A message from Melissa Myers, Sterne's Head of School

25 February 2026

Dear Sterne Community,

In the fall of 2012, I began my journey at Sterne as Associate Head, eventually transitioning into the role of Head of School. While the school's powerful mission initially drew me in, it was this vibrant community of students, teachers, and parents that inspired me to dedicate the past 14 years of my life and career to this institution. It is no surprise that I found a true home here. It has been the honor of a lifetime to advance the legacy and values that our founder, Val Anthony, established as the foundation for 50 years of Sterne greatness.

Today, I am writing to share that my journey at Sterne will conclude on June 30, 2027. When I moved to San Francisco in 2003, I never thought I'd spend more than two decades here growing my family and my network of friends. While the 2026–2027 school year will be my final chapter as Head, this decision was made with great care and deliberation; another professional opportunity did not drive it. My husband and I have long-dreamed of providing our son, Jack, with a global education. We have chosen Spain as our next home. Though we will be many miles away, I will forever remain a devoted supporter, advocate, and "unofficial cheerleader" for Sterne students and families.

I have informed the Board of Directors of my decision, and I have full confidence that they will lead a thorough, thoughtful search for Sterne's next leader, who will be only the fifth Head of School in our fifty-year history.

While transitions naturally bring change, Sterne has never been stronger. This moment represents a beautiful opportunity for continued transformation. As we look ahead, I invite you to join me in looking back with gratitude and pride. Together, we have reached extraordinary milestones:

We successfully unified our campuses and established our "forever home" at 838 Kearny Street. We completed a landmark $10M capital campaign, providing our students with resources that are now among the best in the region. We navigated a global pandemic as a leader in safety, becoming one of the first schools in San Francisco to return to campus. We have solidified our reputation as a thought leader in neurodiverse education, a distinction highlighted by our recognition in the upcoming All Access With Andy Garcia public television profile. And our recent seven-year dual accreditation from CAIS and WASC serves as a resounding endorsement of our faculty's daily dedication and excellence.

To our educators and staff: you are remarkable human beings. I am forever grateful for your partnership and the tireless energy you pour into this school. To our Board: thank you for your invaluable guidance and vision. And to our families, alumni, and especially our students: I admire and love you all very much.

I will be serving the Sterne School community through the 2026–2027 academic year, so we will have many months to ease this transition. We will be thoughtful about creating opportunities for students to meet the new Head of School, ask questions, and spend time getting to know them. With the support of counselors and teachers, we will acknowledge this change and talk about it often. We will say goodbye and hello as part of a learning experience. I'll be there every step of the way to guide the process and support this community.

Our Board will soon share more regarding the search process, which will include voices from across our community. Until then, please know that I remain fully engaged and committed to Sterne through June 2027. We still have much to celebrate and achieve together in the coming year.

Warmly,

Melissa Myers
Head of School