Matt Burgy, Head of School

Dear Oakridge Family,

Today, we are celebrating Founder’s Day at Oakridge—a cornerstone of our school’s identity and a moment to honor the vision that brought us here.

As I reflect on our history, I often harken back to March 6, 1979. It is a date that marks more than just the beginning of a school; it marks the beginning of a legacy built on audacity and hope. I find myself returning to the words of Nancy O’Shea and Suzy Sportsman, two of our founding Board members, who captured our origin story perfectly:

“The Story of the Oakridge School is a story of parents, teachers, and children who thought they could start a school, not knowing it was a Herculean task with no chance of success.”

We often speak of “The Oakridge Way," but today we remember its source. Our founders didn't just dream of a school; they built one from the ground up through sheer determination. We owe an immense debt of gratitude to these pioneers who laid the pedagogical and cultural foundations we still stand upon today; they provided the critical financing and personal sacrifices necessary to keep the doors open during those uncertain early years. These individuals turned what many thought was an impossible task into the thriving school community we now call a family.

As we celebrate our history today, let us carry that same "Herculean" resolve. Our school exists because a small group of people believed that our children deserved something extraordinary—and they were right.  We continue to see further and reach higher because we are standing on the shoulders of giants.

Thank you for being a part of this ongoing story. Happy Founder’s Day!

Warmly,

Matt Burgy
Head of School