A Message from the Hyla Board

Dear Hyla Families and Friends,

On Wednesday May 18, our Head of School, Vicki Jenkins, announced to the Hyla Board that she will not renew a contract at the end of this school year. Vicki has made the difficult decision to leave full-time work so that she can focus on health issues within her family. Please take a moment to read her thoughtful letter (below) explaining the nature and timing of her decision.

Hyla has always supported its teachers and staff as individuals with vibrant lives, identities and responsibilities outside of school. Respecting Vicki’s role as both Head of School and as a mother, the Board of Trustees fully supports her decision. Vicki has been part of the Hyla community for many years, starting as Assistant Head for three years, then as Interim Head for one year, and finally as Head of School for three years. We are thankful for her stewardship of our community, and leadership of the school.  We wish her family health and recovery in the year ahead.

Hyla’s Next Steps

The Hyla Board is now in the process of finding an Interim Head of School to serve during the 2016-2017 school year. We will also form a Search Committee to conduct a national search during the 2016-2017 school year to find a permanent Head of School to begin during the 2017-2018 school year. As we work our way through each of these phases, we will share updates with the Hyla community to keep you informed. We encourage you to contact us at any point with any questions or input about this process.

Finding the Right Leader

The Hyla Board is deeply committed to finding a new Head of School who shares our passion for the middle school years, and our devotion to the Hyla mission. As a member of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS), we will use the association’s recommendations for best practices to guide our process. We trust NWAIS protocols, we trust our board, and we also trust our faculty – whose work is the backbone of the school. The inspiring work that happens between students and teachers every day at Hyla will serve as a source of grace and strength through this transition. We are confident that at the end of this process we will have a Head of School who will lead us into Hyla’s 25^th year with vision, intention and heart.

Please join us in supporting Vicki and her decision, and in wishing her family well.

Thank you,

Jeff Sharp, Board President
Beth Bacon,Board Vice President

A Message from Vicki Jenkins

Dear Hyla community,

I’m writing to tell you I will be stepping down as Head of School at the end of this school year. It is a difficult and personal decision based on the emergent needs of my family.

As many of you know, my 18-year-old daughter, Emma, has been out of school and in treatment for Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections for the past several years. After making slow but steady progress for more than a year, she has seen a resurgence of symptoms this spring. A meeting last week with her doctors confirmed that the babesia infection – a disease similar to malaria – has resisted treatment efforts so far. With this new information in hand, it is clear that I must leave full-time work so that I have the time to direct her treatments and help her navigate what lies ahead.

All along, it has been challenging to balance parenting a child with chronic illness with the demands of being Hyla’s Head of School. We’ve had the blessing of a very supportive family and grandparents living nearby, but it’s time for me to take the lead on her care.

I have deep love for Hyla and this community. I value our relationships and have felt the strength of your support for our family. As Hyla transitions to new leadership, I will support the school, and I have great faith in our board to call the right person to serve as Hyla’s next Head of School.

With deep appreciation for this community,

Vicki

Vicki Jenkins, Head of School