The following is a letter from Rabbi Segal sent this afternoon in response to Mr. Tranchi’s announced departure from Shalhevet.

May 31, 2011

Dear Members of the Shalhevet Community,

After an extended period of careful deliberation and consideration, Mr. Phu Tranchi shared with me last evening his decision not to return to Shalhevet as our Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the 2011-2012 academic year.

This decision followed a series of constructive and candid conversations between us. I want to express my personal thanks to Phu on behalf of all of us for embracing and respecting the process which resulted in his ultimate decision.

On behalf of our entire Shalhevet family, I thank Phu for his contributions – and there have been many – to our school and community during the eleven years he has taught and led our school. In my short time knowing Phu, it has become clear to me that he has deployed his energies, passion for education, and kind heart to making our school the best it can be. As Phu has expressed in his letter which accompanies this one, his support of this community will not change as he continues to lead us through the end of his term on August 1st. I know you will join me in thanking Phu for his service to Shalhevet and to wish him much success as he continues his career going forward.

Because I have been aware for a little while that this change of leadership could be coming, I was able to undertake some contingency planning. For those who may be less familiar with the independent school world, let me assure you that changes such as these happen with some frequency and there is an established path which schools follow in these circumstances. We will look forward to sharing more about that process as it unfolds. In the interim, however, the school’s business will not miss a beat.

Without question, Shalhevet enters into this period of transition from a position of great strength. Our faculty members are as exemplary as they are dedicated to the mission of our school and the students they serve. Turnover in faculty is never easy, but it is an inevitable and necessary part of an evolving and maturing faculty.  Rabbi Leubitz has been a rock for our school throughout the last few years and will continue to do so moving forward, and a number of our talented faculty and staff members will be assuming expanded roles in the administration. Our student body, vibrant as it always has been, continues to grow in achievements. We are blessed with exceptional volunteer leadership on our Board and with a parent community that is energetically engaged and supportive whenever called upon. For all of these reasons, and for many more too numerous to recount here, we are well-positioned to move forward.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Ari Segal