Biography

Karen Whitaker is a Senior Consultant with Carney, Sandoe & Associates, where she recruits key administrators and heads of school for independent schools. Karen has helped Alta Vista with several searches in recent years and is pleased to be joining the Board. Before becoming a consultant with CS&A, Karen worked in Bay Area public and independent schools for thirty years, most recently at Branson in Marin, where she served as Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs. Her extensive experience has given her expertise in many areas of school life, including hiring, curriculum review, student support, accreditation, leadership and professional development, strategic planning, and governance. In addition to her work in search, Karen mentors aspiring female leaders through the California Teacher Development Collaborative.

Karen earned her B.A. from Stanford University and her California Teaching Credential from University of California, Berkeley. She also graduated with an M.A. in Private School Leadership from the Klingenstein Program at Columbia University. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, beekeeping, bird watching, hiking, reading, yoga, home improvement projects, and spending time with family and friends.