As many in the Laguna Blanca community may know, there are several new staff and faculty members holding important administration positions, both on the Hope Ranch and Montecito campuses.
Mr. Andy Surber, the new Head of the Lower School, comes from the state of Tennessee where he was Head of the Lower School at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School in Memphis. He has also held positions at schools in Arizona and Illinois.
“I grew up in a small town in Illinois. It really was a community,” said Mr. Surber.
“I love [Laguna Blanca]. It’s a big change from where I was….This school is a very sweet school, and I’m really excited to work with the teachers.
I’ve also really enjoyed getting to know the parents. We have a really cool and interesting parent group.”
A major part of Laguna’s action plan for the year is connecting the two campuses to the greater Santa Barbara community.
“We’re really working hard at the Lower School, trying to promote ourselves.”
“I’m looking to bring energy and enthusiasm. We’re grounded in a solid academic program, but there’s all these extensions, places to explore art, music, science and technology. All the things that add up to being a well-rounded kid.”
Mr. Surber wants the students leaving fourth grade to be “well-rounded” children. His favorite part of working at a Lower School, among younger students, is being around their lively spirits.
“I really love the energy that the kids bring. There’s never a dull moment or a boring day. I just love that our kids are really excited to be here, that they really love to learn.”
Mr. Surber intends on doing work that will effect both the Laguna Blanca and the greater Santa Barbara communities: “My goal for the future is to continue to come together as a community.” Mr. Surber has two young children who attend Laguna. Logan is in third grade, and Keenan is in fifth grade.
When he’s not busy being an administrator, he has a special hobby outside of school. “I love cars, especially old cars. I like to do things with my hands, so when you’re working on a car engine or on the exhaust, you get to see the immediate rewards of your work.”
“We’re really excited to be here. We couldn’t be happier with the hospitality.
There’s something special about sharing what you’re passionate about with kids. I want to fine-tune the educational experiences to make sure that they’re engaging, fun, and that they’re meaningful.”