The Bay School of San Francisco, an independent, coeducational college preparatory high school located in the Presidio of San Francisco
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Letter from Head of School, Timothy Johnson

Dear Friends,

I feel honored to serve as the second head of The Bay School of San Francisco. In my introductory visits to campus, I was impressed with the forward looking mission of this unique school and the high level of engagement among students and their inspiring teachers.

Head of School, Timothy Johnson

A decade ago, an adventurous and wise group of community members and educators gathered to ask important questions about the skills, knowledge, and values that would be most useful to leaders fifty years into the future. These passionate thinkers conceived a school that would offer not only a rigorous college-preparatory experience for students, but would also nurture the talents and ethics required for leadership in a world far different from the one in which we live.

Although this school opened its doors only five years ago, it is already a dynamic, inclusive and thriving learning community, inhabited by a diversity of curious and motivated students.  The early leaders of the school had the opportunity to hire an exceptional faculty from the thousands of applicants who sought to build this school. Therefore, many faculty members are expert in more than one academic discipline, and all feel both a deep commitment to the success of every student and a strong commitment to the success of the school.

Our focus on science, technology, ethics, and an understanding of diverse cultures and religions encourages connections among and between disciplines. The weekly schedule and trimester calendar is organized to provide students with a solid foundation in knowledge and skills during the first two years, and then offers a rich array of electives to promote study in depth. Outside the classroom, there is time to join or create clubs and activities, to play on teams, to hang with friends, and to take advantage of the abundant resources of the Presidio and of the City of San Francisco.

Even a short visit to the Bay School will reveal that our students are friendly, curious and engaged young men and women. They like to come to their school and they share a great sense of pride in it. The community welcomes and respects a diversity of people with a wide range of interests and passions, so a strong sense of belonging is the norm. The strong student voice in each day’s Morning Meeting encourages us to get to know each other well.

The school also retains a culture of reflection and examination, inviting its members to assess what’s in place and to work toward improvement across the program. A strong sense of stability and shared ownership encourages candor and improvement.

I encourage you to explore our Web site as an introduction to our school. As an even more effective way to get to know us, please schedule a visit.

Sincerely yours,

Timothy W. Johnson
Head of School

Curriculum Vitae

  • Founding Executive Director, Team-Up for Youth, Bay Area youth athletic development program, 2003-2007.
  • Head of School, Marin Country Day School, 1988-2003.
  • Assistant Head of School/Dean of Faculty and Curriculum, Graland Country Day School, Denver, CO,
    1980 -1988.
  • Dean of Students/Teacher, Nichols School, Buffalo, NY, 1973-1980.
  • Led approximately 20 WASC, Colorado and California Association of Independent Schools visiting evaluation teams; developed and co-facilitated Working with Faculties seminars for NAIS mid-level administrators; co-director, NAIS Beginning Administrators Institute; served as a juror US Department of Education Blue Ribbon School recognition program. Founding faculty team member, North Carolina Outward Bound School, Asheville, NC.
  • Education: Lake Forest College, BA with high honors. Harvard University Principal's Center Leadership Program; matriculated at Adlai Stevenson Institute, University of Chicago; The Fletcher Institute, Tufts University, and the Stanford University Graduate School of Education.