Founding Head of School
As Founder of Bertschi School, Brigitte Bertschi has served for the past 40 years as the leader of what's grown to become one of Seattle's most notable and innovative learning environments. Its reputation both locally and across the field of education is unequaled. Bertschi School is recognized for its forward-thinking commits to sustainability and diversity, plus a methodology of empowered collaboration for the betterment of community.
It was the Age of Aquarius when Brigitte first came to Seattle after earning her master’s degree in early childhood education at the Institute of Basel in 1967. She dreamed of creating a school to foster the intellectual, social, emotional and creative development of young children. Prior to that, she taught for a year in Paris and three years in Switzerland as the head instructor for the educational facility of the well-known Children’s Hospital of Basel, working with terminally ill children. “I was lucky to have this experience. Being part of an outstanding team of teachers working together showed me that a strong collaborative approach is essential to effective teaching, and I was excited and inspired by that. These early experiences became my roadmap for education,” says Brigitte.