About

School Leadership

Governance

Woodside Priory School, a California non-profit corporation and organization described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, was incorporated in 1957. The Benedictine Monks of Saint Anselm Abbey in Manchester, New Hampshire own and operate The Priory. The corporate title for the school is Benedictine Fathers of the Priory, Inc. DBA Woodside Priory School.

The school is governed by two Boards—a Board of Directors consisting of five Benedictine Monks (appointed and elected from Saint Anselm and Priory communities) and a Board of Trustees which has limited jurisdiction and consists of parents, non-parents, alumni and friends of the school. Trustee members are approved by the Directors and both Boards meet together each January to approve salary and tuition increases.

Board of Directors

List of 5 items.

  • Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B.

  • Father John Fortin. O.S.B.

  • Father Martin Mager, O.S.B.

  • Father Maurus Nemeth, O.S.B.

  • Father Iain Maclellan, O.S.B.

2022-2023 Board of Trustees

List of 16 items.

  • Tim McAdam, Chair

  • Norma Alvarez

  • Dominique Filloux

  • David Karnstedt

  • Pam Martinson

  • Emma Morton-Bours

  • Stephen Nachtsheim

  • Jennifer Nash

  • Cassie Perret '02

  • Carolyn Putney

  • Beckie Robertson

  • Anne Senti-Willis

  • Kuldev Singh

  • Edward Sun '87

  • Carter Warr

  • Jennifer Youstra

2021-2022 Head's Council

List of 14 items.

  • Patrick Ruff, Head of School

  • Caitha Ambler, Head of Middle School

  • Colleen Burson-Ryan Okpala, Director of College Counseling

  • Josie Castaneda, Director of Finance and Operations

  • Justin Christensen, Academic Dean

  • Lauren Donovan, Director of Technology

  • Kirk Gossman, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid

  • Kate Johansen, Dean of Residential Life

  • Father Matthew Leavy, O.S.B., Monastic Community

  • Ana Cortez-Hernández, Head of Upper School

  • Chase Smith, Dean of Students

  • Mark Stogner, Athletic Director

  • Alex Tenorio, Director of Advancement

  • Shannon Vanderpol, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Woodside Priory School

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