New Executive Director Announcement

We are thrilled to announce that Phil Gutierrez will be the next Executive Director of CAIS effective July 1, 2026. While we were not expecting to announce before the CAIS Heads Trustees Conference, we could not wait to share this auspicious news with all of you. The search committee unanimously agreed, and the Board of Directors unanimously approved Phil as the CAIS leader needed in this critical moment in both the California educational landscape and our Association's trajectory.

Over the past three decades, Phil has served first as a teacher and administrator at The Branson School, and then for almost a decade as a Head of School at both Marin Primary & Middle School in Larkspur and Mid-Peninsula High School in Menlo Park. Phil, in his administrative roles has worked in student facing and external relations roles, with a particular expertise in enrollment management. Phil brings to CAIS his significant association experience as well. Phil served on the CAIS Board of Directors from 2020-2024, the NAIS School Leadership Faculty from 2014 -2025 and is currently the Board Chair of the California Teacher Development Collaborative and a Trustee at Live Oak School. Phil has substantial knowledge of CAIS schools up and down the State; combining his professional roles, board experience, and accreditation chairships, Phil has served more than a dozen CAIS schools directly. With his breadth and depth of experience, the CAIS Board of Directors is confident that Phil is well positioned to lead the association in its pursuit of its mission to support schools that strive for ambitious educational standards within equitable and inclusive learning communities.

Beyond his resume and his educational accolades at Stanford and UC Berkeley, Phil stood out for his humility, his warmth, his authenticity, and his insight. One CAIS staff member reflected that Phil "demonstrates genuine humility and deeply relational leadership grounded in values and authentic connection." Echoing this praise, one CAIS Director noted that Phil "is heartfelt and loves CAIS as an association so dearly. It came through in how he talks about the organization. He is naturally curious, and he brings an infectious sense of wonder about the possibilities for CAIS. He is innovative and ready to dig in with the staff and the Board to imagine the next iteration of the organization. He approaches his relationships with such heart, humanity, and care." As someone who served by Phil's side on the CAIS Board of Directors for years, I can definitively say that those of you who do not yet know Phil will be immediately struck by his steady, relational, visionary leadership.

The CAIS Board of Directors began the search for a permanent Executive Director in early August, and we are incredibly grateful to the search committee for the endless hours they invested in this process. We are also extremely grateful to interim Executive Director, Eric Temple, and the entire CAIS staff for continuing to advance our mission and for laying the foundation for Phil's success in the future.

It is a very exciting time at CAIS, and the Board of Directors looks forward to helping steward CAIS through this transition and next chapter.

Sarah Shulkind, President, CAIS Board of Directors