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SEAL Executive Director Dr. Anya Hurwitz has shared her plans to transition from her role in June 2027, following more than a decade of leadership with the organization. As SEAL enters this next chapter, Anya and Board Chair John Matthew share reflections on the organization’s journey, its strength today, and the work ahead.
A Message from SEAL Executive Director Dr. Anya Hurwitz
Dear Friends,
After more than 12 years with SEAL, including nearly a decade leading this organization, I have made the deeply personal decision that this will be my final year as Executive Director. I will transition from my role in June 2027.
Leading this organization has been one of the great privileges of my professional life. One of the hardest decisions for a long-time leader is knowing when to make space for what comes next. After much reflection, I believe this is that moment. I am ready to explore what that looks like for me, and I believe SEAL is ready for its next chapter.
When I joined SEAL, we were an initiative of Sobrato Philanthropies with an ambitious vision for young multilingual learners. I am especially grateful to Dr. Laurie Olsen, whose pioneering vision created SEAL’s foundation, and to Sobrato Philanthropies, where that vision was nurtured. Together, we launched SEAL as an independent nonprofit, expanded across California, strengthened the evidence, and grew our role in the field.
But when I think about my time at SEAL, I think first about people: children engaged in rigorous learning, and taking pride in being multilingual; educators creating classrooms where children’s languages, cultures and identities are part of how they learn and thrive; and the extraordinary SEAL team and community of partners, researchers, advocates, funders and supporters who have made this work possible.
SEAL is entering this transition from a position of strength. Our new strategic direction builds on what we have learned and sets an ambitious direction for the years ahead, deepening our impact in California and building a broader ecosystem of national partners committed to multilingual learners. We have a strong team, an engaged Board and clear direction for the next phase of our work. The work is already underway.
Our Board is leading a thoughtful and open search for SEAL’s next Executive Director with support from NPAG. I will remain fully engaged through June 2027, continuing our work while supporting a strong transition to SEAL’s next leader.
As I begin this final year, I am feeling grateful for what we have built together, how much I have learned from all of you, and the countless people who have given their time, talent and trust to this mission. Thank you for believing in SEAL and, most importantly, for believing in the brilliance and potential of multilingual learners. I am proud of where SEAL is today and excited about what this extraordinary community will make possible next.
With gratitude,
Dr. Anya Hurwitz
Executive Director
A Message from SEAL Board Chair John Matthew Sobrato
Dear SEAL Community,
On behalf of SEAL’s Board and our Search Committee, I want to extend our deepest gratitude and best wishes to Anya as she moves into this next chapter of her career.
Our Board worked closely with Anya over the past year to develop a thoughtful approach to her leadership transition. Part of what we decided together was to embark on the development of SEAL’s next strategic plan, while Anya was still on board, and this helped to establish strategic clarity prior to the search for SEAL’s next leader. We couldn’t be more excited for SEAL’s future direction at the organization continues to evolve and expand its impact on multilingual education and students in California and beyond.
We are immensely grateful to Anya for charting that course with us, alongside SEAL’s leaders and staff, and
positioning the organization strongly for further growth. Because of Anya’s steadfast leadership and management, SEAL has a capable team in place as well as robust financial reserves. The full Board of Directors and SEAL’s Leadership Team are poised to support this transition over the next year. The Board has retained a search firm to support the search for SEAL’s next Executive Director, and we will share updates with our community as the search progresses.
We appreciate your continued support. We are grateful for the critical contributions that you make every day to improve the experiences and outcomes for multilingual learners. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do, to help our teachers, students, and school systems to thrive, now and into the future.
Sincerely,
John Matthew Sobrato
Chair, SEAL Board of Directors and Search Committee
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