Head of School Transition

August 27, 2026

Dr. Aline García Rubio has taught Catlin Gabel’s students, mentored its teachers, and reimagined learning in its Upper School. On August 31, she welcomes students in preschool through 12th grade back to campus as Head of School.

Catlin Gabel, located in SW Portland, is Oregon’s top independent school, recognized nationally for its academic excellence and emphasis on experiential learning. The school traces its history to the late 19th century, when it was founded by two female pioneers of progressive education – an approach rooted in whole-child development and student-driven inquiry. For García Rubio, leading Catlin Gabel means carrying that tradition forward while continuing to evolve what progressive education can look like in a changing world.

“My job here is to protect and expand what makes this education both challenging and joyful,” said García Rubio. “I care deeply about preparing students for our current era of societal and technological change.”

García Rubio has known Catlin Gabel as a student, teacher, department chair, dean, head of the Upper School, and parent. She first came to the school at 17 from Mexico City through a one-year exchange scholarship. The experience left a lasting impression, and she returned in 2004 to teach Upper School science. She succeeds Tim Bazemore, who retired in June after 12 years as Head of School.
García Rubio earned her medical degree from Universidad La Salle in Mexico City before beginning a career in education that took her from Mexico City to Punahou School in Hawai‘i, and then to Catlin Gabel.

“Careful observation, working with people, and complex problem solving are skills I developed while learning medicine and which continue to influence my approach to education and leadership,” said García Rubio.

As Head of the Upper School (grades 9–12), García Rubio helped redefine how students learn, guiding the transition to competency-based learning, in which students advance by demonstrating mastery of specific skills. She also expanded Immersives, one of Catlin Gabel’s signature experiences, during which students set aside their regular classes for two weeks to pursue experiential projects such as backpacking the Mount Jefferson Wilderness or building a pinball machine from scratch. 

“A Catlin Gabel education asks students to think for themselves, work with people who see things differently, and act responsibly from their own conclusions.  Those skills have never been more valuable than they are right now,” said García Rubio.
From 2024 to 2026, García Rubio served as Associate Head of School at Oregon Episcopal School, where she oversaw the PS–12 academic program, developed the school’s first AI guidelines, and built a faculty growth and evaluation system. Now, as she returns to Catlin Gabel, she is taking time to rediscover the community before charting what comes next.

“I am learning and relearning Catlin Gabel. My curiosity is provoked, and my work is taking shape through discovery and conversation,” said García Rubio. “I am also committed to taking a listening stance as I talk with students, parents, and staff and I will approach conversations with fresh eyes and a sense of wonder.”

That listening is already informing her early priorities: establishing mission-aligned uses of technology, strengthening connections across the school, and opening new avenues between Catlin Gabel and the wider Portland community.

García Rubio was selected in 2025 through a national search led by a committee of alumni, trustees, faculty, and staff in partnership with the firm Spencer Stuart, and was unanimously appointed by the Board of Trustees.

“Aline’s leadership is built on more than twenty years of teaching and leading within independent schools. Her expertise in progressive education will strengthen the student experience and keep Catlin Gabel a leader in academics,” said John Gilleland, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Our graduates come away well prepared for college and for life as independent thinkers. Aline will make sure this continues while enhancing our curriculum to include new opportunities for students.”

García Rubio arrives during a period of significant investment at the school, including construction of the 36,000-square-foot Schnitzer Center, an athletics and community facility slated for completion in 2027. She will carry forward the school’s commitment to experiential and student-centered learning, faculty support and development, and student well-being and belonging. 
 

August 6, 2025

Dear Catlin Gabel Community,

On behalf of the Catlin Gabel Board of Trustees, I am thrilled to announce we have unanimously selected Dr. Aline García-Rubio ’93 as our next Head of School, to begin her tenure on July 1, 2026. Aline is well-known to many in our community for her decades of impactful service to the school and her visionary leadership. I am confident Aline will guide Catlin Gabel into an exciting next chapter filled with promise and excellence.

After an extensive search that attracted accomplished and talented educators from around the world, Aline emerged as the top candidate for her expert leadership in progressive education and her deep familiarity with the Catlin Gabel community.

“We designed the search to be inclusive of a broad range of candidates, including current heads from other leading schools,” said Nitesh Sharan, Search Committee Co-chair. “What set Aline apart was her student-centered approach, deep pedagogical expertise and connection to faculty, and exceptional character.” Kate Hall, Search Committee Co-chair, said, “Among a cross-section of extraordinary applicants who were well-qualified to lead the school, Aline stood out.”

When Aline was a high school student at Olinca International School in Mexico City, she received a foreign exchange scholarship to study at Catlin Gabel for a year, forming her strong connection to our school. After earning her medical degree, she began a teaching career at Punahou School in Hawaii before returning to Catlin Gabel in 2004 as an Upper School science teacher. Aline assumed roles with increasing responsibility, first as Department Chair, followed by Dean of Students and Assistant Division Head, before becoming the Head of the Upper School in 2017. Aline left Catlin Gabel in 2024 to serve in her current position as Associate Head of School for Oregon Episcopal School (OES), a position that includes oversight of the independent school’s entire PS-12 academic program.

During her seven-year tenure as Catlin Gabel’s Upper School Head, Aline set a high bar for academic leadership and curriculum development, implementing improvements that guided the Upper School to a competency-based model and establishing experiential learning opportunities like two-week Immersives and interdisciplinary courses. She navigated significant challenges with vision and poise, including the execution of remote and hybrid learning during Covid and the return to campus following the pandemic.

Head of School Tim Bazemore, who has announced his departure at the close of the 2025-26 school year, applauded the selection committee’s choice, saying, “Aline is known and appreciated for her intellectual curiosity, integrity, and dedication to all members of the Catlin Gabel community. She has provided exemplary leadership to the school in the past, and I believe the Catlin Gabel community will benefit enormously from her leadership in the years to come.”

In accepting the position, Aline said, “It is a true honor to return to Catlin Gabel, the place that nurtured my personal and professional becoming. I am excited to lead the school into a new chapter of joy, educational excellence, and connection. We will build on the legacy of our predecessors moving into an inspiring future while holding onto our progressive roots.”

The school’s trustees and administrative team look forward to working with Tim and Aline to facilitate a smooth transition over the course of the next year. Opportunities will be available later in the year for students, families, employees, and alumni to meet with your next Head of School.

Please join me in thanking the entire search committee for their successful efforts, and in welcoming Aline back to Catlin Gabel!

Mark Holliday, Catlin Gabel Board of Trustees Chair

Head of School Search Committee

July 9, 2025

Dear Catlin Gabel School Community,

We are happy to share an update on the search for Catlin Gabel’s next Head of School. We have received significant interest in the position from a diverse group of highly accomplished educators from around the country, including heads of top progressive schools and prominent leaders in higher education.

The Head of School Search Committee has made meaningful progress in the recruitment and selection process, including:

• Working with our partners at the search firm Spencer Stuart to identify candidates who meet the criteria illustrated in our Opportunity Statement.
• Conducting multiple rounds of interviews with qualified applicants to assess their skills, experience, leadership capabilities, and enthusiasm for Catlin Gabel.
• Welcoming finalists to Portland for two days of engagement and in-depth interviews.

We are encouraged by where things stand in our effort to identify Catlin Gabel’s next Head of School, and we look forward to welcoming a leader who will carry forward our mission and usher Catlin Gabel into the future.

We will share another update later this summer as the search process continues. As always, please email CatlinHOS@spencerstuart.com with any insights for the Search Committee.

Sincerely,

Katherine Warren Hall ’93, P ’27, ’29
Co-Chair, Head of School Search Committee

Nitesh Sharan, P ’28, ’30
Co-Chair, Head of School Search Committee

Dear Catlin Gabel Community,

On behalf of the Search Committee, we want to thank you for your participation in the process thus far and are pleased to share some updates on the Head of School search.

Between their campus visit, virtual listening sessions, survey responses, and emails Spencer Stuart heard from all constituent groups about the strengths, aspirations, and challenges ahead for the Catlin Gabel community. We are appreciative of the level of commitment and care so many people have for Catlin Gabel and we’re not surprised by the robust participation of our community whose responses were insightful, authentic, and detailed.

These responses have helped us develop an Opportunity Statement that we feel accurately and authentically captures the personal and professional qualities we are seeking in our next Head of School. The Opportunity Statement is available on the Catlin Gabel Head of School Transition website and Spencer Stuart is using it to attract and recruit the very best candidates for the position from all over the country and around the world. We also encourage you to read the Opportunity Statement and share it with anyone in your personal or professional networks. Interested candidates can contact Spencer Stuart at CatlinHOS@SpencerStuart.com.

This spring the Search Committee will begin reviewing applications and we will provide additional updates as the process moves forward. We all recognize the importance of identifying the right person to be the next Head of School at Catlin Gabel. If you have any questions please contact us at HOSsearch@catlin.edu. Again, on behalf of the Search Committee, we appreciate your participation as we look toward the future of our school community.

Thank you,

Katherine Warren Hall ’93
Co-Chair, Head of School Search Committee

Nitesh Sharan
Co-Chair, Head of School Search Committee

Dear Catlin Gabel Community,

We are writing to share next steps regarding the Head of School Search and upcoming engagement with the extended Catlin Gabel community in the weeks ahead that will inform the work of the Search Committee.

Spencer Stuart Visit to Catlin Gabel on March 17 and 18 Members of our Spencer Stuart team will be visiting our campus on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18. They are eager to experience Catlin Gabel in person and engage our community in discussions regarding the priorities for our next Head of School. During their visit, they will hold listening sessions with students, faculty, staff, administrators, board members, and parents. We know our search partners will leave energized and in sync with our community for the important work ahead.

In each conversation, there will be a few key questions for community members to consider:

• What is distinctive about Catlin Gabel School? What do you value most about the school and program?
• What do you see as the major opportunities and challenges that the next Head of School will face?
• What professional characteristics, experiences, and personal attributes would you most like to see in Catlin Gabel’s next Head of School?
• Is there anyone you would like to nominate for the position?
• Do you have any advice for the Spencer Stuart team?

Head of School Search Community Survey

In addition to Spencer Stuart’s visit, there are several avenues available to the Catlin Gabel community to share your insights. We are pleased to announce the launch of a survey to gather further input on what you are looking for in our next Head of School. We invite you all to use the link below to share your insights, anonymously. The survey should take no more than 10-15 minutes, and we ask that you please submit your responses by Friday, March 21 at 5:00 p.m. PST.

Search Email Inbox

Hearing from all voices in the community will help inform the Opportunity Statement that we and our search partners at Spencer Stuart will use to attract candidates to this exciting opportunity and critically important hire.

As mentioned in our initial communication, CatlinHOS@spencerstuart.com is available for community members to use to connect with the search firm about the opportunity statement and/or potential candidates. All communication to this inbox is confidential and the inbox will be monitored regularly by the Spencer Stuart team.

We will continue to provide updates to the community as the search continues, and again, thank you for your ongoing support in this process and for your time in the coming weeks.

Thank you,

Nitesh Sharan
Co-Chair HOS Search Committee

Katherine Warren Hall ’93
Co-Chair HOS Search Committee

Dear Catlin Gabel School Community,

Since announcing Tim Bazemore’s retirement at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, the Board of Trustees has been preparing the search for our next Head of School. We’ve engaged a search firm, formed a committee, and are preparing to involve the Catlin Gabel community in identifying leadership qualities needed to move us toward our shared goals. Thanks to Tim’s generous timeline, we can be thoughtful in this process, and we plan to make the most of this opportunity.

We appreciate your participation in the survey (sent to you next week) to inform the position statement, as well as meeting with our search consultants Mary Gorman and Aaron Mieszczanski to discuss community aspirations, and sharing ideas to help transition the new Head of School into Catlin Gabel and the Portland area. The Search Committee will keep you updated through direct communications, process updates on our webpage, and opportunities for feedback at CatlinHOS@spencerstuart.com. We are confident Catlin Gabel will attract exceptional candidates for this important role, and we look forward to navigating this exciting next chapter together.

Search Firm

The Board interviewed several firms and selected Spencer Stuart to support a successful Head of School transition. Spencer Stuart is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm, renowned for its expertise in identifying and placing top talent in leadership roles. With offices in over 50 locations worldwide, the firm is known for its data-driven approach, deep industry knowledge, and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the hiring process.

Spencer Stuart was chosen based on the following criteria:

• Proven success in recruiting for the Pacific Northwest: Spencer Stuart has placed the current heads at top schools such as Lakeside, Overlake, and University Prep in Seattle.
• Ability to cast a wide net: Spencer Stuart has a strong track record of placing K-12 heads at selective schools nationwide, as well as extensive experience with top boarding schools, research universities, liberal arts colleges, and other non-profit educational organizations.
• Advanced research and talent screening: Spencer Stuart’s investment in data provides access to a broad “known universe” of educational leaders, spending less time in identifying talent and more time in actively recruiting, and determining fit.

We ask for your support and partnership with Spencer Stuart as we work together to identify Catlin Gabel’s next successful leader.

Search Committee

While responsibility for hiring the next Head of School rests with the entire Board, a Search Committee has been assembled to help lead the process, which will include opportunities for all constituencies of the Catlin Gabel community to have a voice.

Head of School Search Committee Members:

• Katherine Warren Hall ’93, Co-Chair HOS Search Committee, Board Secretary, P ’27, ’29
• Nitesh Sharan, Co-Chair HOS Search Committee, Board Vice Chair, P ’26, ’28
• Berkeley Gadbaw, MS Science, P ’21, ’23
• Susie Greenebaum ’05, Chair Board Enrollment and External Relations Committee, P ’36, ’38
• Mark Holliday, Board Chair, P ’20, ’23
• Rob Kelly, Trustee and President University of Portland, P ’28
• Ginia King, US English, P ’17, ’20
• John Kroger, Trustee and Former President Reed College, P ’17
• Indira Nallakrishnan, Board Chair Emeritus, P ’17, ’20, ’24
• Jacob Winkler ’05, P ’37
• Nick Zosel-Johnson, BLS Head, P ’35, ’38

I want to thank the members of the Search Committee and Co-Chairs Katherine and Nitesh for their important work, the team at Spencer Stuart for their partnership and collaboration, and the extended Catlin Gabel community for your trust and engagement.

Sincerely,

Mark Holliday
Chair of the Board of Trustees
and Parent of Alumni

Dear Catlin Gabel Community,

Eleven years ago my family and I left Connecticut for the exciting opportunity to move to Portland and join the Catlin Gabel community. Here in the PNW I found an extraordinary school in which students are at the heart of all we do, expert teachers provide exceptional learning, and families and alumni care deeply about each other. Now, after 40 years in schools as a teacher and administrator, I have decided that I will retire as head of Catlin Gabel School at the end of the 2025-26 school year. In the next 18 months, I will strive to continue the important work we are doing, in partnership with the Board, my colleagues, and all of you, and to ensure a smooth transition to my successor.

Catlin Gabel is truly one of the best independent schools in the nation, and it is an honor to serve as your head of school. We have a long history of innovative programs, dynamic curriculum, and forward-thinking educational leadership. In the past decade, we have continued that tradition, deepening our commitment to experiential and inquiry-based learning, creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, pursuing promising educational initiatives with peer schools and colleges, and investing in our employees and campus. We have sought to live by our values of kindness, inclusion, and integrity, and we have stood together with courage to face social, health, and historic challenges. In all we do we have strived to keep students at the center, and to inspire them to love learning and become responsible active citizens of the world.

What I am most proud of is the quality of teaching and learning at our school. We foster a professional environment in which teachers know and value every child as a unique individual and are remarkably dedicated to their profession. Our progressive philosophy and methods foster voice, confidence, and agency in students, from preschool through senior year. We challenge children to think critically and creatively and apply what they learn to solve problems and create opportunities. As a result, our students become their best selves. They believe that learning is exciting and rewarding and that they have responsibilities in society.

With 18 months left in my tenure as your head of school, I am committed to moving current projects forward so that Catlin Gabel is well-prepared for the next chapter in its promising future. That includes completing the capital campaign and beginning construction, identifying our near-term strategic priorities, and ensuring that we have the talent and programs in place to achieve our mission for students.

After eleven years in Portland, my family and I have fallen in love with the region and community and will continue to make this our home. My primary retirement plans at this point are focused on family and new adventures. That includes more time with Lisa, Tyler, and Luke, as well as good books and high peaks. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role, in partnership with you and on behalf of our wonderful students. With appreciation, affection, and faith in the strength and value of our exceptional school, thank you.

Sincerely,

Tim Bazemore

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Dear Catlin Gabel School Community,

As a parent of two lifer students at Catlin Gabel, and a board member since 2015, I have experienced first-hand how the school has evolved during Tim Bazemore’s tenure as Head of School. With his announcement that he will retire at the end of next school year, June 2026, I have been reflecting on his remarkable career at Catlin Gabel, and the many ways he has led us to this high point in the school’s 68-year history.

When Tim joined our community as Head of School in 2014, he was tasked with imagining the school our students would need in the decades to come, and making that a reality. Tim is a collaborator by nature, and this has served our school well. I am grateful for the unique vision he brings to his work, and his personal commitment to our mission and values.

His strong focus on academic excellence, and unwavering support of teachers, has elevated the classroom learning experience in all divisions. Tim’s belief in educating the whole child has led to a renewed emphasis on real-world learning experiences, around the city and across the world. And the steps he has taken to create a more equitable community have shaped our school values in ways that benefit all community members every day.

Tim’s commitment to principles of progressive education has been central to our collective success, including the belief that the institution itself should function as an educational laboratory, with leadership constantly seeking to innovate and improve. That ethos is reflected in his many accomplishments at Catlin Gabel, which include:

• Leading strategic and campus master plans to establish educational, institutional and financial priorities that improve the student experience and ensure the long-term health and success of the school.
• Expanding enrollment and making Catlin Gabel accessible to a broader range of families. Enrollment of students of color increased by 68% during Tim’s tenure to its current rate of 52%.
• Launching Eagles Soar: The Campaign for Catlin Gabel, the largest campaign in the school’s history which will fund our new Community Center for Athletics and Wellness, as well as support teacher salaries and financial assistance.
• Leading the school through a challenging time by investigating allegations of sexual misconduct by employees beginning 50 years ago, listening to and reconciling with victims, and ensuring that Catlin Gabel is the safest possible school for students.
• Hiring the school’s first Director of Equity and Inclusion, establishing the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and initiating Strategic Inclusion Plans to sharpen our focus on the most urgent equity and inclusion priorities.
• Co-founding the Mastery Transcript Consortium, a national alliance of independent and public schools, focused on improving teaching and learning outcomes, and partnering with colleges and universities.
• Guiding the school’s transition to hybrid learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and coordinating a strategic and safe return to campus and in-person education.
• Establishing sustainability as a school value, and backing that commitment by creating the Tim and Lisa Bazemore Endowment for Environmental Sustainability at Catlin Gabel.

For these efforts, and many more, Catlin Gabel today epitomizes excellence. Importantly, these actions and initiatives have shaped the school’s reputation. Catlin Gabel has been consistently ranked as the best private school in Oregon, and in the top 1% of all private schools nationally.

Tim’s departure is still 18 months away, but the process to find a worthy successor begins soon. The process of choosing a new leader will involve a comprehensive, nationwide search with many opportunities for Catlin Gabel community members to provide input. Details will be shared with you in the coming weeks.

For now, I hope you will join me, along with past board chairs during Tim’s tenure, Indira Nallakrishnan, Bart Eberwein, and Eric Rosenfeld, in thanking Tim for all he has given to our school community and our students. We will have many opportunities to honor him and recognize his accomplishments and I look forward to engaging in those tributes with all of you.

Sincerely,

Mark Holliday
Chair of the Board of Trustees
and Parent of Alumni