Dear Summit School Community, 5/11/12
Over the past five years, the Summit School has grown from a small seed of an idea to a vibrant and thriving arts institution. We couldn’t have developed the school into what it is today without your participation and strong support. Thank you!
It has been truly a remarkable experience to serve as the Summit School’s Executive Director. The school has become an incredibly engaged and inspiring community of artists, teachers, students, and arts enthusiasts. As it has changed and grown, so too have I. I have decided to step down from the directorship in 2012 to make way for new plans in my own life, and a new phase in the development of the school.
I will be traveling to Scandinavia at the end of May to pursue studies in fiddling and folk music. Beginning this summer, I plan to focus on my teaching and performing career in music. I will remain very involved with the school on many levels, including serving on the board, teaching, and helping to guide the school’s artistic programming.
Over the past few months, the Summit School Board of Directors has been planning a process for hiring a new director to manage the school’s ongoing programs and events, and to develop new ways to engage our community in creating and experiencing traditional American music and dance. On the horizon we see many opportunities to grow the school’s student population, and to develop programs that deepen our roots in the Vermont arts scene. In the next year, the board (including myself) and members of our school community will work with our new Executive Director to develop a strategic plan for realizing the best of our big ideas. A few possibilities include building our scholarship funds, expanding our kids programs, and enlivening our winter festival with bigger venues and more performers.
To attract and hire an experienced Executive Director and begin this strategic planning work, we need to place a very high priority on fundraising.
Your support for the School has always been so important. You recently received our spring fundraising letter in your mailbox. Please consider making a donation today to a special “Directorship Fund” that we will put towards the first six months of salary for our new director. After six months we expect the new director's salary to be covered by a combination of school class fees, foundation grants and private donations. The search for this person has already begun; our announcement of the position is being distributed this week. Your donation means more now than it ever has before!
Our Summit School is absolutely unique, generating fellowship between all kinds of people through music making. Keeping the fire burning that fuels this project in our community depends on finding the right leader and manager to bring the school into a new phase. You can help us through this time of transition and growth by donating to our ‘Directorship Fund’.
Finally, if you or somebody you know is interested in the directorship position, please visit our website: www.summit-school.org, for full details. You can also call 802-917-1186, or email: music@summit-school.org.
Thank you for the inspiration, motivation, and enthusiasm you have given me over the last five years. Please feel free to contact me after I return from Scandinavia in early June. If you wish to speak with a board member before then, please use the attached list of board members and contact information.
All the best,
Katie Trautz
