Dear Laker Community,

Long before I ever worked inside a school building, I worked on the front lines of some of the hardest moments in a young person's life. Every role I have held has led me to the same conclusion: students do their best work when the adults around them pay close attention and work together.

That's exactly the spirit I want to bring to Windermere Prep.

Our Student Services team brings together college counseling, academic advising, nursing, and mental health counseling. Individually, each of these areas does meaningful work. Together, we're even better, because a student's experience doesn't come in separate pieces. A conversation in the counseling office, a visit to the nurse, a session with our mental health counselor, or a check-in about grades all tell part of the same story. We are committed to seeing that whole story, together.

One of my hopes for this year is to build stronger connections beyond our own department: with athletics, with the arts, and with academics across every division. A student who's struggling isn't just a Student Services concern; supporting them is a whole-school responsibility. The more our coaches, teachers, and staff are in conversation with us, the more seamless that student's experience becomes. That's the kind of connected Laker community I'd love for us to grow into this year.

What I'm most excited about isn't any single program. It's the chance to be inquirers together: asking better questions about what students actually need, staying inclusive in how we design support so no student falls through the cracks because their need doesn't fit a category, and being innovative enough to try new approaches when the old ones aren't quite working.

This is a vibrant, connected community, and I'm looking forward to getting to know students, families, teachers, and coaches alike. If you ever want to talk about your student's experience, my door is open.

Here's to a year built on curiosity, connection, and care for every Laker.

Dr. Kelly Swiggart

Director of Student Services