Matt Burgy, Head of School

August 7, 2026

Dear Oakridge Family,

I hope your summer has been filled with excitement and relaxation! For those of you new to Oakridge, this weekly communication is your “one-stop shop” for all things Oakridge. In addition to my letter, you will see an update from each Division Head (ECC, Lower, Middle, and Upper), along with links to important information. Even if you don’t have a child in a particular division, I encourage you to read the communication in its entirety.

While the pace has been slower, the summer months are still a vibrant time at The Oakridge School. Summer camps and readiness classes have kept our students and faculty busy. Following a summer of dedicated reading, our faculty will reconvene to examine these works in depth throughout the school year in dedicated learning communities. Our Leadership Team has delved deeply into our newly minted Strategic Plan, which will be released to the full community early in the fall.

In addition to this bustling energy, summer is a great time to complete campus projects. When you return to campus, you will see a number of refreshed and renovated spaces. Many of our classrooms have new carpeting, as do the bridge and upstairs administrative offices. Hallways in the Jon Kellam Information Center have been updated with new paint and will soon feature new wall decorations. The Quad and Middle School commons are undergoing extensive renovations, and you will notice new lighting throughout much of the campus. There are countless other “small” details you will spot when you step back on campus! None of this would be possible without the kindness and support of our Oakridge Fund and the Super Supper.

Alongside our campus enhancements, we also have a few changes to our leadership and staff. I am grateful for the leadership of Michael Heiskell as our Board Chair for the past two years. Michael’s leadership and our Regents’ work have driven our school to the forefront of independent school governance. Matt Worthington, Class of '98, parent to two Oakridge alums, Reese '24 and Cole '26, and one current Owl, Price '30, will lead our Board of Regents for the next two years. I am excited to begin our work together!

I am also excited to announce that April Benjamin has transitioned to serve as our Director of Admission. Additionally, Michelle Emmert will lead our Advancement Team as Director of Advancement, combining Admission, Development, Marketing, and Communication into one unified department. Jennifer Novoselsky has moved into the role of Lead Counselor as we expand our Wellness Team with two new counselors. Daniel Jamieson has transitioned from Orchestra Director to Director of Upper School Student Life. Andrea Anders will continue to teach Upper School English while taking on the added responsibility of Lead Department Coach. In addition, we will welcome 20 new faculty and staff members to campus on August 3rd!

We look forward to seeing you all at our Back-To-School Bash on August 15th!

Warmly,

Matt Burgy

Head of School