Imagine, Inquire, & Create
Presidio Hill School 2017–2018 Annual Report
Our mission statement draws upon our 100 year (now plus!) history to provide a beacon for our school. It guides teachers to help our students find their inner artists, explorers, and builders, as well as identifies who we envision our graduates to be— young people who have the tools, ideas, and ideals to make a difference in the world. Our community members embrace a spirit of giving which allows PHS to fully deliver the promise of our mission. Thank you to the parents, guardians, staff, alumni, and friends who continue to make Presidio Hill School a place where children permanently fall in love with learning.
Our Mission Dedicated to progressive education since 1918, Presidio Hill School challenges young people to imagine, inquire, and create. Our students engage San Francisco and The Presidio as an extended classroom and become empowered learners who are responsible, committed to justice, and optimistic about the future.
Lisa Jeli Interim Head of School I have the honor of having been a part of the development and maturation of our wonderful little school for almost a third of its 100year history. When I think of that history, and of our founding—“since 1918”—I think of commitment, consistency, positive change, pride, and great effort, and inspired people making a learning community together.
“Since 1918.” The beginning of our refreshed mission statement, representing the beginning of our very special school, makes tangible our history and looks to our future. This is an aspect of our mission statement that has always inspired me; there are not many independent schools in California that have the distinction of beginning their second century! Over the past century, we have weathered floods and fires, supported immigrants and unfairly targeted citizens, graduated responsible and caring students, and always loved learning alongside each other. I first set foot in Presidio Hill School as a Kindergarten substitute teacher when the school had already been around for 70 years and enrolled a whopping 70 students! I fell in love with the school immediately, and in 1990 became a faculty member and began both my tenure at PHS and my own development as a progressive educator. I have seen much change at our school over the years, and I have seen PHS stand true to values that have been at our core since
our founding. I have seen us grow from a tiny school where we fit all our faculty around one table, to a highly regarded progressive school, recently establishing an educational center for other professionals— the Center for Progressive Education at PHS—and training apprentice teachers in partnership with USF. I have seen our eighth grade graduating class expand from 12 students to more than 30. And through it all, I have seen PHS’ values of empathy, collaboration, and responsibility continue to be instilled in our students TK-8. Our school continues to improve and now we have a stronger sense of our place in the educational landscape. We make better use of the abundant resources offered by the Presidio, a national park just feet away from our front door. We have prioritized teacher professional development, and we have substantially improved our facilities.
We still have amazing faculty and inspiring families and students. Our parents and guardians, extended families, and community members are still an integral part of what makes our school flourish. It is because of you that we are able to do what we do. Your generosity of time, money, and spirit keep this school standing strong after so many years. Developing and nurturing a small independent school is not a small feat. It takes many dedicated people—from educators and staff, to volunteers, families, and donors—to keep an educational vision alive and an institution thriving in a changing society decade after decade. I am grateful to each and every one of you for your willingness to give to our school, in whatever ways you can.
But we have remained a solid and steady school also because of the things that have not changed.
69%
Personnel
13%
89%
Plant
Tuition & Fees (Net of Scholarships)
6%
Educational
8%
5%
Fundraising (Gross)
Bond-Interest Payments
5%
3%
General & Administrative
School Events & Interest Income
1%
Fundraising (Non-Capital Campaign)
1%
Capital Expenditures
2017-18 Revenue Tuition & Fees (Net of Scholarships)
2017-18 Expenses 89%
Personnel
69% 13%
Fundraising (Gross)
8%
Plant
School Events & Interest Income
3%
Educational
6%
Bond-Interest Payments
5%
General & Administrative
5%
Capital Expenditures
1%
Fundraising (Non-Capital Campaign)
1%
Last year Presidio Hill School celebrated its 100th year. What an amazing milestone! When PHS was founded as the Presidio Open Air School in 1918, there were just a few students meeting in a home generously donated by one of the founding families. Look how far we have come: Today we have two buildings, a beautiful courtyard, and approximately 50 faculty and staff, 170 families, and 220 students in our community.
Michelle Randall Former Chair Board of Trustees The success of PHS can be attributed in part to its mission. Our school is unique in its commitment to engage with San Francisco and the Presidio, to empower students to be responsible and committed to the greater good, and to spread a sense of optimism among students and the broader community.
Kenta Ferrin Director of Development I am proud to be part of a community that is so generous. You all provide the financial support so that PHS can be the very best progressive school, with inspirational programming, in an inspiring and cozy physical space.
Our founders were inspired by John Dewey, who stressed the importance of students interacting with the curriculum and using their interests as a way to guide learning, and of the school as a place to learn about wider social issues in the world around them. While we have added students, grade levels, and space—and the social and environmental issues around us have certainly changed—the foundational elements of our mission have remained the same.
What an incredible year our Centennial was . . . a true testament to the impact our school has made on countless students, staff, parents, and guardians, as well as our greater community over the past century. Though our 100th birthday may have been hallmarked by the two-day celebration in March, our community showered PHS with generosity from the very first day of school to the last. There is so much to celebrate regarding our big 1-0-0, and I’ll be focusing on the great show of financial support that our donors provided during this momentous year. Every year we ask our community to support the PHS Annual Fund. The money raised in this campaign provides teachers with the resources and flexibility to create a unique and transformative educational experience for our students. From field trips that lead to tangible learning outcomes (and life-long memories) to professional development opportunities that give our staff the
The success of PHS can be attributed in part to its mission. Our school is unique in its commitment to engage with San Francisco and the Presidio, to empower students to be responsible and committed to the greater good, and to spread a sense of optimism among students and the broader community. Anyone who walks the hallways of PHS can feel these unique qualities. That is what drew my family to PHS nine years ago, and I know that is what keeps so many of us engaged today. Our success is also greatly due to the generosity, commitment, and support of our community. There are so many ways that we all contribute to PHS. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank everyone for their contributions to making PHS the amazing school it is!
knowledge and skills to attend to our students’ individual needs, your generosity helps create a deep and enriching learning experience for all. Especially exciting... our donors gave more than $470,000 in support of our Annual Fund! This is a record and a nearly $40,000 increase over the prior year. A huge thank you to all those who so generously supported this campaign. In addition to our Annual Fund, we launched the One Final Step initiative of the Maple Street Capital Campaign. Fundraising for this project began 6 years ago, and we asked for you to take One Final Step with us during the 2017-18 school year. I’m happy to announce we raised $360,000! One of the goals of this project is to outfit the third floor of Maple Street, which will house our business and development offices, as well as a conference room where adults can gather and do the important work of supporting our students! Because of the generous
spirit of our donors, we can begin taking action on the remaining pieces of this project. As I reflect on last year, there is much I want to celebrate with all of you. I am proud to be part of a community that is so generous. You all provide the financial support so that PHS can be the very best progressive school, with inspirational programming, in an inspiring and cozy physical space.
Our Centennial Year was marked by the incredible philanthropic support of our entire community. We not only raised a record-breaking $470,000 toward our Annual Fund, but donors also contributed $360,000 to the Maple Street Capital Campaign. This unbelievable generosity positions us to move into our second century with the resources that best support the work and learning of our faculty, staff, and students. Thank you so much!
Annual Fund Supporters Anonymous (40) AmazonSmile* Amgen* Natalia Aleeva & Denis Pavlov Jonathan Alexander & Shawn Halbert Susan Andrews & Buddy Rhodes* Michelle Angier & Chris Basmajian Apple Corporation Matching Gift Program* The Arciga Family Sally Armour* April & Hiroki Asai Terry & Michiko Asai* Stephanie & Milton Assang Mary Austin & Brewster Kahle* Iyamoro Baker* JP & Ann Balajadia Regina & Marc Balistreri Jen Bamesberger Beverly Barnett & Steven Escamilla Bob Baum & Diana Slavin* Tigist Belaye & Kumsa Abdi Jennifer & Noah Berland Ellie & Bree Bibas Michael & Xochi Birch Jennifer & Jonathan Board Janis & John Brittenham* Elizabeth & Brentt Brown Bieler-Burdett Family Daniel Burke '69 & Virginia Burke Kristi Chan Irene Chan* Brian & Carrie Chee Brandon & Kacie Cherry Vicki Cho Abbe & Lance Clemons Norma Cole & Rob Kaufman* Julia E Collins '92 Gale & Mei Ling Connor The Cooney-Price Family Charlene Court Smith Natalie Crowley Olinda Cubillas & Remigio De La Cruz Mendbayar Dagvadorj & Munkh-Orgil Zagdragchaa Seema Dala & John Fick Courtney Damkroger & Roger Hansen Todd & Kathleen Darling Lauren Davis '95 Kelly & Jon Dees Colt Deese Elizabeth & Mark Dirsa Dolby Match Program* Michelle & Thomas Donahoe Federica & Enrico Drago Brenda & Scott Duyan* The Michael & Gail Emmons Foundation* Rita Fahrner '57 & Kell Fahrner-Scott '09 Zoey Farooq & Jemish Patel Cindy Fenton & Steven Pantilat Kenta Ferrin Anastasia Fink* Christina Fischer & Brian Wix Bruce & Kim Fiscus Jim & Pat Fitzgerald* Shannon Fitzgerald & Tom Scott Siobhan Fleming & Marco Sorani Christine & Preston Fordstrom Sarah Gaffney Galindo-Gardiner Family* Taylor Garry
Presidio Hill School Since 1918
Rosemarie & Michael Geiser* Megan Gelstein & Dmitri Cavander Genentech, Inc.* Beth Gerstein & Alex Sutton Susan Gevirtz* Amy Gilbert & Josh Atkins Dan Goldensohn & Dee Dee Workman Jess Goldstein Elizabeth Goode Google Matching Gifts Program* David Thompson & Susan Green* Grainger* The Grindle Kaufman Family* Martin Gross & Danny Castelow The Grace Family Mark Gunther & Anne Krantz* The Gustafsons Mary Haber Ashley & Andrew Hecht Eija Hendel Hernandez Family Jill & Peter Hicks Judith & Daniel Hoban Intel Corporation* Beth Irwin Perry* Jeni & Derek Izuel Kevin Jacobson & Aisha Bastiaans Christy & Ian James Kiah Jeffries '97 Lisa Jeli & Haroon Tahir Brian Johnson & Nicole Dominguez Johnson Family The Jones Family Proctor & Leslie Jones* Kate Joshua Bridget & Sean Joyce Steven Kahn & Catherine Brady* Yuko Kamae & Chung-Man Tam Brian & Catherine Kane* Ari Kanter Vida & Dallas Kashuba Stephanie Kastner Biz & Toby Morris* Kris Kifer Robert Kim & Misung Won Courtney & Michael Kingston Jing Liang & Josh Krieger Cale Krise Karen Bairley Kruger Ehren Kruger Jenny Kuo & Tom Bochenek Nicole & J.P. Lavallee Chean & Beverly Law Linda LeBlanc Hana Lee & Sunggu Kim Ally Lemmer Josie & Tom Lennon* Sunny & Akiba Lerner Dorte Lindhardt & Fred Pollack* Vanessa Lopez Maria López-Larios Maryann LoRusso & Steven Jo Molley & Richard Lowry* Christina & Brian Marchiel Joshi & Leah Marshall Kacy McClure* Alex McClure & Blake Hayward Katie McCormack Daniel McOlvin Junifer Megrissi & Adil Asslam
Leslie & Mike Meier Saba Mesfin & Sebhatleab Medhin Microsoft* Cristen Miller & Timothy Jones Chris & Dayana Mills Tony Morgan Kandice & Michael Muir Kelly Murphy & Tyler Abbott Bernard & Barbara Nathan* Matthew & Gillian Nathan Amy Nelder & Greg Lejnieks Netflix* Michelle Nettesheim & John Nettesheim Newell Family Amy Norman & Paul Gorman Emma O'Connell & Doug Edmonds Kristin & Johan Odfjell Ortiz Adamo Family Jack Ostrand Fiona & Nickolas Palin Stephanie Pass & Kenneth Kann* Chelsey Paulsen Javier Perez Robert L. Powell & Ellen D. Simons* Feli Pulaski Rita & Alexander Purcell* Adam & Patricia Purcell Michele Radcliffe & Jim Klimek Heather Ramsey & Daniel Sowell Bob & Cheryl Ramsey* Michelle & Doug Randall Kirby & Tye Rattenbury Anne Regenstein & John Hefti* Marietta Riney* Kathleen Rivers* Family Roelofs Laurie Rowley & Bill Cahan Tara Rudman* Sophia & Gordon Rudow Anahi Ruiz Katariina & Jari Salomaa San Francisco Foundation* Gary Saydah Holly Saydah Lenore & Ferris Saydah* Kevin Schow Max Schrank* Marshall Kilduff & Pat Schultz Kilduff* Robert Scott & Rick Lewis* Olivia Sears & Craig Bicknell Parshadi & Kaushal Shah* Julia & Shaban Shakoori Silicon Valley Bank* David Simpson* Nicholas Smith & Elissa Guest* Christian Sowul & Rynn Pressick Wendy Spero & Amos Elliston The Sports Basement* Laura Stein & Nikhil Sinha Candace & Henry Stringer* Debra Stuckgold Irene Sung & Richard Drury Joseph Tabacco & Peggy Schmidt* Chelsea Tanaka & Adrian Ludwig Kitty Tang & Ken Chung Patricia Tashima* Salesforce* Sarah Glenn Thompson '07 Mitchell & Paula Thurston* Elizabeth Thurston Fraser & Dod Fraser
* Grandparents or Special Friends
“This world demands the qualities of youth: not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease.” — Robert F. Kennedy
Edelita Tichepco Sharonne & Scott Trattner Althea Turner United Way Bay Area* Van Natta Family Tobee & William Vanderwall Tim Vanier VMware Foundation* Kim Walsh The Walt Disney Company Foundation* Leila Weefur Palmer & Ethan Weiss Christopher & Lee Anne Weldon Bill & Jackie Weldon* Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign* Team White-Ayoub Susan Whitecotton & Craig Weissman Mei & Al Wong Wendy Xa & Stefan Chin Jin Yang & Cheng Ma Peter Young & Tachina Rudman-Young The Zeifman Family Annie Zesiger
Maple Street Capital Campaign Anonymous (7) Amgen* Toby and Michael Alexander* Ann and JP Balajadia Brian and Carrie Chee The Cooney-Price Family Seema Dala and John Fick Federica & Enrico Drago The Escamilla Family Christine and Preston Fordstrom Amy Gilbert and Josh Atkins Judith and Daniel Hoban Courtney and Michael Kingston Marketo* Lunar Mining, LLC* Microsoft* Kelly Murphy and Tyler Abbott The Pellillo Family* Adam and Patricia Purcell Tye and Kirby Rattenbury Tara Rudman* Tachina Rudman-Young & Peter Young Cynthia Sears* Christian Sowul and Rynn Pressick Sharonne and Scott Trattner United Way Bay Area* Susan Whitecotton and Craig Weissman Wendy Xa and Stefan Chin