Incoming Head of School

Blue Oak School Incoming Head of School Announcement

The Board, with a unanimous recommendation from the Head Search Committee and input from a Faculty/Staff Advisory Committee and all other constituents of our community, voted unanimously and confidently to ask Michele to be our next Head of School. We are incredibly grateful that Michele has accepted our offer.

The Board’s decision prioritized the Blue Oak School mission, values, and strategic priorities, including, specifically, the areas of inquiry that arose from our two-year Strategic Planning process. The decision reflects months of data collection, deep listening, reflection, and discussion. We are profoundly grateful to the parents and guardians, faculty and staff, students, and trustees who participated so fully in the search process through surveys, meetings, interviews, campus visits, and open dialogue. Your care, commitment, and heart made a strong impression on Michele.

Michele brings over 34 years of experience as an educator and administrator, beginning her teaching career as a high school science teacher. Michele was hired at her current school to launch a new middle school program grounded in inquiry-based pedagogy and experiential education that would support a broad spectrum of learners. Her community has described her as a “rare leader who combines intellectual rigor, strategic clarity, and genuine care for children and community”.

Between now and Michele’s start date of July 1, 2026, Blue Oak School will benefit from a thoughtful and collaborative transition period. Jon Fulk will continue to lead the school through the remainder of the 2025–26 academic year, providing continuity, stability, and care for our community. Jon and Michele will partner with the Board to ensure a smooth and well-supported transition, creating opportunities for listening, learning, and relationship-building so that Michele is well-prepared to step into the Head of School role this summer.

The faculty’s devotion to knowing each student as a whole person, and their care, curiosity, and commitment to ongoing growth as progressive educators, is inspiring. Blue Oak is a place where teachers are deeply committed not only to children, but also to their own professional learning in service of students and the School’s evolving vision.

I am drawn to the School’s living relationship with the city of Napa itself, the way learning naturally extends beyond the campus through students’ regular walks to the library, the creek, and local art venues. These connections highlight how learning at Blue Oak is rooted in place and purpose, extends beyond the classroom and into the wider community. This integration of city, nature, and culture creates rich opportunities for real-world learning and fosters a strong sense of civic engagement and responsibility.

What moved me most was the spirit of belonging I witnessed among students. Hearing a student say, “I can truly be myself here at Blue Oak,” speaks volumes about the culture of identity, belonging, and authenticity that defines this community. For any student to feel and articulate this so positively reflects something truly special about what you have built together.

I am excited by the strength of Blue Oak’s relationships and by the collective commitment to nurturing thoughtful, curious, capable, and compassionate young people. I am eager to learn alongside this community, to listen deeply, and to work together to steward Blue Oak’s mission into the future. I very much look forward to joining you and beginning our work together with gratitude, enthusiasm, and a deep sense of responsibility.

Warmly,
Michele