The Supporting Cast

Grace Brown believes that learning differences, and the broader notion of “neurodiversity,” should be integral to all teaching and learning at Harvard-Westlake. As the school’s first Learning Resource Specialist, Grace has spent the last three years building a Center for Learning at Harvard-Westlake that empowers students to discover their own cognitive differences and chart a new course for...

At age 31, Dee Dee Myers became the first female White House Press Secretary of the United States. In this episode, Dee Dee explores notions of truth vs. advocacy, gender and authority, and shares firsthand insights into the unique talent, perseverance, and personal failings of President Bill Clinton. Now a Harvard-Westlake parent, Dee Dee describes her own journey from Valencia, CA to the White H...

Ted Walch is a Harvard-Westlake legend. A teacher for 54 years (30 at Harvard-Westlake), Ted recounts fascinating stories about many of the notable alumni who credit Ted with their success, including Maggie Gyllenhaal ’95 and Jake Gyllenhaal ’98, the sublimely talented Class of 2011 (featuring Beanie Feldstein ’11, Ben Platt ’11, Kathryn Gallagher ’11, and others), an...

Greg Gonzalez believes financial aid should be “brought out of the shadows” at Harvard-Westlake, less stigmatized, and regarded not as “charity,” but as a means of attracting and empowering talent. As Director of Financial Aid, Greg is responsible for making sure financial aid dollars extend far beyond tuition, ensuring that every student accesses the totality of the Harvar...

Terry Barnum refers to athletics as the “front porch” of an institution, providing the outside world a glimpse into what type of community Harvard-Westlake aspires to be. As Head of Athletics, Terry speaks to the value of both “elite” and community-oriented sports at Harvard-Westlake, in addition to how athletics can teach lessons and values few other venues can. Terry also...

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...

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 educ...

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 ment...