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Founded in 1967, The Overlake School is an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational, college-prep day school. Each Overlake community member is committed to the school's mission to Inspire excellence, Develop intellectual curiosity, Teach responsibility, Embrace diversity, and Foster a compassionate community. The Overlake School is accredited by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools, the Washington Federation of Independent Schools, and The Northwest Accreditation Commission. Overlake is committed to diversity and does not discriminate based on race, religion, national or ethnic origin, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, or disability in administering its educational policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs. The Overlake School community is committed to being inclusive of all its members while preparing students to effectively and productively participate in a global and multicultural world. Our curriculum and community honor a variety of traditions, value diversity of cultures, and respect all people's contributions. At Overlake, we challenge one another to examine the dynamics of diversity from a global/multicultural perspective so that we can become responsible citizens dedicated to social justice and service-learning. We strive to provide a safe place for students and faculty to step out of their comfort zones and discuss race, ethnicity, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, learning style, and disability. By exploring our diverse world and nation's dynamics, we believe our students will be responsible citizens long after leaving Overlake. The Overlake School's commitment to diversity is grounded in our goal of preparing students to become responsible, active participants in our increasingly global world. By successfully building a global, multicultural community, we will establish the following: An environment that instills the self-confidence to enable individuals to develop and express their own opinions and the respect to listen and learn from perspectives other than their own willingly. Relationships are strengthened by a collective experience in which differences are resolved through engagement, discussion, and mutual understanding. It is an appreciation for the richness and complexity of individuals, social groups, and broader communities. The freedom to make personal choices and the ability to reflect on the implications these choices may have on ourselves and those around us. Our students' ability to investigate new ideas, challenge old stereotypes, and establish their own unique identities and value systems. We have made the unprecedented decision to appoint a full-time instructional coach. When faculty receive ongoing, meaningful feedback and collaborate with their colleagues, teaching and, more importantly, student learning improves. All Overlake faculty receive individualized coaching, which inspires them to be reflective practitioners committed to ongoing growth. This bold approach enables continual learning for every member of our community. Our program becomes stronger when teachers work together on curriculum, assessment, and sharing of best practices. Full-time faculty teach four sections (down from five). The course-load reduction creates time for instructional coaching, collaboration with colleagues, supporting students, and working on grade-level teams. Department chairs serve as academic leaders, who guide their program's evolution, facilitate collaboration among faculty, and inspire new, innovative thinking about pedagogy. A reduced teaching load enables department chairs to fulfill this critical leadership role. View full school