Director of advancement Carolyn Woolf is joined by her husband and two daughters, kindergartener Juni and second grader Shyla, for a photo on Country Day’s campus.
Carolyn Woolf, who has been the director of advancement for two years, will leave Country Day over the summer to move to San Diego.
Q: Why are you leaving SCDS?
A: I’m actually moving back to San Diego, where I used to work as the annual fund manager at La Jolla Country Day School, to be closer to family.
Q; How do you feel about moving?
A: Really, really torn. It is absolutely the hardest professional decision that my family has (had) to make. We’ve felt really welcomed and part of the Country Day community, so it’s hard.
Both my girls (former students second grader Shyla and kindergartener Juni) are just devastated. I felt awful telling them.
Q: What will you miss most about SCDS?
A: The people I work with and the friends made through my kids’ classes. It’s been really wonderful.
Q: What will you be doing in San Diego?
A: I will be the director of major gifts for the Jewish Family Service of San Diego, a 100-year-old nonprofit organization.
I will be taking on a $40-million dollar campaign. We provide free immigration services, health services and services for seniors and childcare.
Q: How did you hear about the Jewish Family Service?
A: My husband’s great-uncle used them as an organization when he was too old to be able to leave the house. They delivered food to him as part of one of their many services.
It’s (an organization) that’s really well-known in San Diego. I have a lot of professional colleagues who know of them and work with them.
Q: How is the search for your replacement going?
A: The job is posted on our website and on about 10 different job posting sites – mostly related to either independent schools or philanthropy-related jobs – so I’m hopeful we’re going to find a really good candidate.
My main focus, and what I hope I can leave the school, is having a really solid plan, having everything lined up for the next person and helping find a really great person to come in. I hope they find somebody better than me!
I’m gonna be here through most of the summer helping the transition go well. The work at this office is largely led by me, but (there are) also a ton of parent volunteers who are continuing on next year, so there’s gonna be a lot of continuity.
Q: When are you leaving?
A: It will be sometime this summer. My kids start school in San Diego August 20, so definitely by then.
—By Sarina Rye
