The school's founders, Ms. Jean McFadden and Ms. Laurie Krueger, concentrated, respectively, on overall academic planning and growth, which had long been Ms. McFadden's specialty and on development of the school's large Pre-K Program, a level of education in which Ms. Krueger had a great deal of passion and experience.

Over the first five years, emphasis was placed on faculty and student recruitment, curriculum development, and, of course, fundraising. New donors were continuously solicited and provided the necessary financial support to sustain the school's growth. And, concomitantly, as the school expanded and encountered the sorts of management and financial problems that all new and growing institutions do, the need for tighter oversight both by the Board of Trustees and the school administration became clear. Changes in connection with such oversight were the principal topic of Board discussions during the 2000-2001 academic year.

In May 2001, the Board acted to add another administrative layer - a President who, experienced in general management, would focus on the business and financial management of the school. Mr. Leonard Glogauer was engaged to fill this position.

With Ms. McFadden's resignation as Principal in December 2001, a new academic head was appointed who had served in teaching and administrative posts in private schools in Honolulu - Ms. Darla DeVille. Co-founder Laurie Krueger remained with the school in her administrative post as Director of the Pre-K Program; indeed, she continues to fill that role. In 2002 the name of the school was changed to Lake Tahoe School.

A milestone in the Lake Tahoe School's evolution was the 2003 acquisition by a prominent supporter of its current facility - a new three-story building with room for 24 classrooms and appreciable office space - located at 995 Tahoe Blvd. That year Mr. Eric Swain, a vastly experienced Head of School at a variety of east and west coast private schools, replaced Mr. Glogauer. Ms. DeVille continued to serve as Principal until spring 2004 when Dr. Arnold Lipkind, an educator with some 35 years experience, replaced her. During this period the school continued to grow, develop curriculum and enrichment programs (e.g., its much-lauded outdoor education program) and attract exceptional faculty and staff.

Mr. Swain's intention was to serve the school three years. In his third, the 2005-2006 academic year, following a national search, his successor, Mr. Stephen McKibben, joined the school as Associate Head of School and de facto Principal. Mr. McKibben, an Ed.D. candidate at Columbia University, came to Lake Tahoe School after two decades of teaching and administrative experience in Northeast boarding schools. That year provided a rare collaborative opportunity as outgoing Head of School gradually passed the mantel to incoming Head of School. Mr. Swain, at the conclusion of that school year, was appointed to the Board of Trustees and has thus continued to nurture the school.

Lake Tahoe School is currently accredited by two organizations - the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), based in New York; and the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS), headquartered at Boise State University. The school is also a candidate member of the chief accrediting organization for private schools in the northwestern United States - the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS), a regional affiliate of the National Association of Independent Schools.

Lake Tahoe School continues to evolve: we completed a purchase and sale agreement for our building and two contiguous parcels in June, 2008; student enrollment continues to increase; the Board recently endorsed a five-year strategic plan; and we are successfully meeting our fundraising goals.

Our future is bright, and co-founder Laurie Krueger's vision of creating an educational community focused on honoring the individual creativity and passion inherent in every child continues to nurture Lake Tahoe School students with disciplined minds, strong character, healthy bodies, and creative spirits.