Q & A with Westridge Madeline Society member Marty Kaplan

How did you first learn about Westridge?
Westridge and I first met in March of 1983 at the NAIS Conference that was being held in Anaheim. I was finishing my last year of teaching at Foxcroft in Middleburg, Virginia and I, as well as the rest of my family, was ready to start the next chapter of our life in California. I met with Susan Dever, who was the senior Spanish teacher at that point in time, and I later met with the then Head of School, Nancy Owen. Both meetings went well and I was favorably impressed by both women and left hoping that I had favorably impressed them. I had several more interviews that week and when the conference was over I headed back to Virginia. Some four weeks later I received a letter and a contract inviting me to become part of the Westridge family. As I got ready to take my first step onto the campus, several months later, Nancy Owen's words were still echoing in my ears. She had said to me that she was looking for someone who would bring stability to the department and I think that it is safe to say that when I retired some twenty-six years later in June of 2009, that goal had been achieved.

What were your first impressions of the school, and how did those impressions change through the years?
It may surprise you to know that every academic institution gives off a vibe, as we say in California. That vibe is a combination of many things@[-]the grounds, the buildings and the people who populate those buildings and, most importantly, the emotions that fill in the spaces that exist between nature, architecture and people. If one is tuned in, one knows that they have entered a stressful environment. You can feel it. Westridge gave off and still gives off a very positive vibe. At the end of the day, whether it has been a good one or a bad one, we wanted students to leave Westridge knowing they are a part of a supportive community@[-]a safe environment, both physically and emotionally where people are encouraging you and rooting for you to do your best work whether it is in the classroom, on the athletic field, or wherever you are pursuing an artistic endeavor. You are encouraged to succeed and, more importantly, you are allowed to fail. You learn how to get back on your feet and get back in the game. Failure is always present when we risk and at Westridge a girl learns to risk because every forward step always involves risk when we are not familiar with the new ground we are treading.

In my twenty-six years at Westridge I helped nurture that positive vibe. I did it both in and out of the classroom. Just as Westridge became part of my life, I became a part of Westridge's life. I worked and thrived in an environment where I was allowed to be and encouraged to be who I am. If our paths have crossed you know who I am, you know what I value, and you know that you are someone who I value. I was successful because the Westridge community generated the positive energy that allowed me to be successful.

What kept you at Westridge for 26 years?
The main source of my emotional energy was my students. Whatever our task, we embarked on it together. I learned as much from them as they learned from me. We worked hard together; we laughed a lot and sometimes we even cried. Our venture was a cooperative one. Once a student of mine, you were always a student of mine. Even if I did not teach you in a classroom setting, I did indeed teach you. I let you know that I knew who you were because it is important that people know who we are. I treated you with respect because all people, regardless of their age or station in life, deserve to be treated with respect. You always treated me with respect and kindness. Your smiles, your laughter, your positive comments were the engine that made the days fly by.

Interacting with the adults in the community was another important part of my experience. Their friendship, advice and encouragement were most helpful when the gears seemed to be stuck in neutral and I felt like I was spinning my wheels. I enjoyed listening to them, sharing with them and, most importantly, laughing with them.

I have had the pleasure of working with three heads of School@[-]Nancy Owen, Midge Bowman and Fran Scoble. I always had their support, trust and confidence. I never lacked any support, moral or financial, for what I needed in order to be a successful teacher or administrator. I had everything I needed at my disposal. In that regard I was fortunate for there are those, especially at other institutions who have to make do with what they have. I have been in that position, but never while being a part of the Westridge community.