Malibu School Board Will Consider New Webster Principal

MALIBU, CA — Malibu's school district will consider a new principal for Webster Elementary School next week at its regular board meeting.

After a closed session discussion, the board on Thursday will publicly make a recommendation on the appointment of Tedd Wakeman as principal. The position is temporarily filled for the 2022-2023 school year by Michael Smith, former principal of Our Lady of Malibu School.

Members of the public can weigh at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the board meeting in person at 1651 16th St or on Zoom.

Parents and staff already had input in the principal search process in the form of a survey, which asked community members what characteristics they would expect in a principal. Candidates also faced a panel including parents and staff during the interview process, according to Community & Public Relations Officer Gail Pinsker.

Wakeman would bring the district over 25 years of educational experience, including some in the Los Angeles Unified School District, according to Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent Ben Drati.

"Mr. Wakeman, pending approval, brings characteristics to Webster that were top priorities for parents and staff," Drati said.

Wakeman is the co-founder and co-director of The Sycamore School in Malibu. At Sycamore, Wakeman designed a curriculum to foster student curiosity, creativity and critical thinking, Drati said. Wakeman was also a founder and curriculum designer for The PlayMaker School at New Roads in Santa Monica.

Wakeman also has experience teaching English as a second language in Maldives and coaching Indonesian teens studying remotely in Queensland University, according Drati.