemic, donors contributed 100% of the needed Annual Fund for student scholarships and fully funded the completion of the beautiful new Cindy Bronfman Leadership Center. Most importantly, Dunn School remained dedicated to improving its founder's mission of educating the whole-student to their fullest potential in preparation for a life of learning and responsible leadership in society. Tony Dunn's vision has been realized in the Dunn curriculum and with the commitment of the entire school community who set the example of the school's core values for the students. It has been my honor to lead Dunn School into the 2020-2021 school-year and I look forward to when we can be learning together in person! Blessings upon you, your family, and Dunn School!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6 Financial report 8 Admissions update 10 Thanking our donors 14 Wrapping up the Leading Matters campaign 16 News and Stories from around the Dunn community
Sincerely, Mike Beck Head of School
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Necessity brought out invention and perseverance in our middle school community... students took ownership of their learning...
Carpe Diem
Letters from Dunn
Carpe Diem. Most of you reading this as former students will recognize the motto from either your time at Dunn Middle School or from the sign under the oak tree as you leave campus. Never has this motto held more true than on the 12th of March this year. Our annual Piece O'Cake ride was scheduled, the cake baked, the sandwiches ordered, and t-shirts made. Stressful and sleepless nights were had by the middle school administration team and myself as we watched the weather apps showing thunderstorms all around our scheduled ride. Contingency plans were made, abandoned, and reconfigured. The day before, the ride was shortened, lunch was moved back to campus, and we crossed our fingers. The skies remained clear until the last rider was back enjoying cake. We really did seize that day.
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The next day, the impact of COVID-19 hit home, and we were forced to undertake remote learning. Similar to the changes we had to make on the day of our Piece O’Cake ride, teachers and students alike adapted to the new and evolving situation with purpose and compassion. While unintentional,
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
it was pleasing to see how necessity brought out invention and perseverance in our middle school community. We truly became a place where students took ownership of their learning and development under very trying circumstances. June 2020 was on the books for Dunn Middle School’s 40th year anniversary. As always, we adapt, so please stay tuned for details about a possible 41st or even 42nd anniversary celebration. 2020-21 is underway, and as I am typing this, we are still virtually together as a community. But what has not changed in this situation, or even from the DMS you may remember as a student/ parent, is the recognition of each child’s growth and development, and that DMS a caring place. In other words, the “place” may be in the ether, the mode of curriculum different, but we are all still embracing the Carpe Diem spirit.
Simon Sweeney Head of Dunn Middle School
Message from the Board of Trustees
At this moment, we are in the midst of a search for a new Head of School. It is with a mixture of sadness and deep appreciation that we will mark the retirement of Mike Beck in June of 2021. During his tenure, Mike Beck served our community with distinction, compassion and exemplary leadership. Mike’s contributions have been many. His leadership has strengthened the school’s academic and extracurricular programs, improved the teaching faculty, boosted student outcomes, ensured a solid financial foundation, and set an ambitious path for the future of Dunn School. As the Head of School, Mike lives his passion for teaching and modeling leadership in order to prepare Dunn students for responsible and productive futures. Through Mike’s actions and strategic planning, the Dunn School community has achieved a remarkable set of accomplishments. The Search Committee is on schedule to select Mike’s successor this Fall. After a round of in-person interviews with members of the Board, select community members, and Administration, we will announce the Head-elect in the New Year. Given this is Mike’s last year, I hope you will join me in making his last year at Dunn School his best ever. We have relied on your generosity to build this exceptional school community. In recognition of Mike’s leadership, please consider making a special contribution to our school in the coming months. Mr. Beck’s legacy will be to leave Dunn School on the solid financial foundation he worked diligently to establish. Since 2008, in partnership with the Board of Trustees and generous donors, we have seen growth in Dunn School’s net assets, endowment, and revenue. The pandemic has had an impact on all these dimensions, but we are committed to financial sustainability and growth. I hope you will join us in bridging this moment to the future of Dunn School. Your gift will recognize Mike’s leadership of the school which we find so special.
Jay Conger Chair, Board of Trustees 2019-2020 Board of Trustees Whitney Arnautou, P '14 Yong-Ling Beiman, P '20 Mike Boone '79 Justin Ching '07 James Chomeau, P '10, '16 and '16 Jay Conger, P '17 and '20 Don Daves-Rougeaux Divo Denove '98 Jim Gaskin '71 Tina Grunzweig, P '20 and '23 Lisa Hockin, P '20 C.J. Jackson, P '04, '06, and '06 Titilola Johnson-Agiri '04 Kathleen Marshall, P '18 and '21 David Nelson, P '11 and '15 Cheryl Stauffer, P ‘04 and ‘07 Morton Sullivan '64 Gladdys Uribe ‘98 Guy R. Walker '76, P '05 Departing Trustees (as of June 30, 2020) Divo Denove ‘98 David Nelson, P ‘11 and ‘15 Cheryl Stauffer, P ‘04 and ‘07 Gladdys Uribe ‘98 Welcome to the Board of 2020-2021 Debbie Jones, P '09, '11, and '14 Jodi Pitts, P ‘26 Maria Zhang, P ‘23
Letters from Dunn
My name is Jay Conger, and I chair Dunn School’s Board of Trustees. Our board is comprised of alumni and parents of current students who gather regularly to provide guidance to the administration of Dunn School. We are actively involved in the financial decisions that support the aspirations of the school. Whether you are reading this as an alumnus/a, a parent, a student, or as a friend, you are an essential member of our community. Your contributions — in their many forms — ensure that the Dunn School delivers — beyond expectations — on the promise of whole student education. On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, I want to personally thank you for all you do for our school.
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Dunn Remains Resilient and Steady by Chad Stacy
The Dunn School community and its supporters are nothing if not resilient and steady in uncertain times. After all, how many other schools can brag of a cold-war era bomb shelter a stone’s throw from the Admissions office? While Dunn School’s budget and balance sheet are not immune from the economic challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have long prepared to bridge a moment like this in Dunn’s history with certainty and grace.
Financial Update
Chad Stacy, M.Ed., CPA Chief Financial Officer
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As this annual report illustrates, our faculty and our excellent programs foster engaged and dedicated alumni and parents who support the school, and our wise fiscal stewardship enable a thriving endowment and a renewed physical plant. We are truly so thankful for your financial support of the Leading Matters Campaign, the Annual Fund, and the Heritage Society. These critical Development initiatives allow for strategic and sustainable program improvement, ensuring that not only does Dunn School survive nuclear proliferation and pandemics, but that each year the institution, its people, and programs improve steadily.
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READ ABOUT FUNDRAISING ON P. 10
Financial Report
$9.63m
Dunn Endowment Growth Current Total Net Assets: $17.17m Net Assets are a measure of the school’s assets less its liabilities. Higher net assets mean more financial flexibility. Endowments support the operations of the school perpetually. The larger the endowment the more non-tuition, non-development budgetary support the school receives.
$4.89m
$2.57m $1.35m
1991
2001
2015
2020
Budget Breakdown
89+8+3X 60+20+10X Fiscal 19/20 Operating Results (unaudited): $9.275m
Revenue
Expenses
Tuition Fees (net of FA) 89%
Salaries and Benefits 60%
Advancement/Federal 8%
Instructional/Activities 20%
Endowment 3%
Facilities 10% Admin 10% DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
Financial Update
1982
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Admissions
Dunn School Hits New Highs by Mike McKee
Admissions Update
Mike McKee Director of Admission
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The 2019-20 school year represented the most successful enrollment year in the history of Dunn School, with the school hitting record enrollment numbers for both Upper and Middle School students. As a result, tuition revenue was strong, the endowment and reserves grew steadily, and the annual fund goal was surpassed in the early spring. Over the last decade, with enrollment growing steadily, Dunn School has strongly positioned and prepared itself to weather a crisis, whether that be financial, or otherwise. While COVID-19 has tested our resolve, I am happy to report that Dunn School remains strong. Dunn remains committed to using its funds to offer financial aid as a means to attract and enroll a highly qualified and diverse student body. This school year over 50% of our student population will receive financial support. Financial aid is a strategic tool that would not be possible without the generous support of our alumni and friends of the school. We thank you for your support of our admissions efforts. Moreover, we have purposefully diversified our international population, and this year we we able to welcome students from 15 countries. The most important tool that the Dunn Admissions team relies on in order to attract a strong student body is the positive word of mouth of our alumni, parents of alumni, students, and current parents. I would like to encourage you to reach out to me should you know someone who could benefit from, and further enrich our amazing school community.
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
By the Numbers International Students
50/50
residential/day students
20%
of high school enrollments
42%
15
of residential students
countries represented
Dunn reaches record enrollment numbers for both Upper and Middle Schools in 2019-2020!
50%+
69
Upper School Students
of our student population will receive financial support
1:1
male to female student ratio
Middle School Students
35
Learning Strategies and Executive Group students
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Admissions Update
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The Culture of Philanthropy at Dunn School By LynnRae Dunn
We believe that education is transformational. We believe that a Dunn School education empowers students to be future leaders with the moral courage and societal responsibility to make a lasting impact on the world. Our campus elevates world-wide connections through the diversity of our classrooms, and we believe that our community benefits and strengthens through the stories and experiences that connect us. Since 1957, Dunn School has existed because of the generosity of our community. Parents, friends, and alumni come together to celebrate Dunn’s unique approach to educating the whole student for a lifetime of leadership and learning, and to ensure that future generations will receive the same excellence and individual learning environment that define what it is to be a part of the Earwig Nation. A culture of philanthropy is a collective recognition that Dunn School cannot achieve its mission of transformation through whole student education without the invested interest of the broader Dunn community. We receive no government subsidies or benefits of property taxes — we are independently funded by the generosity of our donors. On the following pages you will read the names of people and foundations who help make Dunn School — its students, faculty, and facilities — the special place it is today. Some donors give to honor the past, to show appreciation to faculty who shaped their knowledge of the world, or to pay homage to the place where lifelong friendships began. Others give in gratitude for the education and care their child receives, and still many see the holistic benefits of an educated society and want to contribute to the betterment of humanity. No matter your motivation, we hope you will make Dunn School your philanthropic priority so we can continue our student-centered approach and lead the way in the next evolution of education.
THANK YOU!
Donor Recognition
ANNUAL FUND
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TOTAL GIVING 2019-2020
$981,457
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
$770,707 ENDOWMENT
$194,350
LEADING MATTERS CAMPAIGN
$16,400
Change Maker $50,000 or more Eric Roberts '89 George Roberts, P '89 Wendy Shepherd '73 Maria Zhang, P '23 Visionary $25,000-$49,999 Mike Boone '79 Randy Clark '71 Nadege and Jay Conger, P '17 and '20 Tina and Jonathan Grunzweig, P '20 and '23 Elizabeth Marshall, G '21 Champion $10,000-$24,999 Stephanie and Daniel Bailey, P '22 Yong-Ling and Irving Beiman, P '20 Gizem Cagdas and Rifat Baltaoglu, P '22 Myrna and Roy Gaskin, P '71 David Hoffenberg '72 Mary and C.J. Jackson, P '04, '06, and '06 Ambassador $5,000-$9,999 Kimberly Branagh, P '21 Ann Donahue, P '23 Mary and Steven Gorski, P '23 Lisa and John Hockin, P '20 Ingrid and William '80 Jackson, P '21 Serap and Can Kantul, P '20 Jacqueline and Jordan Kruse, P '23 Janet and Barry Lang Ramsey Asphalt Construction Corp. Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Anne and Bruce '73 Thacher 1957 Founder $1,957-$4,999 Susan and James Chomeau, P '10, '16 and '16 Yu Xiao Yun and Tong Jun Ming, P '21
Tamie and David Posnick, P '22 and '25 Renee Johannensen, P '20 Liz '72 and Newlin Hastings Bill Jason '74 Wenija Li, P '23 Ningfen Liang & Jiding Liu, P '21 Jun Liu and Jie Lin, P '21 Anne McGrail, P '23 Nino Noval, P '20 and '22 Cheryl Stauffer, P '04 and '07
Angie and Stephen Janes, P '22 and '23 Jodi and Sean Pitts, P '26 Shuguang Chen and Xinghua Qi, P '23 Raytheon Company Daisy and Bill '65 Spurgin Sarah and Chad Stacy, P '20, '22, '24 and '27 Martha and Andrew Woodard, P '21 Hui Jen Yang and Tze Chao Lin, P '20
Advocate $1,000-$1,956
Participation
Michelle and Stewart Sonnenfeldt, P '16 Cindi and William Bone, P '85, '86, and '90 The Family School Russell Ledbetter '82 Elizabeth and Dan Reeves, P '96 Janet and Herbert '72 Friedman Debbie and Randy Jones, P '09, '11, and '14 Bolton & Company Ying Ma, P '20 Michael and Amy Grenier Hongyan Wang and Pei Liu, P '21 PayPal Giving Patricia Behmand and Michael Twomey, P '23 Qiong Wang and Hongyong Nie, P '20 Lyanne Melendez and Simon Spark, P '23 Sara and William Cumbelich, P '23 Partner $500-$999 Allen Construction Karen and Patrick Anderson, P '22 Jeremy Anticouni Whitney and Philip Arnautou, P '14 Ballard Canyon Capital Lisa and Norman Behar, P '17 John Calvy '61 Ying Xu and Zhiyu Cheng, P '20 Justin Ching '07 Divo Denove '98 Yu Zhang and Qiang Fang, P '22 Fernau & Hartman Architects, Inc. Tierney Gearon and Joe Blake, P '22
Tracy Angel and Rudy Alvaro, P '17, '20, and '25 Amazon Smile Pam and Douglas Atchinson, P '22 Christina Banman '08 Cecilia and Juan Barboza, P '23 and '25 Jennifer and Steve Berman, '20 Julia and James Billington, P '16 and '23 Michelle Bone '90 and Richard Smalldon, P '15 and '26 Chun Yan Chen, P '19 Norma and Robert Clark Deborah Coats, P '93 Laura and David Colgate, P '23 and '24 Don Daves-Rougeaux Barbara and Dean '61 Davidge, P '98 Anne and Scott Davison, P '20 Stephane de Bord '90, P '23 Megan and Anthoney Delgado, P '21 Jaymie and Mark Derscheid, P '26 Lisa and Stephen '89 Dini Cindy Douglas and Mike Clark, P '26 Jennifer and Bill '80 DuBois, P '25 Anita and Lockwood '67 Eddy Leanne and Ryan Elliott, P '26 Joyce and Edward Engs, P '80 Robert Fabricant '00 Johanna and Christopher Finley, P '24 and '26 Jennifer Freed, P '25 Iliana and Paul Gelles, P '21 and '24 Moira Gill and John Alton, P '24 Amy and Robb Gordon, P '25 Genevieve Herrick and Jason Grant '93, P '24 Alicia and PJ Guglielmo, P '25 DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
Donor Recognition
Thank you!
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Donor Recognition 12
Viet Anh Nguyen and Vu Han, P '22 Rong Hao, P '18 Ling Huo and Chunyi Hao, P '21 Jillian Harmon, P '25 Karen Hazard Mary Heyden and David Anderson, P '25 Robert Hunter '62 Titilola Johnson-Agiri '04 Katrina and Jose Bacallao, P '23 Leslie Pruitt and Slade Kennett, P '23 and '26 Robert Lawrence, P '15 Julie and Matt Leonard, P '26 Edle and Bo Liljeblad, P '22 and '25 Tracy and Cary Losson, P '25 Shawnda and Sam Marmorstein, P '19, '21, and '23 David and Kathleen Marshall, P '07, '18 and '21 Eleanor and Mark Mascheroni, P '13 Rex Mascheroni '13 Sunny McCluer Holmes '10 Elizabeth and James McRoberts, P '20 Esmeralda Mendoza-Arredondo and Roberto Mendoza, P '21, '23, and '25 Amy and Michael Musson, P '24 David Nelson, P '11 and '15 Kimberly Nelson, P '22 Henry Nevins '68 Minton Newell '85 Brian Panosian '84 Kenny and Erin Pata, P '25 Lynette and Donald Rehkopf Regina Risi, P '23 Deb and Martie Robles, P '21 Diana and J. Russell, P '83 Tami Rux and Tom Kopitnik, P '25 Meg and Christopher Rydman, P '26 Veronica Sandoval and Sean Foy, P '26 Cynthia and John Sanger Santa Maria Public Airport District Charisse and Jeremy Spry, P '26 Henry Tiffany Michele and Bryan Turbow, P '17, '20 and '22 Laura and Chris Urquidez, P '23 and '24 Vicki and Gene Vachon, P '24 Helen Vafaie and Elton Rains, P '22
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Dianna and Kelly Valdez, P '21 Stephanie Valentine, P '22 Judith Alex and Peter Vestal, P '23 Nora and Peter Wendel, P '08 Amber and Shawn Whitney, P '20 and '26 Pamela and John Wieben, P '03 Sharon Williams, P '23 Richard Woo, P '12 and '14 Mary Beth and Matt Woodruff, P '23 and '25 Feifei Yang and Hongyao Li, P '20 Haixia Chen and Qiang Zhang Maria and Gabriele Zuccarelli, P '21 and '23 Foundations The Mae Family Foundation Santa Barbara Foundation The Eric Roberts Foundation Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Whale Beach Foundation The Ann Jackson Family Foundation The E. Richard Jones Family Foundation The Henry W. Bull Foundation The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust Dana & Albert R. Broccoli Charitable Foundation W.M. Keck Foundation Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles Jason Family Foundation The Amgen Foundation In Kind Donations Alamo Motel Alex Marshall Aesthetics Alma Rosa Winery Always Sunglasses Aquarium of the Pacific Au Bon Climat Avec Moi Decor Baker's Table Ballard Inn Ivan Becerra Bernat Winery Tierney Gearon and Joe Blake Bloom Yoga Kimberly Branagh
Brothers Restaurant at the Red Barn Buellton Garage Pata Ranch California Tacos Juan Carlos Castaneda Central Coast Auction Service, Inc. Chef Clark Staub from Full of Life Flatbread Crawford Family Wines D. Volk Winery Derscheid Construction, Inc. Grady DiPietro DJ V Doggy G Dr. Dwayne Elder, D.D.S. Dragonette Cellars Eden Posnick Enjoy Cupcakes Esfuerzo Wines Fess Parker Winery Finley Farms Float Luxury Spa Flying Flags RV Resort and Campground Gainey Vineyard Esron Gates Gleason Family Vineyards God's Country Provisions Good Seed Coffee Boutique Robb and Amy Gordon Children of the Dirt Race Team Halper Fine Art Hamlet Inn Happy Canyon Vineyard Heather Gardner Jewelry Hecker's Coastal Tree Care Chris Huston Ice In Paradise In-N-Out Burger Island Packers Joie de V Jones Family Vineyards Julie Christy Makeup & Lash Artistry Jacqueline and Jordan Kruse Anne and David Lawrence Leonard Custom Works, Inc. Lisa and John Hockin Lucas and Lewellen Vineyards Melville Winery Montecito Brow Studio Mortensen's Bakery Moxi, The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation
Neary Chiropractic New Frontiers Natural Marketplace Nielsen Building Materials Olio e Limon ONEderChild Pacific Park Panino's Paul Mitchell PCPA Theaterfest Pence Vineyards & Winery Plenty Boutique Redfern Acupuncture Roblar Winery Rudy's Rux and Kopitnik Family Saarloos and Sons Santa Barbara Adventure Company Your Pals Pet Hospital Santa Barbara Zoo Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Santa Ynez Valley Horses Sea Smoke Shorty's Inc. Six Flags Magic Mountain Solvang Bakery Solvang Knives Etc... Song in My Heart Stolpman Vineyards, LLC Summerland Winery Sweetzer Cellars S.Y. Kitchen SYV Essential Oils Tensley Wines Teori Aesthetics Tercero Wines The Book Loft Jassmine Tong Toscana Pizzeria Solvang Treats Vineyard Yoga SYV Wild Poppy Boutique Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe Youth Empowered Maria Zhang Zodos Anthony B. Dunn Heritage Society of 1957 Members (Planned Giving) Bill Allen '64 Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous
Mike Boone ’79 Steven Breeze '61 Hugh Carpenter '66 Joseph V. Costello III ’70 Jennifer and William ’80 DuBois , P '25 Edward and Joyce Engs III, P’80 Beryl Geller, P’75 Russell Ledbetter '82 Robert and JoNan LeRoy Gail McGrath, P’79 John H. Sanger Sarah and Chad Stacy, P '20, '22, and '24 Guy R. Walker ’76, P’05 Chris Wesselman '65 William and Claire Wolfenden Family Trust ’84 Endowment Donors Robert Arnott, P '16 John Billig '64 Kimberly Branagh, P '21 Jennifer and Bill '80 DuBois, P '25 Jason Family Foundation Yun-Chen Liu, P' 22 Keegan Mitchell '10 Lucia and Johannes Overgaag, P '89 Page & Otto Marx, Jr. Foundation W.M. Keck Foundation Whale Beach Foundation Thank You Volunteers! Tracy Angel Ceci Barbosa Michelle Bone Mike Clark Jaymie Derscheid Mark Derscheid Cindy Douglas Bill Dubois Jennifer DuBois LynnRae Dunn Leanne Cooper Elliott Ryan Elliott Johanna Finley Coleen Fitzgerald Mariana Flores Jennifer Freed Amy Freedman Nick Gianis Shani Gianis
Moira Gill Amy Gordon Jennifer Graham Michael Grenier Alicia Guglielmo Jillian Harmon Sarah Harris Shannon Hazard Mike Hecker Trish Hecker Mary Heyden Mark Horvath Wendy Horvath Slade Kennett Slade Kennett Tom Kopitnik Julie Leonard Cary Losson Tracy Losson Robin Masopust Christine McKee Mike McKee Ryan Metzger Linda Millholand Miguel Moreno Suzie Moreno David Musson Erin Pata Shelly Pinoli Jodi Pitts Sean Pitts Leslie Pruitt Amy Rhodes Regina Risi Tami Rux Tami Rux Christopher Rydman Veronica Sandoval Lorena Simpson Richard Smalldon Charisse Spry Chad Stacy Michelle Turner Taylor Tyng Chris Urquidez Vicki Vachon Meg Watson Christina Weir Amber Whitney Kira Wilcox Mary Beth Woodruff
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
Donor Recognition
Thank you!
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Leading Matters Campaign Wraps Up Successfully By Lynn Rae Dunn
$3m
SCHOLARSHIPS
Leading Matters Campaign
$1m
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PROGRAM ENDOWMENT
$6.1m
CINDY BRONFMAN LEADERSHIP CENTER
Dunn School’s Leading Matters Campaign, which was launched in 2010, officially came to a close on March 13, 2020. Over the span of ten years, the campaign successfully reached its goal of $10.1 million, resulting in $3 million in scholarships, $1 million in program endowment, and $6.1 million to build the Cindy Bronfman Leadership Center. A portion of the funds, generously donated and earmarked by Irwin Foundation also went to install solar panels on the gym roof that will aid Dunn School’s energy efficiency by 30%. We’d like extend a heartfelt thanks to Cindy and Adam Bronfman, whose $1 million gift kicked off the Leading Matters Campaign. Plans for the grand opening of the Cindy Bronfman Leadership Center were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and will be rescheduled for Spring 2021. The Leadership Center is the first new student structure on Dunn’s campus in almost 20 years, and includes an Innovation Lab, the Earwig Café, our College Counseling Center, and plenty of open space for collaboration and study. We encourage all parents, alumni, and donors to visit Dunn campus anytime to tour the Leadership Center. Thank you to all the donors who made Leading Matters a great success!
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
The Amgen Foundation Celeste Andersen and Charles Rotbart, P '17 and '19 Georgia Arnautou '14 Whitney and Philip Arnautou, P '14 Katrina and Jose Bacallao, P '23 Maura and Michael Beck Yong-Ling and Irving Beiman, P '20 John Billig '64 Mike Boone '79 Kimberly Branagh, P ' 21 Sharlene and Robert Britz, P '94 Cindy and Adam Bronfman, P '12 Maria and Juan Carlos Castaneda, P '21 and '22 Dominic Castro '21 The Castro Family Guangyan Zhang & Xiaoping Chen, P '19 Ying Xu & Zhiyu Cheng, P '20 MinKyu (Joseph) Cho '12 Susan and James Chomeau, P '10, '16 and '16 Mong Nyul Chung and Soo Zane Lee, P ' 14 and '15 Nadege and Jay Conger, P '17 and '20 Sara and William Cumbelich, P '23 Don Daves-Rougeaux Barbara and Dean '61 Davidge, P '98 William Davidge '63 Robert Day, P '08 Stephane de Bord '90, P '23 Divo Denove '98 Lisa and Stephen '89 Dini Jennifer and Bill '80 DuBois, P '25 LynnRae Dunn, P '23 Lynn Shapiro and Michael Dunn, P '06 and '09 Jennifer Freed, P '25 Herbert Friedman '72 Sandie and George Froley, G'14 Chris and James '71 Gaskin Moira Gill and John Alton, P '24 James Golden '73 Yan Sheng & Zhanxu Guo, P '19 Ling Huo & Chunyi Hao, P '21 Jillian Harmon, P' 25 Lisa and John Hockin, P '20 Sunny McCluer Holmes '10 Ching Fang Hsu, P '15 The William G. Irwin Charity Foundation Mary and C.J. Jackson, P '04, '06, and '06 The Ann Jackson Family Foundation Angie and Stephen Janes, P ' 22 and '23
Degang Jiang and Yuhong Si, P '18 Zhe Wang & Kai Jin, P '21 Lola Johnson '04 Debbie and Randy Jones, P '09, '11, and '14 Linda and Len Kado, P '98, '00 and '10 W.M. Keck Foundation Russell Ledbetter '82 Feifei Yang & Hongyao Li, P '20 Jun Liu & Jie Lin, P '21 Mackenzie Lisenby '09 and Anand Panchal '09 Hongyan Wang & Pei Liu, P '21 Ningfen Liang & Jiding Liu, P '21 Yanan Li & Jingdong Liu, P '19 Tracy and Cary Losson, P '25 James and Elizabeth McRoberts, P '21 Keegan Mitchell '10 Amy and Michael Musson, P '24 David Nelson, P '11 and '15 Nino Noval, P' 20 and '22 Whale Beach Foundation Petra and Daniel Peterkova, P '21 Kate and Steve Petrich, P '19 Carma and Clint Pooley, G '14 Raytheon Company Eric Roberts '89 George Roberts, P '89 The Roberts Foundation Wendy and Benjamin Rowland, G '06 and '09* Tami Rux and Tom Kopitnik, P '25 Sarah and Chad Stacy, P '20, '22, '24 and '27 Cheryl and Charles* Stauffer, P '04 and '07 Morton Sullivan '64 Bruce '73 and Anne Thacher Xiaoyun Yu & Junming Tong, P '20 Evgeny Tugolukov, P '17 and '19 Michelle and Eric Turner, P '21 and '23 Liz and Taylor Tyng, P '26 Gladdys Uribe '98 Dianna and Kelly Valdez, P '21 Molly and Guy R. '76 Walker, P '05 Nancy and Brad Waters, P '20, '22 and '23 Christopher Wesselman '65 Kira and Paul Wilcox, P '22 and '26 Lijuan Wu & Yi Yang, P '23 Pochang Yu, P '17 and '21 Qin Ma & Hong Zhou, P '20 Zhi Yu "David" Zou '14
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
Leading Matters Campaign
Thank you to all the donors who made Leading Matters a great success!
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Kaya Crosby ‘20 Heads to Wellesley College and is Published in NYT When Kaya Crosby was a junior at Dunn in spring 2019, she wrote a letter to potential donors in support of the annual fund. In that letter, Kaya expressed her appreciation for the financial aid she received during her years at Dunn, writing, “I’ve been given countless opportunities that I wouldn’t be able to have anywhere else. Dunn School focuses on nurturing the whole student which has allowed me to explore who I am, and to shape my future around what I discover about myself.” Kaya went on to describe the many discoveries she had been making about herself at Dunn, like her love for molecular biology, her ability to take on a leadership role when pushed out of her comfort zone, and that she is a “person who will take action to fix something”. She finished her letter by thanking donors and promising that “in the future, I’ll also give back to the school that has opened so many doors for me”.
Student Stories
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It turns out that this fall, after being accepted to Johns Hopkins University, USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and Wellesley College, among others, Kaya is now a freshman at Wellesley, having earned a four-year full scholarship. She’ll be studying molecular biology, true. Yet she also discovered in the past couple of years that she is interested in political science, humanities in general, and that she is a gifted writer. As if Kaya’s journey at Dunn is not impressive enough, in August, her college admissions essay was one I’ve been given countless opportunities of only four in the nation chosen for that I wouldn’t be able to have anywhere publication in the New York Times. else. Dunn School focuses on nurturing the Kaya found out about the New York Times essay competition from whole student which has allowed me to College Counselor Liz Tyng. As Mrs. explore who I am, and to shape my future Tyng recalls, “I didn’t have to do anything. I just told Kaya about the around what I discover about myself. opportunity and she did the rest.” Kaya is just one of many proud Dunn graduates, who, without the generosity of Dunn financial supporters, might still be struggling to crochet colorful and critical life experiences together. We look forward to the day when Kaya is, as defined by her own standards, successful enough to give back. In the meantime, we congratulate Kaya and all of our financial aid recipients on their hard work and a job well done!
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
The following is an excerpt from Kaya’s essay reprinted with permission from The New York Times. The full text of Kaya’s essay can be read in New York Times article "Pictures of Themselves: The 2020 College Essays on Money", published online August 28, 2020.
Twist, bend, through the loop. Repeat. It took me a month to crochet my first blanket. One month of twisting, bending, sending my hook through the loop, and repeating. It was an almost meditative pastime. I spent bus rides and evenings working on my blanket, determined to finish. I learned to crochet so that I could feel closer to my mother. I poured my heart into every stitch. Each square of the blanket meant something different; the colors represented memories. It was a summary of my life.
Student Stories
Green double treble crochet stitches take me back to the smell of wet pine needles in the spring, laughter from my sisters climbing high on tree limbs, the curve of mountain roads. Green is the forest of my childhood, sheltering my first home. I taste the smoke from our old wood stove and see the oil lanterns flickering in and out. The cabin in the woods where my sister was born, water from the river that she took her first bath in.
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From “Find Your Fit” to “Right Fit” — Reflections on our Whole Student College Counseling Approach By Liz Tyng
For the past three years, I’ve had the pleasure of guiding Dunn seniors through the myriad of post-high school options. A good deal of my work consists of administrative tasks like assisting students with navigating individual college, financial aid, and scholarship applications, and
News and Highlights
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and needs, face their fears, and in doing so continue to find their fit in the world.
Dunn’s approach to college counseling is not about filling in “x’s” and “o’s”.
This approach entails responding to nervous late night texts to allay a student’s anxieties. It means helping a student to see her strengths and innate talents in the face of rejection. It is about coaching students through difficult conversations with their parents, and in the process, encouraging them to advocate for themselves. Best of all, it is about celebrating college acceptances with hugs, cheers, and copious amounts of confetti for everyone no matter what the result.
editing the oft dreaded college essay. That said, I have come to realize over the years that Dunn’s approach to college counseling is not about filling in “x’s” and “o’s”. At its core our approach to college counseling is dedicated to nurturing a strong relationship with each student so that we are in a position to help them reflect on their aspirations
The cornerstone of Dunn’s counseling approach is understanding the whole student. That is to say, examining each student’s unique life story and identity and then putting them on an appropriate path to “right fit” opportunities, many of which they may be unaware of. To do this, we focus on opening doors and empowering students with the tools and resources to make an informed
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
choice. This work doesn’t only exist in my office, rather it starts the moment a student steps onto Dunn’s campus and begins to experience the school’s whole student approach to education and personal development.
With each subsequent senior class, I don’t expect to be able to create as meaningful or as deep of a connection with that class as I did with the previous one. Yet, each year, I’ve been surprised and delighted when my expectations are proven wrong. What I find so refreshing about our community is that each Dunn class has a unique character, its own ecosystem of students with different learning styles, ambitions, and resources. More striking to me is that our students are not competitive with one another, but rather, they are competitive with themselves. Based on my discussions with colleagues at other schools, I understand that this kind of support and community around the college decision process is quite rare. It is rare too that a school’s team of educators, administrators, and Board of Trustees collectively understand that our school’s list of college acceptances is not the most important measure of our success as an institution, nor of our students’ potential for success and self worth. Each year, our students apply to roughly 200 unique colleges and universities across the globe and are accepted at schools with 50% to 60% acceptance rates. While Dunn’s list of college acceptances routinely boasts some of the most competitive colleges in the country, it also contains
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What I find so refreshing about our community is that each Dunn class has a unique character, its own ecosystem of students with different learning styles, ambitions, and resources.
lesser known schools, community colleges and non-collegiate choices such as gap year programs. We celebrate each acceptance equally and understand that it isn’t so much about where a student goes, but rather what they make of their education and opportunities once they get there. We also understand that sometimes the most “prestigious” choice isn’t the right fit for a particular student (of course for some, it is), because we see and know our students as a whole person, and not simply as an addition to our college acceptance list. We are confident enough in the quality of our whole student education and the unique character it lends to our community to allow our seniors the confidence to truly find their fit in a post-Dunn world. DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
News and Highlights
The “right fit” approach to college counseling happens daily in our classrooms and in discussions with peers and faculty. It happens on our athletic fields, on the stage, in the wilderness, and in the art studios and dorms. It is driven by a caring and invested community of adults who have dedicated their lives to mentoring and teaching youth, who continuously try to reach every student and meet them wherever they are in their academic and personal journey, and who guide them on the path that is the best fit for them.
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Class of 2020 Matriculation Boasts Many New Achievements
372
total college applications
59%
application acceptance rate
33
different colleges in 15 states
Local Scholarship Winners:
News and Highlights
Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation
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8 Applicants 3 winners for a total of $7600 Santa Ynez Valley Foundation (100% received a scholarship!) 9 Applicants 9 winners for a total of $12,000
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
The Class of 2020 really wanted to stay in California! All but one of the top 10 most applied to colleges were in California. Students were admitted to all campuses except UC Berkeley this year. Dunn students will enroll at 8 of the 10 colleges. UC-San Diego (1) UC-Los Angeles (2) UC-Santa Barbara (0) UC-Irvine (2) Chapman (2) Loyola Marymount (1) UC-Berkeley (0) University of Denver (1) Northeastern University (2) University of Southern California (2) College Matriculation Arizona State University-Tempe Barnard College Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo CSU- Dominguez Hills Chapman University (2) College of Charleston College of Marin Columbia College Chicago East Los Angeles College Fordham University Lewis & Clark College Loyola Marymount University Macalester College Montana State University New York University Northeastern University (2) Oklahoma State University Otis College of Art and Design Pepperdine University Santa Barbara City College The College of Wooster The New School Trinity College University of California-Irvine (2) University of California-Los Angeles (2) University of California, San Diego University of Colorado Boulder University of Denver University of Idaho University of Miami University of Oregon University of Southern California (2) Wellesley College
2019-2020 was another stellar year for Dunn Upper School Athletics with 5 Condor League Championship wins, adding to 6 League wins the previous school year. Winning teams include: Girls—Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball Boys—Basketball, Soccer, Baseball (2020 baseball season was cancelled) The 2020 Boys Soccer team capped off a perfect season, 20-0 winning the CIF-SS Division 6 title. Brima Kamara was named Division 6 Player of the Year and Head Coach Dylan Murphy was named Division 6 Coach of the Year. Dunn Middle School Girls Volleyball finished as Santa Ynez Valley Junior High league champs.
Greetings Dunn Alumni, Over the past year I have had the opportunity to meet many of you in person at one of our events, on Zoom, or over the phone. It has been my pleasure getting to know each of you and hearing your stories about how Dunn impacted your life. I want to take a moment to thank all of you who contributed to the Annual Fund during the 2019-20 school year. As we move into the 2020-21 school year your support will help us as we adjust to the new COVID regulations. In August we hosted our first and very successful Cocktails and Conversations Alumni Meet up on Zoom. Our October conversation is scheduled for Thursday October 15th. If you have not joined one of these meetups yet, I encourage you to register and join in the fun connecting with former faculty and friends. We also invite you to participate in our Book Club. Humanities Department Chair, Meg Watson has selected Fredrik Backman's Anxious People to discuss via Zoom on November 12 at 6:00 pm PDT.
Alumni Stories
We are always looking for alumni to be class agents, helping us assemble notes from fellow classmates and work with our office to plan for your next class reunion. We hope every Alumnus/a will join us on campus for Alumni Weekend June 18th-20th. (Conditions permitting).
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If we have not had the opportunity to meet and chat yet, please feel free to contact me directly. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Cheers, Timothy J. Weir Director of Athletics & Alumni Affairs DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
Working on the Anatomic Peninsula
Alumnus David Armstrong ‘86 Has Been Advancing the Field of Podiatry for Decades
When we last spoke to David in 2013, he was a professor of surgery at the University of Arizona and Director of the Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA). Back then he was pioneering the use of consumer and smart technologies in podiatric care. Since then, he has joined the USC Keck School of Medicine as a Professor of Clinical Surgery. We caught up with David recently to chat with him about his recent work progressing the field of podiatry amidst the pandemic and to get his reflections about Dunn. David describes his choice to treat diabetic feet as a matter of purpose because he has always been attracted to the underdog. He jokes, “That’s one reason I was attracted to Dunn!” “Diabetes,” he says, “is the silent, sinister syndrome,” noting that as a species we are designed to respond to immediate threats like loud noises and pain. For diabetics, however, the slow loss of the sense of pain over time presents a deadly threat to which many do not respond. “A diabetic can walk around with a big infected hole in their foot and not realize it. I’ve actually operated on people’s feet without anesthesia,” says David. Reflecting on his long career David offers, “Being a podiatric surgeon gives you two great gifts — humility
and collaboration.” He explains, “As a podiatrist I am always working on the ‘anatomic peninsula’ of the body. Looking after someone’s feet has always been a symbol of humility across time, whether it’s about religious beliefs, culture, or history.” As for collaboration, David says that working with feet forces him to collaborate with doctors who treat the “anatomic mainland” that is the rest of the body and its systems, particularly those that
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I valued my education at Dunn so much. I recall faculty spending a lot of time with me and I was humbled to be surrounded by such smart, engaged people.
deal with vascular and nerve anatomy. Speaking of collaboration, David recently took part in a study of the effectiveness of treating diabetic patients with wounds via telehealth sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic. This model of care has been dubbed “The Wound Center Without Walls”. Many of David’s patients have comorbidities that put them at high risk of extreme complications should they contract COVID-19. To reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 in a clinical setting, David began treating patient wounds remotely — new territory for podiatry. The study compared treatment results for patients treated in person
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
Alumni Stories
Have you thought about your feet lately? Dunn alumnus and accomplished podiatrist David Armstrong ‘86, DPM, PhD, has been thinking about feet since his days at Dunn School. Back then, David watched his father, also a podiatrist, take patients who couldn’t walk into his office and transform their feet so they could walk out of it. David, however, chose to specialize not in the immediate treatment of feet, but rather the long term treatment of the slow decline of a diabetic’s feet. David says his life’s mission is to help diabetics avoid amputation of toes and feet.
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versus through telehealth. The study found telehealth to be a great tool for improving health outcomes for diabetic patients, even those with very serious wounds. In one famous example at the height of the pandemic, David had a patient who had a severe case of necrotic tissue that was life threatening. The patient was also recovering from pneumonia so there was no chance of admitting him to a care center. David used a basic but proven treatment via telemedicine — maggots. In what is likely the first time this kind of treatment has been applied outside of a clinical setting, wound care nurses were sent to the patient’s home. From his office David instructed the nurses, with five of the patient’s family members watching, on how to apply the flesh-eating larvae of the common Green Bottle Fly to the patient’s wound area using a special kind of panty hose. “It was a lifesaver,” recalls David, adding, “The larvae just know where to go and they only eat dead tissue.” David has found that his passion for tinkering with medical procedures dates back to his days at Dunn School. As a high schooler David was always experimenting with gadgets along with good friend Randall Bone. He has found that his passion for gadgetry fueled a career that is “forever exciting on the anatomic peninsula”. He has worked on treatments as simple as spread-on creams to more complex gene therapy to wearable robots that act as an exoskeleton when a person loses mobility after losing digits or a foot. Most recently he has focused on remote patient monitoring and smart textiles.
Alumni Stories
David says that at the root of his accomplished professional life is his Dunn School education. He reflects, “I valued my education at Dunn so much. I recall faculty spending a lot of time with me and I was humbled to be surrounded by such smart, engaged people.”
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DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
Fifi Baiden—From Soccer Goals to Giving Back Goals When we last caught up in 2014 with Dunn alum Kingsley “Fifi” Baiden ‘10, the MLS team Columbus Crew had just drafted him. Soon after however, Fifi’s MLS career was sidelined due to injury. “It was a big blow,” recalls Fifi. Never one to sit idle and be without clear goals, Fifi used his set back to reconsider what his purpose and impact in life should be. He decided that his greatest joy was giving time and teaching what he has learned and knows to youth. He resolved to give back and he has been doing that ever since. Fifi explains, “I’ve always had a passion for giving back...all the struggles I went through with my family and growing up very poor, that kind of struggle always put the idea in my heart that, no matter what, if I succeed I want to help other children.” Fifi subsequently created his aptly named foundation, Fifi Soccer Foundation, in his home country of Ghana. Currently the foundation houses and feeds around 20 orphan boys and girls, and offers training to around 100 underprivileged children in the area. After renting a facility for several years, the foundation raised enough money to purchase land for a permanent facility. It is now raising funds to build out the facility and rehouse orphan children there.
Fifi drew inspiration for his foundation from a trip he made back to Ghana during his junior year at UC Santa Barbara. He returned to Africa as a volunteer for Orphan Aid, during which time he gained what he calls “boots on the ground experience” and learned what at-risk children needed. When Orphan Aid dissolved around the time Fifi graduated from university, the at-risk youth it was serving and its staff had nowhere to go. When Fifi heard of this his reaction, as he explains was, “I took it upon myself to do everything I could to help the children.”
Pepperdine University, another “little goal” on his way to giving back long-term. He plans to use what he has learned to further hone his non-profit managerial skills and to build a personal network by working with a large company. From there he plans to use these experiences to grow and create a sustainable future for the Fifi Foundation.
Based on his life experience struggling in the streets of Ghana, setting goals to achieve his dream of playing major league soccer, and working hard to make it a reality, Fifi has clear advice for young people who are struggling or who have big dreams. He encourages youth to accept that there will always be challenges and hardship in life. He advises them that to get through it they need to keep their eyes on the end goal and use hard work and determination to get there. His advice is to students is, “Make sure you have a plan. Ask yourself, ‘What are my goals? What do I want to do?’ Then set little goals and move on tackling one goal after the other while keeping your focus on the bigger picture.”
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Fifi uses the example of arriving at Dunn School with very few English skills to make his point. He knew that he needed a scholarship to attend university in the United States and have a shot at the MLS. He also knew that poor English skills and grades would inhibit his chances of success. So freshman year he focused nonstop on learning to read and write English to the required standard. Ultimately, he earned a scholarship to UCSB and played for the Gauchos.
For more information about Fifi Soccer Foundation or to donate visit www.fifisoccer.com
Speaking of hard work, Fifi recently received his masters degree in Social Entrepreneurship from
Make sure you have a plan... Then set little goals and move on tackling one goal after the other while keeping your focus on the bigger picture.
problem. It’s hard to fix a problem if we don’t admit it. Individually, we all have to play our own part.” He adds, “It’s not a political issue. It’s a humanity issue. What is wrong is wrong.” His answer? Education. “We always need to listen and learn from other people.”
Carly Meyer Helton ‘02 Has Been Shooting for the Stars Since Dunn Days In this age of SpaceForce, Spacex, and the Women in STEM movement, we couldn't help but wonder what Dunn alum Carly Helton has been doing at Spacex and NASA and how she got there from Dunn School. We caught up with Carly recently to find out how she achieved her lifelong dream of working for NASA. Carly came to Dunn after spending her freshman year at a boarding school that wasn’t the right fit for her. Carly recalls of her first visit to Dunn, DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
Alumni Stories
Another piece of advice that Fifi lives by and which he imparts to his soccer protegees is, “No matter what you do, hard work will always beat talent.” He believes that just because someone has talent they are not ensured success. There will always be someone with less talent but who is willing to work harder for success.
Fifi carries the same thoughtful goal setting perspective when asked his opinion on the current racial tensions in the USA. He opines, “First, we all have to agree and understand that there’s a
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perseverance and focus on the goal. By way of Allan Hancock College, working as a student at Vandenberg Air Force Base, working for a local hotel doing drafting work, she finally found her way into a temp job as an Office Administrator at SpaceX. From there she found her way back to Vandenberg. After a couple of years, she mustered the courage to request a transfer to the offices of her employer in Space Coast, Florida. Advises Carly, “It never hurts to ask for what you want, especially if you’ve worked hard to prove you’re an asset to the company you are working for.”
Alumni Stories
“I immediately fell in love with the setting and the people.” Of her time at Dunn School, Carly’s fondest memories were of the outdoor education trips. Says, Carly, “These were great ways to teach teamwork and help bring out our personal strengths, building confidence... looking back those times were truly exceptional, being able to simply focus on community, relationships, and adventure — as a class.”
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During her years at Dunn Carly found inspiration in three faculty members in particular: Don Dave-Rougeaux, Willy Haig, and Amy Geriak. Of Mr. Daves-Rougeaux (currently a Dunn Board member) Carly offers, “His classes were the ones I looked forward to the most, partly due to his passion for teaching... he was really engaging, which helped me delve deeper into the material.” As for Mr. Haig, Carly laughs, “He had a way of blending his comedic personality with the material that really helped propel me along throughout my years at Dunn.” As for Mrs. Geriak, who was Carly’s advisor, Carly recounts, “I was so thankful to have such a kind, caring, and compassionate human as a mentor and a personal cheerleader!” She attributes Mrs. Geriak’s encouragement to take on Yearbook duties as part of her inspiration for learning layout, drafting and designing software, which Carly later pursued as a degree in college and has employed throughout her career. While at Dunn Carly maintained a very clear goal “to one day work at the Kennedy Space Center for NASA”. Her path to achieving this lifelong dream was not at all a direct one, but one which required DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
After working at Patrick Air Force Base, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and the Department of State, she interviewed for an opening at Kennedy Space Center on a whim. “It was a good whim, too because I got the job!”, recalls Carly. Having achieved her goal, Carly worked as a NASA contractor for one of its in-house software applications by providing testing, reports, metics, and customer support. Looking back at her experiences at Dunn and her path to accomplishing her goals, Carly has some advice for current students. She advises, “Life always throws you curveballs, it’s how you work with what’s presented to you that matters. There are a million ways to reach your goals — you might just have to take a different path to get there.” She encourages students to volunteer for various assignments in order to assess their best skills and personal interests. She gives the example, “When at Dunn I worked in the student shop, snack bar, mailroom, yearbook staff, Academy. I and even created a new extracurricular ‘Yearbook Sports Photographer’.” Summarizing how Dunn put her on her career path, Carly says, “The best part of attending Dunn was the way in which it allowed the pillars of character to blossom — trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. This contributed greatly to the way in which I approached life after Dunn and helped to propel me towards my lifelong childhood dream of one day working at the Kennedy Space Center for NASA.” You can find Carly on instagram at @heltonharvestmama and @heltonharvest.
Alex Westcott—Whole Student Educator and Man of Many Disguises
Alex first experienced this kind of freedom in 2009 when he started teaching History 9. Back then he was asked to develop an integrated humanities curriculum that combined aspects of English 9 and History 9 and which required collaboration with English teacher Laura Fox. That year, he developed a new curriculum and launched a new freshman year project, the UNESCO World Heritage Project. For the UNESCO project students are given a fictitious problem surrounding UNESCO. They must demonstrate “claim, evidence, and analysis” skills when proposing a solution. This project was the first of many opportunities to experiment and collaborate for Alex. A few years later, Alex was recruited by former Earwig Inc. (Dunn’s entrepreneurship course) instructor Alex Kehaya to assist students with customer development research that would support the creation of an app by Dunn alumna Yoki Matsuoka. The app was meant to help Dunn faculty track the whole student education journey of their advisees. During the customer development project Alex came to love the entrepreneurial process. He was encouraged by former student Abe Storey ‘16, who was part of the inaugural Earwig Inc. class and is now a serial entrepreneur, to join the Earwig Inc. instruction team. Alex recalls, “I knew nothing about business, but it was easy to move into teaching entrepreneurship with Chad
Stacy (Dunn's CFO) because of my experiences collaborating on the humanities curriculum.” As with any app, there were early adopters and laggards, and ultimately the Dunn app wasn’t adopted widely. Nevertheless, Alex used insights gained from teaching Earwig Inc. to improve and evolve his teaching methods in his History 9 course. He asked himself, “So how do students tell their story and track development over the years at Dunn, then?” Alex now has his History 9 and Earwig Inc. students create a personal website, called My Story. On My Story they record their “history” at Dunn including documenting their first days at Dunn, school projects, dorm life, and more. One graduate of the class of 2020, Allen Lin, started with a picture of the moment he set foot on Dunn’s campus in front of the Dunn sign and documented all four of his years at Dunn.
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No matter who you are you can be yourself at Dunn. I value being able to have that as part of my life.
Alex has also incorporated problem-solution thinking and business frameworks from the Earwig Inc. course into his history courses. He explains, “Once I started teaching entrepreneurship and developed that problem-solution mindset, it influenced my history classes.” For example, he began teaching history students to identify DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
Faculty and Staff Stories
Alex Westcott is entering his 15th year as a humanities and entrepreneurship teacher at Dunn. Reflecting on his tenure, Alex attributes his longevity at Dunn School to an environment that encourages innovative teaching and professional experimentation. As he puts it, “Dunn has really allowed me to experiment in the classroom by taking the various professional development and learning experiences that I’ve had and trying to use them in the classroom. Just being open to the mindset of ‘Hey, we’re gonna try this, if it works great, if not we’ll learn and tweak it.' I love that freedom.”
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problems associated with ancient civilizations and solve those ancient problems and related modern problems as if they were entrepreneurs. He describes, “Take Rome, for example. Students may study and research the corruption of ancient Rome and are asked to tackle the modern problem of the mafia and corruption in Italy”. Alex also incorporates entrepreneurial concepts such as the Business Model Canvas and the Value Proposition Canvas, both tools for understanding customer needs. He has students create a similar canvas for understanding ancient cultures and asks them to reflect on, “Can you understand the culture and the problem in the context of that culture? Can you match your solution to the problem and culture of the people?” Students often realize that their proposed solution might have to change to match the culture.
Faculty and Staff Stories
Another learning concept from entrepreneurship that Alex experimented with in his history class is “reflection”, which he describes as “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and being creative with that situation to solve problems”. Students prepare written feedback and engage in face to face reflection sessions with a peer, during which they give and receive feedback on a history project and are asked to internalize and act on the feedback. Alex sees tremendous growth during this time as students learn the art of interpersonal communication and collaboration. Some students make big changes in their leadership style, while for others growth comes from simply hearing feedback or struggling with communication and listening to others’ ideas. These examples of combining of English, history and entrepreneurial teachings embody Dunn’s mission of whole student education, which is Alex’s goal. "Once students embark on this kind of deep dive problem solving and empathetic thinking it requires a change in their mentality. Students realize solutions are not so simple." Alex further elaborates on the larger lesson he is trying to impart to all students, “I do believe the entrepreneur's mantra of solving people’s problems is the future of the world. We can all get a little better at understanding people’s problems and trying to solve problems.” He continues,
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DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
“We have so many different learning styles represented by our students that we can reach by experimenting in the classroom. All it takes is effort and being willing to put yourself out there, try and fail, and try again.” On a personal note, Alex says the freedom to be who you are at Dunn also drives his dedication to the school. He explains, “I love to experience students in dorms, on athletic fields, where people are allowed to be themselves. No matter who you are you can be yourself at Dunn. I value being able to have that as part of my life.” Speaking of being himself, Alex has developed quite a reputation over the years for being someone else of significance every Halloween. At the time of writing this article, he had been growing his hair out for almost a year in preparation for his Halloween 2020 disguise, which will remain a mystery until that day. “I may or may not be growing my hair out for it,” he teases. Alex’s previous costumes include The Godfather (there’s that Italian corruption theme again), Hamilton (history, of course), and a garden gnome. When Alex was a garden gnome he stood in the lunch area garden like a statue during the entire free period, and the students then later “dragged” him over to the student garden. Reflecting on his zest for dressing up, Alex encourages, “Again, I say, be yourself at Dunn. If you love to dress up for anything, go for it!”
Honoring Maria Garcia’s 25 years of Service “I live more in Loy dorm than in my house.”
Anyone who has spent time at Dunn School — whether faculty, student, or parent — will certainly have noticed Maria Garcia’s smiling face around campus. The 2019-2020 school year marked 25 years of Maria’s service to the Dunn School community. She’s worked under three headmasters in that time and alongside her husband Ramiro for 23 of those 25 years.
helps you when you don’t speak very good English.” As for her English skills, Maria says they have improved over 25 years. She recalls, “When I started at Dunn, I stayed inside Loy dorm a lot because I was scared to speak. Now I prefer to clean outside more than inside. I am more confident. I may not have a degree, but my degree is in life.”
Maria came to Dunn as a kitchen worker. She was told at the time that the job was for one month only. However, Maria recalls, “I said ‘no’, I am positive I will be staying longer. This job is for me! I don’t know how many years I will be here, but I know I will stay here.” This foresight, says Maria, is due to her never ending positive outlook. “If somebody tells me ‘No, you can’t do it’, then I go do it,” she exclaims. Maria describes her first days at Dunn as foundational to her longevity in the job. Head of School Eric Ruoss told her when she was hired for the maintenance team, “Everyone here is treated the same, no matter what you do.” Maria maintains that this attitude of equity and respect is one reason she has stayed at Dunn for so long, noting that she is grateful to current Head of School Mike Beck for maintaining the same philosophy. She also attributes her happiness at Dunn all these years to caring staff members like the one who once offered to call an airline and help her get a refund on tickets to Mexico. “I have a lot of gratitude,” she explains, adding, “Not everybody
For example, during the stressful final exam period she pops in to check the bathrooms, but also takes the opportunity to ask how the girls are doing, offer encouraging words, and occasionally help with studies. If she finds herself breaking up conflicts Maria says, “I tell them, ‘Hey girls, stop, you are not in kindergarten!’” She laughs as she recalls that she once heard a group of international students yelling at each other very loudly as she was about to leave for the day. Concerned, she decided to go see what the ruckus was about. It turned out that the students were rehearsing lines for a drama piece. As for life lessons, Maria has plenty to offer. She smiles knowingly as she recounts, “When I hear the girls complaining they are bored or unhappy I tell them, ‘Hey, I had no opportunities in my country. That’s why I came to this country and do what I do. When I was sixteen I was paying for my
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Everyone here is treated the same, no matter what you do. I have a lot of gratitude...
own rent and food. So go to school! If you don’t like school, then come clean the bathrooms with me!’” Maria knows that life at boarding school can be challenging for some teens, so she affords them patience. At first she says, some girls may not answer when she cheerily asks, “How are you DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
Faculty and Staff Stories
Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Maria met her husband Ramiro in Los Angeles, as she describes it, “while I was having fun dancing”. The couple married in 1979 and moved up to Santa Ynez Valley in 1992. During her time at Dunn, Maria raised four children and is now grandmother to seven. In honor of Maria’s 25th year on campus we sat down with her to get her perspective on a quarter century at Dunn School.
Speaking of life, Maria has countless stories to tell given her tenure on campus and her role in Loy dorm. “I see and hear more than many people,” she recounts like a knowing caretaker. Maria believes that she plays a caretaker role for the girls in Loy as she describes, “It’s my responsibility to help the kids stay healthy.” She uses her unique position to teach Loy residents a few life lessons and keeps a nurturing watch on the students in all the dorms.
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feeling today?” She says that little by little she gains their respect and friendship. Maria’s best memories are with the students as she explains, “When the students give you hugs, when they give you cookies at Christmas, and when they tell you, ‘Maria, your English is good’ and they ask me how I’m doing.” It seems that intuitively, parents understand Maria’s nurturing role and experience. Maria says that throughout the years parents have pulled her aside to ask her what she “really thinks” of Dunn School. Maria says they ask, “Tell me, what do you think of this school, is it good for my daughter?” She replies, “Yes, if I did not think so then I would leave this school myself!” So the big question then is, how long will Maria stay at Dunn? Her thoughts are, “I love everybody! So I will leave when nobody likes me anymore.” We suppose that means forever.
our campus on a golf cart that functioned as his work truck, on his way with his trusty tools to attend to a maintenance concern for a student or faculty member. Being a true jack of all trades, there was never a job Don Victor could not fix, or at the bare minimum, he believed he could not fix. Don Victor’s service to us was to ensure that our community spaces were comfortable and optimal for learning and living. Many many screen windows, running toilets, and leaky faucets have been remedied by Don Victor in his 15 years at Dunn. Don Victor’s positive spirit about being able to fix any problem was inspiring. I marveled in his confidence and his fearless attitude in trying to make things work, even if it may lead to a small electrical charge to his finger, or a power outage to the entire dorm. Yes, Don Victor always believed in himself. Don Victor was and is more than the “guy who fixed things”. For many of us at Dunn he was a colleague, a friend, and in my case, a mentor. I admire his commitment to his family, from caring to his aging mother to his love and attention to his children and grandchildren. I respect his positive attitude; he truly believes that anything is possible. Lastly, I commend the pride he takes in his work. Thank you Don Victor for your service to our community, but more than that, thank you for your ever-positive influence on our community. While Don Victor claims to be retiring, it would be hard not to imagine that he and his tools will be available to help any friend, neighbor, or family member when called upon. His giving spirit knows no other way.
Faculty and Staff Stories
Gracias por todo, y disfruta tu jubilación!
Gracias Don Victor
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DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
By Ulisses Castenada
Don, is a title originally bestowed upon royalty, or noble, is now often used in esteem, for leaders, or long-standing members of a community. For 15 years Don Victor could be spotted traveling across
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Thank you Don Victor for your service to our community, but more than that, thank you for your ever-positive influence on our community.
DUNN SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT
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Save the Dates OCT
Parent to Parent Annual Fund Campaign: October 12 - November 20
NOV
NOV
12 12
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MAR
Spring Auction and Gala March 26
Book Club Meetup November 12
JUN
Alumni Reunion Weekend: June 18, 19, 20
Dunn Winter Auction (online): November 29 December 11
JUN
Dunn Middle School 41st Anniversary Celebration
26 18
20
Alumni Cocktails and Conversation: October 15, March 18, April 15, May 20
*All in-person events subject to change or cancellation.
SCHOOL
2555 W. Highway 154 Los Olivos, CA 93441
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805-688-6471 www.dunnschool.org
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