Welcome to Oakland School

A letter from Head of School, Barton Reese

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Oakland School in Troy, Virginia.

As the fifth Head of School in Oakland School’s 73-year history, I am both honored and humbled to have the opportunity to build upon Margaret Shepherd’s and be a part of such an extraordinary place. It is quite the understatement to say, “I'm happy to be here,” or, more appropriately given the equestrian program long synonymous with Oakland School, “Chomping at the bit!”

Everything at Oakland School is in place to support and advance Shepherd’s mission: to celebrate the uniqueness of every child. Here, hands on learning, problem solving, creative expression, and proven multi-sensory methods combine to foster curiosity and unlock possibilities. Small classes ensure that each child is seen and heard, strengths are recognized, areas in need of support are targeted, and successes celebrated. Beyond our pedagogy, our tenured faculty and staff, most of whom have advanced degrees in special education, are the backbone of our learning community.

I understand well that options for students with learning differences are limited, and for the past 20 years have dedicated my career in academics to meeting the critical challenges this presents. As the Head of Oakland School, I plan to leverage my experiences and skills to make the greatest impact, knowing that together with the support of the Oakland community we will accomplish great things and secure Shepherd’s legacy for the next 100 years.

I welcome you to learn more about the Oakland experience, an environment that can help any child thrive, on these website pages, Facebook, and Instagram. I would also like to cordially invite you to join us for an upcoming community event or open house. Pictures may say a thousand words, but I assure you nothing can quite capture the stunning beauty of our sprawling grounds, the team energy of our dedicated staff, and the determination and pride of our young learners, as seeing it first-hand.

With gratitude,

Barton Reese
Head of School, Oakland School