History

In 1977 Sally and Toby Rosenblatt gathered a small group of friends in their living room to talk about Sally's dream--an independent, coeducational elementary school in San Francisco. This group of parents formed a steering committee, which later became the first board of trustees, and San Francisco Day School incorporated in 1978. Two years later, Nancy Simon Boettiger accepted the position of head of school.

The central purpose of the School, then as now, was to educate its students according to the highest standards of academic excellence. Aside from its coeducational structure, a number of other features distinguished SFDS: an academic program designed to take full advantage of the City’s resources, a desire to create a diverse and inclusive community, a commitment to attract and retain an outstanding faculty, tuition assistance for 10 to 25 percent of the students, and an extended day-care program.

San Francisco Day School welcomed its first students--63 kindergarten, first, and second graders--to rented space at Calvary Presbyterian Church in 1981. The School grew by adding one grade each year, and sought larger quarters at Temple Sherith Israel in 1983. By 1985, the School had two campuses, with students in grades five and six attending classes at the Japanese Language School on Bush Street.

After an exhaustive search, the School secured a permanent home in 1985 with the purchase of the Masonic Avenue site. Supported by the $9.2 million Campaign for San Francisco Day School, the former Carew and English Mortuary was renovated and became the new campus for the upper school. By 1989 the School had reached full enrollment, the academic wing was completed, and the full School of 396 students was united at Masonic Avenue.

In 1991, with much of the founding vision realized, Nancy Boettiger decided that the time was right for her to move on to new challenges. Jim Telander took over as the second head of school in 1991. During Jim's time as head of school, The Next Steps Campaign raised $6 million to construct the new gym/theater and to establish the School's first endowment fund. Jim was instrumental in bringing the Summerbridge program to SFDS in 1994, and in 2001, the program realized its goal of raising a $1.5 million endowment. The library expansion project, which provided 75% additional space to the library, was completed in September of 1999. Under Jim's tenure, the Cornerstone Campaign was launched, which deepened the School's commitment to tuition assistance, increased faculty salaries, and included a facilities component. After 13 years as head of school and many distinguished years in education, Jim Telander retired. In 2004, John Lin became our third head of school. In 2006 we welcome A. Emerson Johnson, III as our Interim Head of School.

Today San Francisco Day School is highly regarded and continues to advance the goals articulated by the founders: SFDS's goal is to educate its students in the fullest sense, within an atmosphere in which children enjoy learning and receive the best preparation for the future. The School will excite students about learning, teach them to question ideas and to make thoughtful judgments, impart to them a sense of values and individual responsibility, and, above all, give them confidence in their individual capabilities. Our students will go on to secondary education with fully developed intellectual and creative abilities and a genuine love for learning.