Leadership

Dr. Ralph Maurer, Head of School

Dr. Ralph Maurer assumed the role of Head of School on July 1, 2018. He joined Oxbridge in January 2018 as Head of School-Elect.

Before joining Oxbridge, Dr. Maurer served as the headmaster of The International School Nido de Aguilas, an independent English-language day school in Chile. Prior, Dr. Maurer was a faculty member and administrator at the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. While at Tulane, Dr. Maurer served as the founding executive director of the New Orleans Startup Fund. He is a regular contributor to the global discussion regarding innovation in independent schools.

Read Dr. Maurer’s entire bio

Read Dr. Maurer’s entire bio

Before joining Oxbridge, Dr. Maurer served as the headmaster of The International School Nido de Aguilas, an independent English-language international day school (Pre-K through 12) in Santiago, Chile. He is a regular contributor to the global discussion regarding innovation in independent schools, presenting at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) annual conference and participating in the NAIS Institute for New Heads.

Prior, Dr. Maurer was a faculty member and administrator at the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University, where he led the entrepreneurship curriculum. While at Tulane, Dr. Maurer served as the founding executive director of the New Orleans Startup Fund, raising more than $4 million in investment capital to help rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, he was a co-founder of the consulting firm EMH Strategy. At EMH, he and his partners developed strategic, financial, operational, and feasibility plans for educational institutions, including the Emeril Lagasse Foundation.

Dr. Maurer was raised in Gainesville, where both his parents taught at the University of Florida. He is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications studies from Northwestern University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida, and a Ph.D. in management science and engineering from Stanford University. He lives in West Palm Beach with his wife, Dr. Meg Butler, a classical archeologist, and their son.

Sam Cruz,
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Sam Cruz became the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Oxbridge Academy in May 2016. Mr. Cruz brings over 20 years of finance and accounting experience in various industries to Oxbridge.

Prior to joining Oxbridge, Mr. Cruz was the Director of Operations Accounting at Florida Crystals, a muli-national corporation based in West Palm Beach.

Read Mr. Cruz’s entire bio

Read Mr. Cruz’s entire bio

Mr. Sam Cruz became the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Oxbridge Academy in May 2016. Mr. Cruz brings over 20 years of finance and accounting experience in various industries to Oxbridge.

Prior to joining Oxbridge, Mr. Cruz was the Director of Operations Accounting at Florida Crystals, a muli-national corporation based in West Palm Beach.

Mr. Cruz was raised in West Palm Beach. He double majored in finance and accounting while at University of South Florida. In 2001, he became a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Florida. He later earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami.

Mr. Cruz resides in Wellington with his wife Laura and their son and two daughters.

Mr. Cruz has served on the boards of various local organizations including Young Professionals of Wellington and St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, while having memberships in Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, and Leadership Palm Beach County. Mr. Cruz is also the Basketball Commissioner for Upward Basketball at St. Peter’s United Methodist.

Courtney Portlock, Assistant Head of School

Mrs. Courtney Portlock assumed her role as Assistant Head of School on July 1, 2020.

Mrs. Portlock brings more than 10 years of administrative experience in independent schools. She most recently held the position of director of the National Center for Girls' Leadership at Stuart Country Day School in New Jersey. Prior to her tenure at Stuart Country Day, she was the director of diversity and community life at The Episcopal Academy in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Portlock is a passionate advocate for education that fosters leadership and facilitates meaningful inquiry.

Read Mrs. Portlock’s entire bio

Read Mrs. Portlock’s entire bio

Mrs. Portlock brings more than 10 years of administrative experience in independent schools. She most recently held the position of director of the National Center for Girls' Leadership at Stuart Country Day School in Princeton, New Jersey, where she previously served as both the head of upper school and assistant head of upper school. During her time at Stuart she has kept her hand in the classroom, teaching courses in math and leadership. Prior to her tenure at Stuart Country Day, she was the director of diversity and community life at The Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Portlock began her career at Episcopal teaching math, literature, diversity awareness courses, and coaching dance. Before this she spent three years in the finance and technology sectors with The Vanguard Group and MICRO E.D.S.

Mrs. Portlock is a passionate advocate for education that fosters leadership and facilitates meaningful inquiry. She has presented nationally on topics related to leadership, diversity, equity and inclusion, and women in STEM. She has served as a guest lecturer, co-teacher, and panelist for the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and is highly involved in the national conversations regarding how independent schools can become continually better, and more accessible places of learning.

Mrs. Portlock earned a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, and a M.S.Ed. In school leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, and a graduate of Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia.

Scott Siegfried, Director of Advancement

Mr. Scott Siegfried assumed his role as Director of Development on June 1, 2020.

Mr. Siegfried joins Oxbridge after serving as the vice president of external relations and development at the Saint Louis School in Honolulu. Prior to his tenure at St. Louis, Mr. Siegfried was the vice president of external affairs and enrollment at the Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu. His experience also includes director of admissions at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Read Mr. Siegfried’s entire bio

Read Mr. Siegfried’s entire bio

Siegfried joins Oxbridge after serving as the vice president of external relations and development at the Saint Louis School in Honolulu where his team led a $32 million campaign to support capital needs, organization-wide programs, and scholarship and financial aid support. Prior to his tenure at St. Louis, Siegfried was the vice president of external affairs and enrollment at the Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu where he increased revenue through enrollment by five percent, spearheaded the communications strategy that led to a rebrand and award-winning recognition, and developed a strategic plan for international markets, expanding enrollment and partnerships. His experience also includes director of admissions at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Siegfried earned a Master of Science in counseling and Bachelor of Science in marketing and finance from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He is currently earning his certificate in advanced leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Contact Us

Dr. Ralph Maurer
Head of School
rmaurer@oapb.org

Courtney Portlock
Assistant Head of School
cportlock@oapb.org

Sam Cruz
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
scruz@oapb.org

Scott Siegfried
Director of Advancement
ssiegfried@oapb.org

Rebecca De Jesús
Controller & Director of Finance
RDeJesus@oapb.org

Stan Ross
Dean of Students
sross@oapb.org

Zoë Losada
Director of College Counseling
z losada@opab.org

Pat Houlihan
Director of Athletics
phoulihan@oapb.org

Lisa Toth
Director of Transportation and School Events
ltoth@oapb.org

Brandon Murray
IT Director
bmurray@oapb.org

Lisa Murphy
Director of Communications
lmurphy@oapb.org

Christine Marino
Associate Director of Admission
cmarino@oapb.org

Meghan Albanese
Assistant Director of Admission
malbanese@oapb.org

Molly Miller
Assistant Director of Development
m miller@oapb.org

MyOxbridge

Campus Updates

Quicklinks