Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ari Engelberg ’89, Head of Communications and Strategic Initiatives – TSC003

February 4, 2020Uncategorizedsupporting-cast

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As Head of Communications and Strategic Initiatives, Ari Engelberg ’89 focuses on the question, “What will Harvard-Westlake look like 5, 10, 20 years from now?” In this episode, Ari discusses many of those projects, including the River Park campus, faculty cost of living analyses, and how Harvard-Westlake can better commit to a purpose beyond itself. A co-founder of the internet company Stamps.com, Ari also tells the “origin story” of how the company was born in a computer lab at UCLA Anderson. Ari references two Harvard-Westlake educators, Debbie Reed and Steve Marsden, as profound influences, in addition to a former Michigan congressman named Bart Stupak.

Janine Jones, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – TSC002

February 1, 2020Uncategorizedcast, harvard, janine, jones, supporting, westlakesupporting-cast

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Janine Jones is Harvard-Westlake’s first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In this episode, Janine discusses how DEI became an area of focus and increased professional development at Harvard-Westlake, in addition to the challenges of engaging in this work within a community of diverse opinions and perceptions about DEI. Janine makes special mention of her parents, both educators, as profound influences upon her life and work, in addition to the inspiring impact of HBCU’s and a community organization called the Worthington Alliance of Black Parents.

Rick Commons, President and Head of School – TSC001

January 30, 2020Uncategorizedcast, commons, harvard, rick, supporting, westlakesupporting-cast

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Rick Commons is amid his seventh year as President and Head of School at Harvard-Westlake. In this inaugural episode of The Supporting Cast, Rick speaks about changes to the upper school schedule and the challenges of recruiting and retaining top faculty in Los Angeles, in addition to his upbringing in Philadelphia and career path in educational leadership. Among the teachers and mentors Rick mentions are a 7th grade teacher named Steve Bonnie and former Harvard-Westlake President Tom Hudnut.