The Bush School
Giving

Annual Report 2023-2024

2023-2024 Annual Report

The Bush School is grateful to the 900+ members of our community who give their time, financial support, and talents to benefit the Bush community each year. Gratitude, The Bush School’s Annual Report, is a display of our thanks. The stories below highlight the impact of your generosity. Thank you, we could not do this important work without you!
We invite you to view secure lists of our contributors for the 2023-2024 school year.

Great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this report. If we have omitted or misspelled your name, or if you have any name, address or family information changes, please contact the Bush Development Office at development@bush.edu.

2023-2024 Administration & Board of Trustees

List of 2 items.

  • Board of Trustees

    Lisa Carroll, President
    Salone Habibuddin, President-Elect; Vice President
    Atul Bali, Co-Treasurer
    Amy Fernandes, Co-Treasurer
    Karim Lessard ’89, Secretary
    Emily Alhadeff ’94
    Loren Alhadeff '97
    Steve Banks ’94
    Maneesh Batra ’90
    Zane Behnke '00
    Craige Blackmore 
    Wesley Burns
    Steven Caplow 
    Chris Chickadel ’93
    Irene Fisher 
    Allison Harr 
    Geoff Harris 
    Patti Hearn 
    Kathy O’Kelley
    Julie Okerstrom
    Daniel Pak
    Jennifer Schorsch 
    Omar Shahine
    Quentin Streets
    Judi Yates 
     
    Ex-Officio:
    Percy L. Abram, Ph.D.
    Head of School

    Sena Johnson
    Families Association President

  • Senior Leadership Team

    Percy L. Abram, Ph.D. - Head of School
    Leslie David - Executive Assistant to the Head of School
    Ethan Delavan - Director of Technology
    Jo Ito - Athletic Director
    Sharon Hurt - Assistant Head of School for Advancement 
    Matthew Lai - Upper School Director and Action Middle School Director
    Sarah Smith - Assistant Head of School for Academics
    Rather Stanton - Chief Finance and Operations Officer
    Aliya Virani - Lower School Director
    JuLondre Brown - Director of Intercultural Affairs
  • Letter from Head of School Letter from Head of School

    Dear Bush Community,

    In the 2023–2024 school year, there was a palpable energy in anticipation of a year of reunions, reflection, and reverie. A newly minted centenarian, The Bush School moved effortlessly into the year ready to embark on a journey that explored the school’s rich history and legacy in Seattle while looking toward the future with new ideas, pedagogies, and programs firmly grounded in Mrs. Bush’s vision.

    The school owes a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Bush and the thousands of educators who have upheld her educational philosophy of trusting students, supporting teachers, and creating safe learning environments for children to thrive. We spent much of the year reflecting on the school’s metaphorical “roots”—a legacy that includes amazing leadership, passionate families, engaged alumni, and a lasting influence on Seattle’s educational community.

    The theme “roots” connected present-day Bush to the individuals and stories that inhabited the campus over the years. Our roots reside below ground, in the walls, in the books we read, in the art we see around campus, in how we celebrate, and in how we treat one another. They are invisible to us as we go about our day, but they create stability, provide nourishment, and help us grow. These roots carry decades of memories from historic events, of people revered and unsung, of stories to be celebrated and others left untold. 

    In 2023–2024, energy and generosity were plentiful. We hosted the most successful Celebrate Bush in the school’s history, raising over $990,000 for financial aid. In addition, our community invested in Bush to support twelve faculty members through the George Taylor Summer Travel Grant program; offer compelling courses in the Upper School’s new computing, engineering, and design (CED) department; give our students international travel experiences in Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Morocco; and organize a K-12 Day of Service in which adults and students had the opportunity to make a contribution to their community.

    Philanthropy is like a tree, extending its branches and roots to impact an entire ecosystem in obvious and unforeseen ways. Your generosity this year left an indelible mark on The Bush School and, like roots, make this remarkable school even stronger.

    Bush may be 100 years old, but I can say with confidence that the best years are ahead of us.

    With gratitude, 
     
    Percy L. Abram, Ph.D.
    Head of School
  • Letter from the Board Letter from the Board
    Dear Members of The Bush School Community,
     
    We are off and running into our second century, and I’m filled with excitement and anticipation for the journey ahead. This year’s theme—connection—captures the very heart of what makes our school so special. In every classroom, conversation, and shared experience, we are united by our mission: to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their community.
     
    As I reflect on how forming these connections shapes the Bush experience, I’m struck by the intentional effort needed to create them. These bonds are not accidental or arbitrary—they result from an environment carefully cultivated by the many people who deeply care about this school.

    Our faculty creates opportunities for students to build connections by fostering classrooms that encourage sharing, discussion, and challenge within a safe space. The administration, by reaffirming our mission to prospective families, sets the expectation for how we intend our students and families to engage—ready to learn, achieve, and contribute. Our efforts to nurture alumni relationships also ensure we maintain meaningful connections between our past, present, and future school community.
     
    But connection doesn’t come without risk. It requires us to show up as our authentic selves, allowing for genuine relationships to form.
     
    Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. Thank you for taking the risk—for you and your students—and for showing up authentically and being open to others. This is how lasting connections are made.
     
    With gratitude and excitement for the century ahead,
     
    Karim Lessard ’89
    President of the Board of Trustees

Stories of Philanthropy and Community

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Fiscal Year Performance

This past year, The Bush School raised a total of $4,474,261 in philanthropic support. This included $2,218,095 in support of annual operations (through the Annual Fund and Celebrate Bush), $234,463 in support of the Endowment, and $350,652 in New Upper School campaign gifts, and $1,671,050 in gifts to support the Middle School Center Campus.
 
Total operating revenue for the year was $34,073,000 and came from tuition and fees, philanthropic support, auxiliary income, and income from the Endowment.
 
Total operating expenses for the year were $33,337,090 and included educational programs, compensation, financial aid, maintenance, technology, and fundraising.
The difference between operating revenue and expenses resulted in a surplus, which the Board of Trustees voted to allocate to the Board designated fund for strategic initiatives.

The Bush Endowment

The endowment is an important part of the school’s overall fiscal year performance. Our donors’ commitment to the endowment supports the school’s vitality and solidifies their legacy with the school. 
 
The total value of the Bush endowment as of June 30, 2024 was $29,002,071. In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the Board of Trustees elected to draw approximately 3.1% of the Endowment for a total of $908,000. This year, the Board increased the Endowment draw to support program growth, increase financial aid, and campus improvements. They were able to make that decision based on the financial health of the school and the performance of the Endowment over the past three years. 
 
The Board watches the performance of the Endowment closely and works with our Fund Managers, Garde Capital, to ensure our long-term investment philosophy will help us thrive in positive and negative years. Thanks to ongoing support from donors, we continue to feel well positioned for the long term.

Your Annual Fund Gifts in Action

Past Issues

The Bush School
The Bush School is an independent, coeducational day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 735 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities

3400 East Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98112 (206) 322-7978
The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admissions, or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment on the basis of age or marital status
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