Westridge Says Goodbye to Faculty

After 10 years at Westridge working as Chief Finance and Operations Officer, a job which includes a plethora of responsibilities including anything from finances and human resources to dining services or risk management, Ms. Kendis Heffley is retiring. Since first coming to Westridge in 2012, Ms. Heffley has worked as Chief Finance and Operations Officer, a job which she describes as doing, ...

Nineteen years ago, Mr. Eric Libicki, then teaching at Occidental College, came to Westridge to teach a demo geometry class. He considered the lesson, about circles, which he explained by using sugar cookies and a dartboard—a success. But his happiness at the school didn’t really sink in until later that day when the Westridge track team happened to run by his office at Occidental. One of the runne...

Ms. Linda Brownridge, who has taught at Westridge as a Middle and Upper School Art Teacher for twenty-seven years, is leaving the school. She is thinking about pursuing social justice in the criminal system and working with children in foster care. “I definitely want to be involved with making some kind of impact on social conditions,” she said. “I care about people who don’t have a voice, w...

After two years of teaching English in Westridge’s Upper and Lower Schools, Anna Bondoc is leaving Westridge to further pursue her art and investigate ways to help students prioritize and manage their mental health. Ms. Bondoc began her career at Westridge at the start of the pandemic in February of 2020. During her first year at Westridge, Ms. Bondoc taught English I for two 9th grade classes. ...

To this day, I can still distinctly remember details about Ms. Kiphart’s 6th-grade Humanities classroom. I remember the Hoberman spheres that sat piled in the empty fish tank upon colorful gravel by the window. I remember the paper leaves that hung from twine down from the ceiling, showcasing the books that my peers and I read throughout the year. I remember her graceful, perfectly loopy cursive handwri...

After nine years as Westridge’s Scenic and Properties Designer, Katie McDermott will be leaving to pursue other career opportunities as well as art department work for TV and film. In her time here, she has participated in 32 productions for she has provided designs and overseen constructions for the scenic elements. Furthermore, she taught the middle and upper school theater classes as well a...

  From seven yards away, Mrs. Elizabeth McGregor, Westridge’s Head of School, yelled, “Oh come on, Ella, put your back into it!” It was the Night Market, and she was confidently encouraging me while I miserably failed my first attempts at cricket. Every time I swung and missed, she responded in her warm British accent with a “You’ve got this, Ella!” On my fourth swing, I hit the b...

This year, Westridge says goodbye to Human Development Coordinator Ms. Sarah Simon. Ms. Simon joined Westridge two years ago at the beginning of the 2020–2021 school year and has helped to further develop Westridge’s Human Development classes. Ms. Simon has built close connections and relationships with their students over her time here. She said, “Even through remote teaching, I was able...

After 12 years as Westridge’s Director of College Counseling, Lynn O’Grady is retiring. Mrs. O’Grady plans to spend more time with her family and hopes to continue working in the educational field with young people. “I wouldn’t say that I'm retiring because this is just the next step as usual. I am still energized by my work,” she said. “And so I plan to continue doing some, hopefu...

Last set. We were two games down from the opponent. My racket dropped with a thunk, and I leaned on my knees, taking a breather before the next point. I checked on my partner with a nod; she shook her head in response. No energy. No motivation. Just defeat.  Before I could stand straight, I felt a hand on my upper back. Coach Ginny met my eyes. “Don’t give up.” She firmly patted my bac...