CARLSBAD–The Pacific Ridge School Board of Trustees has unanimously approved a co-head leadership model for the non-profit, independent middle and upper school in Carlsbad.
The co-headship will take effect on July 1 as the school enters into its fifth year of operations. Dr. Bob Ogle, currently the assistant head of school at Pacific Ridge, will be promoted to co-head, alongside Dr. Eileen Mullady. Dr. Mullady and Dr. Ogle have been collaborative partners since before the school’s inception in 2007, designing and building its programs, curriculum and campus.
Dr. Ogle completed his doctoral dissertation on global education in independent schools at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also received his master’s in Educational Leadership and master’s in English Education. He is a graduate of UC Davis and Francis Parker School, has taught and coached for 14 years in both public and independent schools in California, Utah, and New York, and has been in lead administrative positions for six years.
After 12 years in higher education administration, followed by 16 consecutive years of heading independent schools, Dr. Mullady will continue to contribute to the leadership of Pacific Ridge School over the next two years. The Board of Trustees supports the co-head model as a way for the school to make a seamless leadership transition. Dr. Mullady and Dr. Ogle will continue as collaborative partners, having opened and guided Pacific Ridge School from its formative stages to this year’s significant milestone of graduating its first seniors and founders.
“Newer schools often have difficulties when they transition from leadership by a founding head of school to a successor,” said Rick Sapp, Board Chair, Pacific Ridge School. “We believe this is a responsible succession planning approach that may be a model for independent schools across the nation. The co-headship model will result in the highest and best use of our leaders’ respective time, experience and skills. Over the years, Dr. Ogle has proven his commitment to the values and mission of Pacific Ridge School, having designed and implemented many of the programs that support and teach our students today. Pacific Ridge will thrive from having two talented and dedicated leaders working together in the coming years.”
The promotion of Dr. Ogle to co-head of school further exemplifies the Pacific Ridge School’s model of training and developing leaders from within and is an important step in the successful delivery of that goal. In his new role, Dr. Ogle will be responsible for overseeing daily school operations, working with the school’s Board of Trustees on further expansion of the school and fundraising. Dr. Mullady will oversee strategic issues and leadership development. The co-headship of Dr. Mullady and Dr. Ogle benefits from the strong support of the school’s deans, administrative leaders, faculty and staff.
