Leadership

List of 1 items.

• Cecee Penney

  Upon joining our faculty in 2018, Cecee was rapidly recognized as an exceptional teacher in middle-school math, and she was highly respected and beloved by her students. 
  
  John Lynch, our previous head-of-school, spoke of his first impressions upon interviewing her: he recognized immediately a like-minded educator with deep commitment to uncompromising, high-quality academics. In the years that followed, she elevated the math curriculum and engaged her middle-school students, inspiring them to master high-level algebraic concepts, but also drilling them to perform algebraic operations with speed and accuracy.  Her efforts are acclaimed by past students, who find themselves uniquely prepared for high-school mathematics.
  

   

  Beyond the classroom, Cecee has also demonstrated her talents for administrative leadership. Last year, Cecee served as Assistant Head of School. She helped lead the transition to remote and hybrid learning, upgraded the school’s IT applications, and oversaw installation of building-wide IT infrastructure.  She expanded The Academy’s STEM program, investing in the equipment and talent to start our maker workshop and computer science programs.  Cecee also served as Accreditation Coordinator during The Academy’s first-ever accreditation with the California Association of Independent Schools.  That process resulted in a full seven-year term before renewal, an unprecedented result for a first-time applicant.
  
  Additionally, she has initiated formal surveys and analysis of our community culture. This effort will inform our upcoming anti-bias training, which will reinforce our values of diversity and equity, and support our continuing efforts to build a community that is inclusive and welcoming to all students.

   

  Cecee’s formidable accomplishments have earned her recognition and respect as a visionary within the regional independent school community.  Her love for our school and her passion for our shared mission have endeared her to students, parents, and faculty alike.