Ivo Philbert, a native of St. John who now resides in Harlem, N.Y., is the newest member of the Gifft Hill School Board of Trustees. Ivo Philbert grew up on St. John, graduating from the Julius E. Sprauve School in 1981 and from Charlotte Amalie High School in 1984.
“Ivo Philbert’s life is grounded in the values and community of St. John,” said Ruth Alden Doan, board of trustees president. “His success is a tribute to his hard work and perseverance, and to that groundedness. His choice to dedicate himself to education, the nonprofit world, and the ongoing legacy and challenges of the civil rights movement adds to that heritage in ways that will make him a highly valued member of our board. We look forward to working with him and learning from him.”
Philbert is the vice president of Community Engagement, Partnerships and Communications at the Jackie Robinson Foundation — the parent company of the recently opened Jackie Robinson Museum. He sits on the board of directors and is the treasurer of the National Black Leadership Commission on Health, is a board member/program chair of the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance, and is a member of Mastermind Connect, which is a male empowerment group.
Philbert was recently given a Civilian Commendation Award from the New York Police Department for his work in the community, and the Mentoring in Leadership Award from the Table of Kingz youth mentoring organization.
“I am excited to join the Board of Trustees of Gifft Hill School and to give back to my home, the beautiful island of St. John,” said Philbert. “As someone who has worked with students for most of my career and with my current work in the scholarship space, I am looking forward to leveraging my skills and experiences on the Gifft Hill School Board of Trustees to ensure our students are prepared to compete in the global economy.”
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As a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, Gifft Hill School serves St. John as the island’s only toddler through 12th grade institution. GHS provides high-quality educational programming to nearly 200 students, many of whom are supported in their learning by scholarships, grants, and financial aid.
The board of trustees is made up of business owners, parents, academics and grandparents, all of whom actively support the island of St. John in many ways. The time they volunteer and their personal generosity as donors are a testament to their commitment to GHS, to education on St. John, and their passion for this community. Please visit www.giffthillschool.org for more information.
