Jim Skrumbis, Head of School:
Jim has been involved in private school education in Los Angeles nearly 20 years. As the founding Head of School, Jim provides positive, responsible leadership for the development of the new state-of-the-art campus, supervision of the faculty recruitment process and curriculum design, and support and involvement with the fundraising efforts. Jim provides the vision, direction, and strategy required to support the overall management of this outstanding new college-preparatory high school.

Prior to becoming the Founding Head at the School, Jim spent 10 years at Marlborough School. Most recently he was the Director of the Upper School. In that position he was responsible for maintaining a rigorous academic program, managing a variety of budgets, supervising an outstanding college counseling program, hiring and evaluating faculty, and overseeing student discipline. Jim was also the Middle School Dean where he was responsible for coordinating curriculum and student activities in addition to teaching history in both the middle and high schools. Jim has also taught various history classes to middle and high school students at the Pilgrim School and was their Head Coach for the Varsity Football and Baseball teams.

email: jskrumbis@sierracanyonschool.org

Sanje Ratnavale, Associate Head of School:
Sanje brings a combination of business, fund-raising and educational experience to Sierra Canyon School. As the Associate Head of School, Sanje leads and manages all aspects of the School's fundraising and capital campaign activities. In addition, he oversees the financial and business operations regarding the new school, future site, and current campus.

Sanje’s business experience includes six years in investment banking transacting mergers and acquisitions in London and Paris, five years in early stage venture capital in San Francisco and Arizona, and five years in senior management positions in a variety of medium-sized companies as CFO, COO and CEO. Sanje’s education experience includes leading the 9th Grade Ancient Civilizations and Pre-Modern history course and teaching 7th Grade US History at Marlborough School in Los Angeles. He has also taught Latin, English and French at Windlesham House School in Sussex, England.

email: sratnavale@sierracanyonschool.org

Nat Damon, Dean of Students 7-12:
As Academic Dean, Nat is responsible for several important areas of the school that ensure that our students get the best possible education. This includes a national faculty recruitment process, a well-planned and comprehensive academic program, and the formation of advisories and retreats that will enhance the learning process at our school. Nat has also been actively involved in the admissions process for the Founding Class of 2009 recruitment effort. He wrote the Viewbook, visits schools to develop partnerships, meets with individual students and parents, maintains the website, and coordinates the Open Houses.

Previously at Harvard-Westlake School, Nat taught English, coached track, and was responsible for the creation of the Los Olmos Campus Project and Harvard-Westlake Film Club. In addition, Nat taught middle and high school English and history at The Park School and Derby Academy, both in Boston, MA. He founded “Rough Riders Student Travel”, a company that brought East Coast high school students to the Southwest for education, community service, and adventure. Nat received the Teacher of the Year commendation in 1999 from a consortium of several Boston-area communities.

email: ndamon@sierracanyonschool.org