Lee Miller

For more than 30 years, Lee Miller devoted herself to Oakwood so fully that, to this day, the school bears her entirely unique stamp. With her husband, Steve, Lee's most significant contributions were their three boys, all Oakwood "Lifers": Jeff '97, Brian '01, and David '02.

But there was so much more. In the 1980s Lee and her husband Steve created a lunch program at the elementary campus to raise funds for computers and other technology. Enlisting fellow parents, they soon raised enough to buy a computer and printer for every classroom.

Lee, who was active in the Parent Organization throughout her sons' long years at Oakwood, served as its president for two groundbreaking years. She was a model volunteer who, among countless other activities, participated in every fundraising event and helped to reshape the annual Oakwood Fair. Steve joined her in working on many events, contributing his own considerable expertise in the production of an Annual Fund video and, for five years, in writing and editing the monthly parent newsletter. Long after her youngest son graduated from Oakwood, Lee continued her involvement with Oakwood as volunteer and, most significantly, in her career as a premier independent school recruiter.

Lee was a longtime educator herself, who had taught grades K-5 and led "Mommy and Me" groups for infants. In 1999, she began recruiting substitute teachers for independent schools at Teachers on Reserve, and then branched into recruiting permanent teachers for most of the independent schools in the western United States. In 2003, she and Steve founded Cal/West Educators Placement, which became the second largest national firm recruiting both teachers and administrators for independent schools. In her long tenure there, Lee brought far more high quality teachers and administrators to Oakwood than any other placement agency. Her love of the school was contagious.

And so it was natural that Lee would choose to remember Oakwood as a beneficiary in her estate planning. She was especially devoted to programs that would support and enhance teaching, and serve the interest of students for generations to come. Sadly, Lee was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2012, and passed away in 2016. Oakwood lost an incomparable visionary, doer, and friend. But what a great gift Lee Miller was, and what an enduring legacy she has left!

Create Your Oakwood Legacy

Like Lee, you can make a lasting impact at Oakwood through a planned gift. Contact Nancy Leptuch Virrey at 818-732-3174 or nleptuch@oakwoodschool.org to learn more.