Welcome

Dear Northwest Academy Community,

 

If I have not had the chance to shake your hand yet, I want you to know that a wave, a smile, or a simple hello is coming your way soon. I know I will have every opportunity to make that happen in the days ahead…

 

My name is LA Sales, and I am so very happy to be shepherding all of you into this next chapter of what I already know will be an amazing journey together. I owe so much of this opportunity to our Board, and to the steady, faithful leadership of Brock Dunn, who has guided this school for the last two years and who has also been a wonderful mentor to me personally as I am getting to know this community. Brock carries an understanding of what is so beautiful about what we have here in downtown Portland, an artistic and creative hub that truly resonates, and it is my responsibility and my hope to carry that mission of excellence, rigor, and creativity forward, so that it continues to shine through in both our academic and artistic areas.

 

I come to you new to this area and new to this environment, but I am not new to valuing what real academic and artistic rigor can do for children. I bring with me a background in psychology, math, and the social sciences, along with years spent as a professional dancer and choreographer. I advocate for the arts to be taken every bit as seriously as traditional academics, and for a way of seeing the world that looks at possibilities differently, innovatively, and creatively, preparing all of us for the world waiting right at our doorstep and beyond. Just as important as the experience I bring is my genuine, joyful willingness to grow alongside you, to understand this environment deeply, and to stay humble enough to recognize that you have already built something here that is truly unmatched, something I intend to discover more of every single day. We will build this together. It will not always be easy, but I believe it will be fruitful and deeply rewarding.

 

I am excited to roll up my sleeves and step into this role as your Head of School, guiding us into something that is both new and familiar, while holding onto the spirit of what makes this community so unique.

 

You will likely see me around more than you might expect. I will be popping into classrooms, saying hello in the hallways, sitting in on meetings, showing up at Back to School Night and our new Welcome Committee, and simply learning from all of you, faculty, parents, and this whole community, as we find our way together. Please do not hesitate to introduce yourself, and please do not hesitate to share your ideas with me. At the end of the day, I will be here, present and listening.

 

And as I learn from you, I will need your help as I continue coming to know this incredible, gorgeous hub, the center of a whole ecosystem of partnerships that is Portland, the place I now proudly call home. I am looking forward to every opportunity to meet you, to hear your stories, and maybe even to share a good game of pool, since that is something I truly love. My partner Hillary and I also believe the very best way to understand a new place is through its food, so do not be surprised if I ask you for your favorite spot to eat.

 

My door is always open, and I am so excited to meet every single one of you. Together, we move forward, and together, we reach higher.

 

LA Sales
Head of School