A message from Andrew Owen, Sterne Board President

25 February 2026

Dear Sterne Community,

On behalf of Sterne's Board of Directors, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Head of School Melissa Myers for her extraordinary leadership and dedication to Sterne. When she steps down in June 2027, she will have served the school for nearly 15 years—almost half of that time as Head of School. Throughout her time here, Melissa has led with vision, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to our mission. It is especially fitting that her tenure will conclude as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, leaving the school well prepared for its next chapter.

Reflecting on her time at Sterne, Melissa has been integral to the school's growth and evolution. As a member of the administrative team, she helped unify our campus at its forever home on Kearny Street. She expanded and enriched our curriculum, strengthened teaching and learning across grade levels, and guided the school successfully through multiple accreditation processes that affirmed the strength of our program. Most notably, she led Sterne through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic during her very first year as Head of School, demonstrating steady leadership and care for our students, families, and faculty.

While Melissa's decision marks a meaningful transition, it also represents an opportunity to reflect on our progress and look ahead with optimism. Importantly, Melissa remains fully committed to her role over the next 16 months, and we are grateful for the generous notice she has provided, which will allow for a smooth, thoughtful, and deliberate leadership transition.

The Board of Directors has begun planning a comprehensive search for Sterne's next Head of School and has retained RG175, a nationally respected firm with deep experience in independent school leadership searches. We are committed to a process that reflects Sterne's mission and values, engages our broad community, and is transparent throughout. In the coming weeks, we will share additional details about the search.

In the meantime, Melissa is with us until June 2027—and we have exciting work ahead as we honor Sterne's 50th anniversary. I hope you will join me and the entire Board of Directors in celebrating our first fifty years, visualizing the opportunities ahead, and importantly, sharing our heartfelt appreciation for Melissa's remarkable leadership and lasting impact on our school.

With gratitude and optimism,

Andrew Owen
President, Sterne School Board of Directors