A legacy for generations of students

Two founding Oaks Christian School leaders retire



SERVICE HONORED—Oaks Christian School headmaster Jeffrey Woodcock, left, with his wife, Norine, and OCS founder Dallas Price-Van Breda attend a recent Celebration of Service event at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza hotel. The evening honored Woodcock as well as Paul Oberhaus, CFO and vice president of business operations at the school. Both men are retiring.

SERVICE HONORED—Oaks Christian School headmaster Jeffrey Woodcock, left, with his wife, Norine, and OCS founder Dallas Price-Van Breda attend a recent Celebration of Service event at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza hotel. The evening honored Woodcock as well as Paul Oberhaus, CFO and vice president of business operations at the school. Both men are retiring.

The 242 students graduating from Oaks Christian School today aren’t the only ones moving on to the next stage of their lives after the commencement ceremony ends.

Jeffrey Woodcock, headmaster of the Westlake Village school, and Paul Oberhaus, CFO and vice president of business operations, are departing.

When David Price and Dallas Price-Van Breda established the school in 1998, Woodcock and Oberhaus were given the founders’ vision along with a construction site, which they would oversee to become a nationally renowned, independent, faith- based college preparatory school.

“ Both men are amazing, wonderful human beings,” said Price-Van Breda, adding that Woodcock and Oberhaus are exemplary Christians who played an essential role in the school’s growth and success.

Oaks Christian School opened in 2000 with 198 students on one campus. Today it is home to more than 1,400 pupils on two campuses.

“I just love to see kids achieve at their highest level and have opportunities to do their best. I like an atmosphere that values learning and achievement,” Woodcock said.

In addition to a strong emphasis on academics, as well as thriving athletics and arts programs, faith and philanthropy are essential parts of the curriculum at Oaks Christian, the headmaster said.

Woodcock grew up in Jamestown,

N. Y. He received his bachelor’s degree from Cedarville University, majoring in psychology and education, and a master’s degree in education from University of New York at Fredonia.

His first teaching job was at an inner city school before moving to California in 1973, when he began working in Christian education.

Over time, Woodcock moved from the classroom to school administration. He had been headmaster of Santa Fe Christian School in San Diego for a decade when he was given the opportunity to lead Oaks Christian.

Woodcock has many fond memories of his years at OCS.

In addition to witnessing students’ achievements in the classroom and in extracurricular activities, he enjoyed spending time with them on various mission trips and excursions inside and outside of the U.S.

Some notable memories include a trip down the Colorado River with a group of ninthgraders and a mission journey to China to serve in an orphanage.

Woodcock said graduations were always a highlight at the end of each school year. He recalled the speech of 2009 OCS valedictorian Aurora Griffin, who has graduated from Harvard and will attend Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

“Her address was a highlight. She really talked a lot about her philosophy and people who influenced her,” Woodcock said.

The headmaster also remembered football quarterback Jimmy Clausen, a 2006 graduate who led the Lions to four CIF-Southern Section titles and a state championship, and broke the California high school record with 146 career touchdown tosses.

“It’s something I never expected,” Woodcock said.

Clausen went on to play football as quarterback for Notre Dame and then played a couple of years with the Carolina Panthers. Due to injuries, he is now pursuing a career in coaching.

Woodcock and his wife, Norine, live in Camarillo. They will spend the summer at their lake cabin near Glacier Park in Montana, and then plan to move to the San Diego area to be with their three grown children and four granddaughters.

Woodcock’s hobbies include fly fishing, golfing, reading police and spy novels, hiking and riding all-terrain vehicles.

Oaks Christian leaders recently hosted a celebration of service at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza to honor Woodcock and Oberhaus.

As parting gifts, the men each received a vacation trip for two to Italy, and they will have buildings named after them on the Oaks Christian campus.

Woodcock said the school would not be what it is today without the hard work and dedication of the staff, parents, donors and board of directors.

“This school has exceeded anything I could have dreamed about, and it’s because of the great team of people we have here,” he said.

A former executive for San Diego Gas and Electric and Sempra Energy, Oberhaus oversaw the development of facilities and the financial growth and stability of the school.

He also helped to create the online school and was responsible for the creation of the fi- nancial aid programs which now serve 42 percent of the student population.

Oberhaus went from “success to significance,” Woodcock said.

“His goal was to spend the last part of his working life doing something that would have a positive impact on other people.”

Through his work at OCS, Oberhaus said, he was able to touch the personal lives of thousands of students who have since gone on to fabulous colleges and careers.

“It’s been such a reward for us. We wanted to do something and be more significant, but it’s way beyond what I ever dreamed,” said Oberhaus, who lives in Camarillo with his wife, Sally.

Over the past 15 years, OCS graduates have advanced to top universities and professions and they are making a difference in the world, he said.

“It’s pretty exciting when you hear from the kids what they’re up to,” said Oberhaus, whose financial aid program has benefited many lower-income students.

Oberhaus will continue his efforts toward further developing Oaks Christian’s online school.

The school’s board of directors is conducting a nationwide search for a new headmaster.

Woodcock said the ideal contender is a Christian leader with a strong background in education who also has a vision and a sense of entrepreneurialism.

“ Someone whose highest priority is the students’ education and Christian well-being,” Woodcock said.

A new vice president of business operations and chief financial officer for the school will be announced soon.


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