The Bishop’s School names new science center

Recently, Brad Geier, the president of the Board of Trustees at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla, announced that the School’s new science center would bear the name the Michael and Marlene Teitelman Science Center. A group of donors raised the $4.5 million to name the $10 million facility in gratitude for, and recognition of, 25 years of service to the school by the Teitelmans. Michael Teitelman is the tenth head of school at Bishop’s, serving in that position since 1983.

Geieralso announced that the Bishop’s Centennial Campaign had reached $33 million of its $60 million goal for scholarship and endowment. The school celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding during the 2008-2009 school year.

The Science Center is the first academic building to be constructed on Bishop’s campus since the 1950s. The school said it will provide the science faculty with the technology necessary to prepare Bishop’s students for college and beyond. Features of the 32,000-square-foot, three-level center include 10 laboratory/classrooms, five prep rooms, research laboratory, 150-seat presentation hall, four dedicated faculty offices, multi-purpose wet laboratory and multi-purpose meeting space.

“Increasing the endowment is a key factor in assuring the continued vitality of the school and its programs,” Geier said. “Just as gifts to endowment are of critical importance, so are the funds needed to complete the Campus Master Plan and maintain our historically significant existing buildings.”

Plans are underway to construct the Manchester Library and Learning Center on Bishop’s campus. Through the efforts of Headmaster Michael Teitelman, the School’s endowment has grown to $26 million, the scholarship program that granted $83,000 in 1983 now grants $2.5 million to 152 students, and the enrollment has increased from 560 to 725 students in grades seven through 12.