Ray Wilson
Head of School
Ray is an experienced leader who brings 28 years of teaching and leadership experience in independent schools. As a progressive educator, he believes in the primacy of academics and the value of experiential learning that is relevant to student’s lives. He holds a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an M.Ed. in Organizational Leadership from Holy Names University. Prior to Northwest, Ray served as the Upper School Director at The Bush School. Over his career, Ray has worked in day and boarding schools across the country, including the Park Day and Redwood Day Schools in Oakland, California, (PreK-8); Sonoma Academy in Santa Rosa, California (9-12); St. Andrew’s School, Savannah, Georgia (K-12); and Norfolk Academy in Norfolk, Virginia (K-12). Beyond the campus, Ray is on the Steering Committee of the Pacific Northwest chapter of People of Color in Independent Schools. He is also actively engaged as a leader and speaker in the Northwest Association of independent Schools’ professional development programs. He has also spearheaded diversity workshops on curriculum development, student support, and building inclusive school culture. “I am excited about this opportunity to work with students and colleagues in Northwest School’s unique learning environment,” says Ray. “I believe that a day/boarding school education is a dynamic pathway for engaging students both academically and socially as they strive to develop a deeper understanding of themselves by working with peers from various parts of the world. Northwest is a school that has committed its faculty and resources to ensuring that its students thrive beyond measure, while providing a learning community steeped in trust and interdependence.”
