ExplorerWest AR 22-23 - Flipbook - Page 4
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT
As an alumnus of Explorer West, and its first (but undoubtedly not last) alumnus serving as Board
President, I’m proud of what our school continues to be — founded on its core values, serving the needs
of a diverse community of young people and their families, and focusing on educating the entire person.
B OA RD OF
T R U S TEES
David King, President
Carlos Basulto,
Vice President
Danny Geiger,
Vice President
Christian Clemons,
Treasurer
Deirdre Coleman,
Secretary
Latrice Brookens-yBarra
Kipepeo “Pep” Brown
Eric Eberhard
Sherman English
Julie Riendl
Michelle Ward McGee
Jim Woeppel
As a member of the first full graduating class at Explorer West in 1998,
many things look different today at the school — the school is much larger,
serves a more diverse population of students and families, and occupies the
entire building it once shared. Many things also rightly remain the same. Our
continued emphasis on core values, an excellent, broad education for students,
our outdoor education program and sustainability as a focus are common
threads running through the entire history of the school.
I’m grateful to all of the faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and
community supporters that have continued to support, strengthen, and
reinforce the vision of the founders of the school so that Explorer West
can impact more middle schoolers just as our mission statement says —
empowering young people to explore and grow their unique intellectual, ethical,
and creative capabilities, and to treasure diversity and growth in others.
This past year was an amazing time for Explorer West. To begin the year, we
successfully completed the purchase of our campus. Previously, we had been
leasing the campus from the Highline School District. This achievement was
the culmination of several years of effort by our administrative team, Board,
and finance and facilities committees. I’m extremely grateful to all who played
a part in ensuring that Explorer West has a permanent home for our school. As
we look to the future, the Board can securely plan for the next phase in the
school’s history knowing we have sole control over our campus and facilities.
I’m grateful that Explorer West is in a stable financial and operational position,
with a wonderful Head of School, amazing teachers, and phenomenal staff
serving its students. I’m grateful that the Board and our community are able to
look forward confidently to what our future campus and school will look like.
I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to serve on such a wonderful Board
together with my fellow trustees in service to our school, its mission, and its
students and community. Above all, I’m grateful that, while the future will
undoubtedly look different from the first 27 years of Explorer West’s history
in many ways, our focus on our students, core values, and mission as a school
remain as strong, vibrant, and critically important as it was when our school
was founded. Thank you for your support of Explorer West!
—David King, Board President
4
Explorer West Middle School
Annual Report 2022–2023
