Funding decisions. Program approvals. Setting policies. The Board of Directors, made up of 30 volunteer leaders with experience across countless fields, holds the responsibility of shaping long-term strategy for Campbell Hall. Meeting six times a year, the board makes decisions that have a long-lasting impact on the school’s infrastructure, finances and culture.
For Board Co-Chair Ed Han, serving on the Board of Directors is about the legacy he will help establish for future generations. As a parent of a current Campbell Hall student, Han notes that the board’s effectiveness is supported by its dynamic and diverse composition of people across countless different fields who are all tied together by a love for the school.
“I’ve been on the board of for-profit companies,” Han said. “It’s something entirely different when you’re [working with] a mission-driven place [such as Campbell Hall]. At the end of the day, the cause of being a better place that educates kids in a better way is just a really rewarding thing to be a part of. None of us has much recollection of what a battle it was to build the Arts and Education Center, but it benefits all of us now. In some ways, [being a member of this board] is about giving back, so that future generations can enjoy the campus [and community] we leave behind.”
Similarly concerned with Campbell Hall’s legacy, John Pollak ‘95, board secretary, has maintained a lifelong connection to Campbell Hall. He attended from kindergarten through 12th grade, and he later served on the Alumni Board for six years, including three years as its head. Following that role, he earned a seat on the Board of Directors, where he continues to serve today. Pollak’s connection to Campbell Hall stems from the impact the school had on his personal growth and confidence as a student. Pollak now has children currently in first, fourth and fifth grades who continue to expand his devotion to the community to this day.
“The school means an incredible amount to me,” Pollak said. “I gained the confidence from being at Campbell Hall to walk into any room at any time. I love that I am part of a select group that’s able to steer the school and have a direct impact on the lives of not just my kids, but all of the kids that go to Campbell Hall. Our school [takes] a team-first, community-first approach and we all feel like we can contribute; we all feel like our voice will be heard.”
For Donna Langley, vice chair of the Board of Directors, joining the Board was both a way to give back to the Campbell Hall community. Langley is chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Studios, a position that gave her experience in quick decision making, crisis management and working with people— all qualities that carry over directly to the Board of Directors. As vice chair, Langley’s responsibilities involve assisting the Campbell Hall administration with strategic planning and offering a sounding board for large-scale decision making.
“I see the board as an advisory group,” Langley said. “Our role is to offer support, strategy and different points of view. Success in this position, to me, means we’re all contributing in that capacity and showing up as board members, [not just as parents]. I appreciate getting a glimpse into how the school operates and the bigger picture of how a school like Campbell Hall, with its high standing in the independent school world, is run.”
Terra Potts, board co-chair, feels that leadership is often about investing in outcomes you won’t personally benefit from. As a current parent of a Campbell Hall student herself, Potts believes that there is a unique emotional dynamic when working in an educational setting where every decision affects people’s children. Potts leverages her background in marketing and communications in her decision-making as a board member.
“The mission of the school is our guiding light [as board members],” Potts said. “I, along with anyone on the board, truly care about every child on [our] campus. When [my family and I] came to Campbell Hall, the community far surpassed what I ever could have imagined for my daughter. [Being a board member] feels like the least I can do, to support [the faculty and staff] in the work they’re doing because I just believe in it so deeply. If it can help touch other children and other families the way that it’s touched ours, then I am proud to serve.”