Mary Stern

Mary is a Northern Virginia native and grew up in Vienna. She graduated from James Madison University (B.S.) and the University of Maryland, College Park (M.S.). Mary’s professional background focuses on Organization Development, Performance Improvement, Strategic Planning and Leadership Coaching. Early in her career, Mary worked at Inova Health System as an Organizational Development Manager, and then spent several years operating her performance-based consulting business, Performance Matters. Mary brings many years of previous board leadership experience as she served in various board positions, including President, for the DC Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development. She also served in several board roles, including President, for the DC Chapter of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. As a passionate adoption advocate, Mary also served as the local RESOLVE adoption chair, launched and facilitated RESOLVE adoption support groups, designed local RESOLVE adoption seminars, and co-chaired regional RESOLVE family building conferences.  

Mary and her husband, Mickey, have two children, Luke and Lexie, who graduated from Highland in June 2021. Luke and Lexie previously attended Linton Hall School (LHS) in Bristow from kindergarten through eighth grade. During her family’s nine years at LHS, Mary served for several years on the Parent School Guild. She was Volunteer Coordinator from 2010-2012, and President from September 2011 to June 2014. As part of her leadership responsibilities, Mary also chaired several major fundraising events and activities for LHS including golf tournaments, galas, and an inaugural 5K race. She also served on LHS’s Enrollment Committee and Marketing Committee. After her children became students in Highland’s Upper School, Mary welcomed the opportunity to serve on Highland’s Parent Association as the tenth and eleventh grade PA class co-representative.  Mary served in the Parent Association President role when her children were seniors during the 2020-21 school year. Together with the PA Board, Mary facilitated the development of unique programs to keep parents engaged with Highland School during a time of limited parent interaction on campus. Most notably, a bi-weekly faculty and staff recognition program was supported by parents throughout the school year.  In addition, a Heart of the Hawk program was also created by an anonymous parent donor who honored each faculty and staff member randomly throughout the year. Mary looks forward to providing additional contributions to Highland’s Board of Trustees while serving on the Advancement and Strategic Planning Committees.