Bainbridge Schools Foundation welcomes new executive director

Published 11:13 am Saturday, March 28, 2015

Bainbridge Schools Foundation has named Mairead Shutt as its new executive director.

Shutt will work with donors, community partners and the school district to develop and deliver sustainable funding resources for Island public schools.

Shutt replaces retiring executive director Vicky Marsing, who held the position for the past eight years.

“The board of directors is excited to welcome Mairead to the Bainbridge Schools Foundation,” said Jennifer Kim, BSF Board chairwoman.

“She brings a depth of nonprofit, education and student-centric experience to the job. Her energy, passion and commitment to creating connections between students, educators, philanthropists and parents is a tremendous asset not only for the foundation but also for the entire school district,” Kim said.

Shutt comes to the foundation from IslandWood, where she served in various leadership positions, most recently as major gift and planned giving officer. In her four years at IslandWood, she raised more than $2.5 million and secured partnerships with dozens of foundations and corporations.

Prior to IslandWood, she was philanthropy manager for the Trust For Public Land, managing development activities in Washington, Oregon and Montana.

And before that, she was the program manager for Science Club for Girls, in Boston, Mass., an after-school program that increased competency and interest in science and engineering for girls.

“I am passionate about the transformative impact BSF has on students, teachers and families,” Shutt said. “I want to help BSF expand the number of Island families who actively contribute creativity, wisdom, energy and financial support to the foundation.”

The nonprofit’s new leader holds a master’s degree in business administration from Brandeis University, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, in Waltham, Mass. and a bachelor of arts in sociology. Her husband, Jason Shutt is a science teacher at Woodward Middle School.

In the last seven years, Bainbridge Schools Foundation has contributed more than $6 million to fund additional teachers in the classroom to maintain class sizes, teacher training and innovation in the classroom. BSF funds STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) which includes additional K‐12 Math, Engineering, Science, Coding, and Robotics classes.

The organization also supports those students facing extra challenges by funding Title One Reading, homework clubs and the Achieve Program in the middle and high schools.