Leadership Transition

Dear Waldorf School of Baltimore Community,

On behalf of the Waldorf School of Baltimore Board of Trustees, it is with great pleasure and excitement to announce that Kim Richardson will be joining us as our next Executive Director.

Kim brings nearly two decades of experience in education and school leadership. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Memphis and an M.B.A. with an emphasis in Project Management from Trevecca Nazarene University. A former licensed and practicing teacher, Kim has spent much of her career in school administration. She served as Head of School at Linden Waldorf School in Nashville, Tennessee, where she oversaw administrative operations including finance, human resources, and state compliance, while working closely with faculty and supporting a number of faculty development initiatives.

Her depth of knowledge is also reflected in her service to the broader Waldorf movement. Kim currently serves as a board member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA).

Our search journey began in August when the Board appointed a Search Committee and finalized the position announcement. We conducted a nationwide search with extensive outreach, which resulted in a strong pool of candidates. Through careful review of resumes, writing samples, and interviews, the committee ultimately invited three finalists to campus in February for community visits.

During those visits, faculty, staff, parents, and trustees had the opportunity to meet each candidate and share feedback. The response to Kim was overwhelmingly positive across all groups that participated in the process. One anonymous comment captured the sentiment well:

Her answers had depth. She showed a deep understanding of Waldorf schools and ideas about how to build community. She has strong communication skills, is invested in DEIB and the Waldorf movement, and in bringing us further into the future.

Following this thoughtful process, both the Search Committee and the full Board of Trustees were unanimous in their support of Kim as our next leader.

Dear Waldorf School of Baltimore Community,

Returning this past year to help guide the school through this transitional time has been both an honor and a meaningful opportunity to serve the community once again. I have especially appreciated the chance to reconnect with families and colleagues and to support the school during this important period of change.

I am truly delighted by the Board’s decision to appoint Kim Richardson as the school’s next Executive Director. Kim brings a genuine enthusiasm for building strong community and supporting excellence in the classroom, along with a deep commitment to Waldorf education and its continued evolution. I was especially moved when she shared how she and her wife, Vineke, have experienced firsthand the beauty and inspiration of a Waldorf education through their own child.

Kim carries a heartfelt hope that many more families will have the opportunity to experience that same joy and sense of possibility in the years ahead.

I look forward to working with Kim during the transition period, and then, quite happily, I will return once again to my retirement.

Thank you for the kindness, trust, and shared purpose that make this such a remarkable school community.

With appreciation and very best wishes,

Dear Waldorf School of Baltimore Community,

I am thrilled beyond measure to be joining the Waldorf School of Baltimore as Executive Director. It is a joy and an honor to step into this role, and I look forward to becoming part of this community.

Throughout the search process, I was struck by the spirit of this school community. The warmth, kindness, and open-mindedness that people brought to the conversations left a lasting impression. It was clear that this community holds its school with deep love and responsibility, and I felt honored to be welcomed into such an intentional space.

Waldorf education has been an important part of my life for many years. As a Waldorf alumni parent, I have had the privilege of watching my own child grow within this educational approach, experiencing firsthand the beauty and depth that Waldorf education offers young people. While the benefits of this education continue to unfold for our rising 11th grader, I’m even more grateful for the opportunities I have had to partner with some of the most talented and inspired teachers, parents, board members, and community members during my last eight years of leadership at Linden Waldorf School. It’s a gift to land and begin planting roots in a community that is just as passionate! I’m excited to bring the voices, hearts, and will of the adult community to the surface and into alignment on behalf of the children of Baltimore. 

I often say, “If we listen, the children will tell us everything we need to know about the mission of a school,” and that sentiment held true when I had a chance to meet the middle schoolers of WSB.

What I found in them was the living result of the school’s approach and the culmination of years of connection and guidance. They were young people with clear intellect, bright eyes brimming with ideas, hearts oriented toward justice, and the confidence to gather their voices around the issues that matter to them. They reminded me of the students I have watched grow year after year in Waldorf schools, young people who are ready and able to enthusiastically participate in the world and uniquely equipped to do so.

I will never forget the one student who shook my hand at the end of the meeting, looked me in the eye, and said, “It was nice to meet you, and I hope you are able to come.” It was on that day that I committed to seeing to it that the children in our collective care would have the very best of all we have to offer them. This is our work together.

Beginning in April, I look forward to listening, learning, and building relationships across the school community. I will begin connecting with many of you both remotely and in person, and I am excited to come to know the people, stories, traditions, and aspirations that shape the Waldorf School of Baltimore.

Lastly, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Board for the care they have taken in shaping a thoughtful hiring process and transition period with Pat. The opportunity to enter this role with time for continuity, reflection, and collaboration speaks volumes about the school’s commitment to stewarding its leadership with intention. I am grateful for that care and for Pat’s partnership during this time.

Thank you for the warm welcome into your community. I am grateful for the opportunity to do this work together and look forward to the months and years ahead.

Warmly,